The Perfect Three-Day Weekend in Bend, Oregon
Bend, Oregon is seemingly in the middle of nowhere. But what I’ve found in my travels is sometimes the towns in the middle of nowhere are the best outdoor adventure hubs out there! And Bend is no exception - the chain of volcanoes visible from everywhere around the city pretty much guarantees a trip full of outdoor fun.
This guide is for you if you’re looking for the best outdoor activities in the Bend, Oregon area for your spring - fall three-day weekend.
Smith Rock State Park
Why Visit Bend, OR
The first time I ever heard of Bend was eight years ago when my friend went there for a graduation trip with her family. She told me way back then that I had to visit, and finally, eight years later, I made it! She knew I’d love it because of how easy it was to access The Great Outdoors. And guess what? She was right!
Bend is close to rivers, the forest, big mountains, many waterfalls, and the desert - pretty much any kind of terrain you could hope for! There’s tons of activities: from hiking and backpacking to rock climbing, paddling, spelunking, and mountain biking. Plus, the area is super dog friendly. There is something for everyone in Bend!
How To Get To Bend, OR
Bend is located in the middle of the state of Oregon. It’s an easily accessible town from most cities in Oregon. Bend is approximately 2.5 hours by car from Eugene and Salem, 3 hours from Portland, and 3.5 hours from Ashland.
Bend is also a 4.5 hour drive from Redding, CA, and 5.5 hours from Boise, ID and Seattle, WA, making it the perfect long-weekend trip.
There is also an airport in the Bend area, located in Redmond. You can take direct flights from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and Seattle, making Bend a great fly-in option as well!
However you travel to Bend, you’ll want to make sure you have your own car or rent one. It’ll make getting around much easier!
Seasons In Bend, OR
Bend is located in Central Oregon, east of the Cascades in a high desert climate. Bend does see all four seasons, so you’ll need to be prepared for winter temperatures and snow if you’re visiting from November - April! However, being on the eastern side of the Cascades, Bend does see a lot more sun than the towns west of the mountain range.
Spring in Bend sees temperatures from the low 30s F to high 50s F. Summer is much warmer with highs in the 80s F, but it is the high desert still, and lows can dip into the 40s F. Fall cools down again, with highs generally in the low 60s F and lows dipping back near freezing.
Spring through fall is great for all kinds of outdoor activities. Spring can sometimes be a toss-up depending on what you want to do, as the snowfall and subsequent snow melt from the previous winter will impact how fast certain recreation areas open up to the average user. This will be the most impactful near Mt. Bachelor, the Sisters, Broken Top, Mt. Jefferson, etc.
Some roads and attractions will start to close in mid-October in anticipation of the winter season.
Summer will have the least weather-related closures, though central Oregon has sadly been the home of some very intense wildfires in the last 6 years, so wildfires and smoke are a possibility in the summer-early fall, which could close down forest areas.
Be sure to check out Visit Bend’s conditions page for updates on closures and weather!
Best Outdoor Activities
Having a Northwest Forest Pass (daily or yearly) or an America the Beautiful Pass (yearly), will be really helpful for exploring the outdoor areas around Bend. You can purchase one online or at visitor centers. I always recommend buying an America the Beautiful Pass since it’s the best value if you go to multiple National Parks, forests, and BLM land every year. Most of the hikes listed below are on National Forest Land and require one of those passes to park!
Day One: South of Bend
Spend your day getting to know the volcanic wonders of the Bend area. Newberry Volcanic National Monument is quite large with a few main areas to see.
First, drive up to the Paulina Lakes area. Walk to the Paulina Falls Overlook to see a stunning waterfall, then drive over to Paulina Lake. The Paulina Lake Lodge rents stand up paddle boards, canoes, and kayaks for $30/ hour!
If getting a bird’s eye view of the lake is more your thing, drive over to the Paulina Peak Trailhead to hike 6.2 miles and +/- 1,600 feet round-trip to the top of Paulina Peak! You can see the big obsidian flow (which is exactly what it sounds like) and Paulina and East Lake from the top! You can also drive up to the top when the road is open (summer only).
Moving north, head to the Lava Lands Visitor Center and hike the Trail of the Molten Land, where you’ll walk amongst lava rock with great views of Mt. Bachelor in the distance! The juxtaposition of the two areas is pretty wild.
If the road is open, you’ll want to stop at Lava Butte as well. Permits are required to drive up there in the off-season, and taking a shuttle is usually needed during the high season. You can learn more about Lava Butte and the hours here.
After a full day in the land of lava rocks, grab some dinner and a beer at Bend Brewing before ending the night.
If you’re camping, head north of Bend to Skull Hollow Campground, a first-come, first-served, cash-only, primitive, high desert BLM campground to sleep among the juniper trees.
Day Two: North of Bend
Start your day early at Smith Rock State Park. It’s pretty exposed here and can get warm, so the earlier you start hiking, the cooler weather you’ll experience! Plus, less crowds to compete with. It costs $5 per day to park at Smith Rock. There are three pay stations and credit cards are accepted!
The best hike at Smith Rock is the Misery Ridge Loop trail! You get a little bit of everything on this trail. An idyllic river walk, a steep climb, and amazing views of the rocks in the park, PLUS views of Mt. Bachelor, the Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, and even Mt. Hood on a clear day! I’d recommend going counter-clockwise to get the steep climb out of the way first and to avoid going downhill on the slightly rickety wood steps.
After hiking, enjoy a nice picnic lunch at the tables underneath the juniper trees at the top of the rim near the parking.
Next up, drive to Steelhead Falls for a short 1 mile hike. This waterfall may not be the tallest, but this river canyon is really beautiful and the current is strong!
By now, you may be needing an afternoon pick-me-up. Sisters Coffee Company is an excellent stop for hot or cold coffee and is probably the cutest coffee shop I’ve seen! If you’re looking for something more substantial, The Barn is the place to go for some good eats and brews!
After refueling in Sisters, keep driving into the forest to the West Metolius River Trail. The color of this river water will absolutely blow your mind! Walking all the way to the fish hatchery and back is 5 miles round trip with negligible elevation gain.
After all these hikes, it’s time to turn in. If you’re camping, the campgrounds along the Metolius River are stunning. We stayed at the Lower Bridge Campground, which is a quiet, remote, and primitive car camping spot. This campground stays open much longer than other ones in the area. It was first-come, first-served in October, but does take reservations in the high season. Be sure to bring cash to pay!
Day Three: West of Bend
Another adventure-filled day awaits! You can do the following in any order, but if you’re out camping near Sisters, visiting Sahalie & Koosah Falls first is the most convenient option!
Hiking between Sahalie and Koosah Falls is like walking through an enchanted forest. It is amazingly gorgeous, and the waterfalls themselves are jaw-dropping. It’s hard to imagine a more magical place!
Please remember to Leave No Trace here and stay on the designated trails. I know it’s tempting to leave the trail to get to a “better spot”, but the moss and soil is fragile and cannot handle repeated trampling. Think of those behind you!
Your next stop is a bit of a drive away. Head back towards Sisters and Bend and make your way to the Sparks Lake Day Use Area. A word of warning: the road is a little rough once you leave the highway. I was able to make it in my FWD low clearance camper van, but an AWD or 4x4 would be more comfortable. The view from this part of Sparks Lake is amazing! I could not believe it! South Sister and Broken Top were both stunning and reflecting in the lake. I was immediately disappointed I wasn’t there for sunrise.
Sparks Lake is primitive - if you have your own SUP or kayak, this would be a great place to paddle, but otherwise, just sit back and enjoy the views!
For your last stop of the day, drive back towards Bend and then back into the forest to Tumalo Falls. This is another stunning waterfall, dropping about 100 feet. Tumalo Falls is incredibly popular, and there are multiple longer hikes in the area besides just the viewpoint for the falls. You do need a NW Forest Pass or another Interagency Pass to park in the parking lot. In the winter, the road closes where the pavement ends and it is a much longer snowshoe hike! Be sure to check conditions if you are visiting in the shoulder seasons.
If you’ve still got some energy and you’re visiting in the fall, swing by Shevlin Park on your way back into Bend to admire the aspen trees and larches. It’s a super short walk and highly rewarding.
For dinner, check out Spork for delicious Mexican-Asian fusion food!
If you’re camping, check out Tumalo State Park. It’s right outside of Bend, and has really easy access to the city. This campground definitely is more “established” and has amenities like showers and flush toilets. It’s more family-friendly and has campsites closer together, but it’s a decent place for it’s proximity to Bend.
Where To Stay In Bend, OR
There are tons of lodging options in the Bend area depending on your budget and what you’re looking for.
Camping Options
We brought our camper van on this trip and decided to stick to designated campgrounds to avoid having to spend time looking for free dispersed camping.
We stayed at the following campgrounds:
Skull Hollow Campground
Lower Bridge Campground
Tumalo State Park Campground
The only campground we reserved ahead of time was Tumalo State Park. The other two were on a first-come first-served basis. It was easy to get spots when we were visiting: mid-week in mid-October, but I imagine there will be more competition for spots on the weekend nights and in the summer.
Deschutes National Forest is an option for those looking for free, dispersed camping. Basically, if you can find a forest service road, any pull-out is good to park your car or van to sleep in! Be sure to Leave No Trace and be a good steward for the land. Pack out all of your waste and food scraps.
Hotels
I haven’t stayed in either of these hotels, but in reviewing them and their amenities, they seem like great spots for outdoorsy folks who are looking for something relatively inexpensive but charming.
Campfire Hotel
LOGE Bend
Where To Eat In Bend, OR
Spork for awesome Mexican Asian fusion
The Sparrow Bakery for the most awesome breakfast and baked goods
Bend Brewing Company
Crux Fermentation Project
Sisters Coffee Company
The Barn in Sisters, OR
Must-Hike Trails In Bend, OR
If you have more time in Bend or want to focus more on epic hikes, make sure you check out these trails!
Note that there are some hikes in the area require permits - even for day hiking! Be sure to learn about the Central Cascades Wilderness Permit here.
Pilot Butte
Tumalo Mountain Trail
Vista Butte Trail
South Sister Trail
Green Lakes Trail
Obsidian Trail
Other Fun Activities In Bend, OR
Walk along the Deschutes River in Downtown Bend
Visit the High Desert Museum
Day Trip to John Day Fossil Beds National Monument - Oregon’s Painted Hills
Skiing & Snowboarding at Mt. Bachelor in the winter
