If you wake up with the warm sun on your face, to the rhythmic gurgling of a nearby river, as you watch a Townsend’s Warbler chasing a Mountain Chickadee from Juniper to Ponderosa to Sage, there’s a good chance you’re waking up in Tumalo State Park.
Central Oregon has no shortage of amazing places that keep visitors coming back again and again. Tumalo State Park is one of those special places. In fact, it’s firmly in our top 10.
This 330-acre, four-season park on the banks of the Deschutes River first opened its gates to visitors in 1954 and has been steadily improving ever since. Today, the park offers sites for tent camping, RV camping, private showers (with actual hot water!), bathrooms and an amphitheater. And for those of us who want a unique way to not so rough it — Tumalo State Park is the only park in Central Oregon with yurts.
Thousands of visitors every year find it to be an ideal base camp for fishing the long stretches of gold-medal water, golfing the many spectacular courses nearby, hiking miles of trails, and all the kayaking, swimming, tubing and general splashing around a family can handle. And when it comes to two-wheeled exploration, there are countless amazing bike rides and single-track trails in the area.
In addition to the endless activities in the beautiful country that stretches out in every direction from Tumalo, this park also happens to be geographically located in a darn-near perfect location. It’s simultaneously close to Bend, yet just far enough away. It’s 20 minutes from Sisters, 30 minutes from Smith Rock and only 45 minutes from the legendary pow pow of Mt. Bachelor. Saying Tumalo is centrally located would be an understatement.
As you’re trucking along Highway 20, you’ll no doubt notice that Tumalo is more than just the state park — it’s also a community of somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 residents.
Tumalo may not be as cosmopolitan as nearby Bend, but it’s no backwater berg either. There is The Bite, a food cart pod with three carts, 12 taps, heated and covered seating, frequent live music and a fire pit. Satisfy your cravings for a great latte at Tumalo Coffeehouse, a Porterhouse steak grilled to perfection at Tumalo Feed Company, artisan woodfired pizza at Pisano’s or local spirits at Bendistillery.
With each visit, campers usually leave knowing they’ll be back again soon. Maybe it’s the water and the canyons. Maybe it’s Black Butte and Mt Jefferson towering off in the distance. Or maybe it’s the endless fun to be had. Whatever it is, it’s well worth finding out for yourself.
The Ride: Cycle Oregon Classic
- Date September 7-14, 2019
- Mileage 428.5-485.8 miles
- Climbing 24,537-31,330 feet
- Cost $1050
Register at CycleOregon.com
