Bend, Oregon
Bend is nearly the geographic center of Oregon. With a population of just over 75,000 people, it is also the sixth fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States. Known for its beautiful location and year-round recreation opportunities, Bend has truly become the most frequented tourist destination in Central Oregon. Bend's location near the Cascade mountain range and Three Sisters' Wilderness provides residents and visitors with great skiing in the winter, miles of trails to run and bike, rivers to raft and kayak and golf courses galore offer something for anyone, anytime. Apart from outdoor recreations, Bend is also home to plenty of shops, restaurants and parks to visit between hitting the slopes and climbing Smith Rock.
Skiing and snowboarding at Mt. Bachelor is by far the most popular winter recreation in Bend. With over 71 alpine runs and over 56 kilometers of Nordic skiing trails, Mt. Bachelor is one of the premier ski resorts in the nation. Bachelor is only a 30 minute drive from downtown Bend, and buses to and from the mountain are provided daily.
In the summer and fall, hundreds of miles of trails are available for biking, hiking, running and horseback riding both throughout the city and in the Three Sisters' Wilderness area. Climbing mountains such as South Sister, Mt. Bachelor or Broken Top are popular day trips. Or, for those looking for something a little less strenuous, walking up Pilot Butte offers an incredible view of the city. Hop on a mountain bike and explore the trails of the nationally renowned Phil's Trail System. Shevlin Park, just a minute or two out of town, feels surprisingly remote and is a perfect place for hiking and running.
Whether simply floating through town on the Deschutes, kayaking around Sparks Lake or navigating the rapids of the upper or lower Deschutes, rafting and kayaking are great ways to explore central Oregon's waterways. It's easy to find either rafts or kayaks for rent or guided raft trips in town. Sun Country Raft Tours has been conducting raft trips throughout Central Oregon since 1976. These tours explore not only the Deschutes but the McKenzie and Umpqua rivers as well.
It's impossible to experience all Bend has to offer in one trip. Bend has grown, from its humble beginnings as a mill town, into one of the most fast-growing, popular tourist destinations in the country. For more information about travel and activities, visit Bend's website, http://www.ci.bend.or.us/.
