Find our entire Accessible Road Trip series here: 1. Willamette Valley / 2. Central Oregon / 3. Portland Region / 4. Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge / 5. Southern Oregon / 6. Eastern Oregon / 7. Oregon Coast
The last place Kaylee Bays ever imagined herself was on an alpine lake, surrounded by mountains and volcanoes and wildlife. Yet that’s where the professional dancer found herself in spring 2025 after saying yes to an opportunity to visit Central Oregon, an outdoors-person’s paradise and now a top destination for accessible travelers across the world.
“I think those who become disabled later in life, there is a very real process of grief,” says Bays, who was diagnosed with a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome at age 21. “You have to grieve the experiences that you had before, and the way that you thought those experiences were going to be — but that doesn’t mean that they’re gone. It just means that you have to expand them.”
In recent years Bays taught herself to dance from her wheelchair — including a stint as a principal artist in the 2024 Paralympics Opening Ceremony in Paris — and she now empowers others to do the same for dance as well as travel.
Wheel the World is a travel platform that has partnered with Oregon and 43 of its communities, meaning a significant percentage of the state’s hotels, activities, transportation and restaurants have been reviewed and verified by accessible community travelers. These listings include detailed accessibility information and photos to help travelers plan their trip to Oregon with confidence.
In fact, Oregon is the first Accessibility Verified state in the U.S., and Central Oregon invites travelers of all mobilities to enjoy its high-desert hot springs, geologic wonders, starry night skies and abundant wildlife and culture. Here’s how to take an accessible 2-day road trip around Central Oregon.
Day 1: Hot Springs, River Floats and Good Food
Owned and operated by the Warm Springs Tribe, Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort is situated on the Warm Springs Reservation and drawing crowds since its recent reopening. Visitors come for the thermal pools rich in minerals, on-site hotel, RV spaces and teepees available year-round. There’s a lazy river, a ring of cabanas overlooking the rushing river where you can book a river float or a fishing excursion with a tribal guide. The pool features a wheelchair lift, step-free entrance, accessible restrooms and smooth floor in the lobby. There is also assistance for push and assist wheelchair users, and an accessible room available for booking.
An hour south of Warm Springs, Redmond is a growing city outside of Bend that is home to the regional airport as well as a vibrant downtown. Smack in the middle of downtown nearby a cupcake shop and taqueria is the boutique SCP Redmond Hotel, with a step-free entrance, accessible parking, a wide door entrance and smooth floors in the lobby, plus an accessible room available. The rooftop bar is also accessible by elevator, and a top spot for sunset happy hour with a panoramic view of the skyline.
Day 2: Accessible Hiking, Stargazing and Craft Beer
Over the past several years Central Oregon has defined itself as a hub for accessibility, and Bend-based Wanderlust Tours has been a big part of that. One of their latest offerings is a unique partnership with Geoff Babb, creator of the AdvenChair — an all-terrain wheelchair experience that visitors can book.
One of those sites is Smith Rock State Park, the birthplace of American sport climbing. At Smith Rock, the AdvenChair team handles every piece of the logistics, from the wheelchair transfers to helping the visitor’s entire family or party feel comfortable with the experience.
Post-adventure meals are easy, with many options across the region, depending on where you’re headed for the night. If you’re a fan of stargazing you’re in luck, since Prineville Reservoir State Park holds the rare distinction as a certified International Dark Sky Park. Check their summer schedule for free ranger-led night-sky tours, and book a tent, cabin, yurt or RV space to spend the night in full relaxation mode. When it’s time to eat, Wild Ride Brewing in Prineville offers a casual, fun ambiance with fire pit, low dining tables and accessible dining area. It’s one of 53 stops along the self-guided High Desert Food Trail, a blueprint for your next road trip.
Day 3: Museums, Lakes and Live Music
Any visit to Central Oregon should include a trip to the High Desert Museum in Bend, a showcase for wildlife, culture, art and natural resources of the region — not to mention a live daily raptor show and guided nature walks. It’s also one of the top accessible destinations, with numerous amenities including accessible parking, doors and restrooms; free wheelchair rentals; paved, wheelchair-accessible trails; ramps and benches throughout the grounds. The museum also hands out sensory bags, weighted lap pads and strobe-cancelling glasses for visitors upon request.
If you’re visiting in summer, Bend is known for its many stunning lakes for paddling. Accessible travelers can book a guided trip with Wanderlust Tours, which offers several different accessible land- and water-based experiences — transportation, gear and knowledgeable guides included. Hosmer Lake is one of the region’s spectacular Cascade lakes a short distance from Bend.
Bend’s live outdoor music scene also can’t be beat. Named one of “America’s coolest venues” by Travel + Leisure, Hayden Homes Amphitheater is located in the Old Mill District on the banks of the Deschutes River. It’s an exciting vibe, with seating for 8,000, the state’s largest outdoor venue. Enjoy accessible parking and restrooms, hearing loops, ASL assistance and push-and-assist wheelchair support available. Come for a stellar lineup of music’s biggest acts, plus some of Bend’s best food and drink vendors and a fantastic view of the stage and cityscape from any seat.
If You Go
Need a list of accessible locations in this itinerary?
Prineville Reservoir State Park
For more accessible itineraries in Oregon, visit our main accessibility page.
