Central Oregon’s natural wonders are as diverse as those who visit the region. Cinnamon-hued junipers thrive in the high desert, waterfalls tumble over lava rock in the Cascade Range and urban trails hug the Deschutes River without leaving Bend’s city limits.
With so much to see, it can be tough to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together a guide to some of the region’s most notable trails, along with which type of traveler might enjoy them most. Whether you’re hosting friends and family or you are the out-of-town guest yourself, here are six hikes across Central Oregon for all kinds of outdoor adventurers.
1. For the First-Timer in Central Oregon
Central Oregon’s terrain is undeniably synonymous with the rugged high desert. Take a friend who has never been to the region out for a feel for the otherworldly landscape on the Tam-a-láu Trail in The Cove Palisades State Park.
The 7-mile round-trip hike ascends a rocky plateau before looping around its wide-open summit, earning its Indigenous name of “place of big rocks on the ground.” Along the way, you’ll pass centuries-old juniper trees while enjoying nearly top-down views of Lake Billy Chinook — a human-made reservoir that sits at the confluence of three rivers — on this ancient trade route. The trail’s lack of shade and its healthy rattlesnake population in summer make it ideal for the cooler spring months, when you can catch the colorful wildflowers.
2. For the Date Who’s Up for a Post-Hike Drink
Around Bend, escaping into nature is as quick and easy as hiking the South Canyon Reach portion of the Deschutes River Trail. The 4.5-mile trail begins as a paved path in the Old Mill District before heading south and into a forest of ponderosa pine. The gently sloping trail rarely strays from the Deschutes River.
After your hike, toast to the day’s adventure back where you started in the Old Mill District. The festive Rapa Nui Tiki Lounge serves all manner of tropical-inspired drinks, Confluence Fly Shop hosts an on-site craft-beer bar, and Sisters Coffee Company pours caffeinated beverages with locally roasted beans.
3. For the Friend Who’s More Into Mountain Vistas Than Climbing
Whether your friend doesn’t have the time or the desire for a thigh-burning climb, they’ll enjoy the views that await at the summit of Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint. The 1.8-mile round-trip hike wraps around the slopes of an extinct cinder cone just outside of downtown Bend. From the butte’s pancake-flat summit, savor views of roughly a dozen Cascade Range peaks — including Mt. Bachelor and the Three Sisters. This trail is quick enough to be a pre-brunch outing, but Pilot Butte’s sunset views are among the best in Bend.
4. For Parents Looking for Easy Trails
When you want to show off Central Oregon’s natural beauty from the trail but older knees won’t cooperate, bask in the beauty of Steelhead Falls near Redmond.
There a 1-mile round-trip trail heads to a rapid that tumbles over a squat rock shelf spanning the width of the Deschutes River. The trail is mostly flat, save for a brief steep section toward the end of the hike. Spring brings colorful wildflower displays and views of local wildlife — including golden eagles, bald eagles and rattlesnakes.
5. For the Family With a Toddler in Tow
Start them young at Tumalo State Park, where a mostly level stretch of the Deschutes River Trail follows its namesake waterway through a forest of ponderosa pine. Several picnic tables dot the trail, making it easy to stop for a quick bite, and a small beach invites wading in the shallow, slow-moving waters. After your jaunt, let the little ones work off whatever energy they have left at a few play structures in the midst of the park’s campground.
6. For the Flower-Lover Who’s Ready for Spring
If your guest has waited out winter’s chill and is ready to be inspired by the first signs of spring, make a day trip to the Steins Pillar Trail northeast of Prineville.
The 4-mile round-trip trail heralds the arrival of spring with dozens of species of wildflowers that begin to blossom in April and reach their colorful peak in mid-May. Highlights include stalks of red paintbrush and blooms of yellow balsamroot. The gently graded trail ends with a descent to the base of its namesake rock formation, which rises 350 feet, or turn back early if that seems too rugged.
