Miller’s Landing Park

(13 reviews)

0.5 mi

One of my favorite short hikes that my family and I have enjoyed for decades. Stunning views, safe…read moretrails, lots of hikers and cyclists, I feel safe here. One can make this a long hike, but I limit my hikes to an hour round trip--Benham Falls is the perfect weekend hike.

Beautiful falls and area to hike and bike. Porta potties at parking sight. Was not very busy. Road…read moreis bumpy and dusty. Trail to falls was nice, clean and easy to walk. Map of area located in the parking area. Had picnic tables on area and wonderful sound of the falls in the background. Recommend SUV or 4x4 due to pot holes. Would love to return.

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Deschutes River Trail System

4.7

(20 reviews)

1.1 mi

One of the Best Parts of Bend Was Right Outside Our Hotel…read more While staying in downtown Bend, my family and I were looking for something outdoorsy and close by, and the Deschutes River Trail ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. What started as a casual morning walk quickly turned into a beautiful four-mile hike filled with rushing rapids, peaceful river bends, towering pine trees, and some incredible Central Oregon scenery. One of the best parts of this trail is how much the landscape changes as you go. At some points the river was calm enough for paddleboarders floating by, and at others the rapids were roaring against the rocks with serious energy and sound. The trail itself was also a nice mix. Some sections were smooth and paved, while others became a little more rugged with dirt paths, rocks, and small elevation changes that made the hike feel adventurous without being overly difficult. I would still consider this a very approachable hike for most people and fitness levels. We saw walkers, runners, families, and people out with their dogs enjoying the trail. Pro tip: bring water, especially on warmer days, because parts of the trail are fully exposed to the sun. Another thing I appreciated was how accessible this experience was from downtown Bend. We were able to walk straight from our hotel into what felt like a completely different environment surrounded by river, forest, and nature. We eventually wrapped up near the Old Mill District, which made for the perfect ending with shops, restaurants, and a chance to relax after the hike. Sometimes the best travel experiences are not the big tourist attractions, they are the simple moments outside on a trail reminding you why places like Bend are so special.

This hike hit all the spots. Easy to get to from downtown. You get a nice river view. You get a…read morebridge. You get trees. You get sunlight if the weather is cooperating. You get a small park/playground area at one point and you get rocks and trees and nature and a few homes to look at too. Easy 3.5 miles walk around.

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Pilot Butte State Park

4.6

(57 reviews)

2.0 mi

Beautiful place Lovely hike…read morePlenty of parking Quick wrkout Scenic Popular Would recommend Go enjoy! :)

The views from the top are unmatched! You can see the entire valley, and luckily on this clear day…read moreall of the mountains too!! We did the dirt trail and though there were parts that were steep, it was fairly easy to navigate in just our regular sneakers & jeans. There were lots of people trail running, many walking the paved path, it was such a fun way to get a look at the city.

View

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Beautiful day

Cultus Lake

(6 reviews)

1.8 mi

Kyle and I love to come to this lake in the summer. It's nice small lunch is always good at the…read morerestaurant.. Great little atmosphere!

It was a little smokey due to all the fires. The lake was nice and the scenery was peaceful &…read morebeautiful. Our family had a nice picnic & day. The kids loved seeing all the butterflies, dragonflies & frogs. We'll be back again.

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Tumalo State Park

4.2

(46 reviews)

5.3 mi

Tumalo Falls was an amazing adventure and one of the highlights of our trip. We chose the loop…read moretrail so we could see all of the waterfalls, and it was absolutely worth it. One of the most exciting parts was crossing the river several times. In some places there were bridges, and at one point we had to carefully balance across a log, which made the hike even more fun and memorable. We visited in April, and there was still a little snow on the trail. The weather was beautiful, but I would recommend bringing traction spikes if conditions are slippery and hiking poles for extra stability. The waterfalls were spectacular, and the scenery along the trail was breathtaking. It was a perfect mix of adventure and natural beauty. I'm sure I'll return one day with my kids to experience it all again.

It's been awhile since my last stay here. We love the yurts here. Easy access, they have heat, a…read morecouple of tables and beds, and it's comfortable. The fire pits are nice to but they cemented the bottom of them. They need to have more holes for air flow. Still I'm grateful to have those. Love the river trail as well. So beautiful! It's been awhile since we've been here. No snow this time but that's ok. Still peaceful and beautiful and not far at all from Bend.

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Paulina Falls

4.4

(12 reviews)

23.6 mi

The oath is well cleared so the walk is easy. It's about 100 paces from the parking lot to seeing…read morethe falls. And if you want to walk more it's a little less than half a mile to Paulina lake. Then you can go across the bridge and hike down the otherwise to see the falls from the other side. I don't think it actually loops all the way around unless you go even further.

Loved this spot! The falls were easy to get to. The upper view was an easy walk from the parking…read morelot. The lower view point required a little bit of hiking, but nothing strenuous. I would recommend some sneakers or hiking boots for the lower view.

Me with the falls

Where's Waldo?

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View away from the falls

Todd Lake

4.0 mi

Very beautiful lake. A short walk from the parking. Don't forget your parking pass. Very quiet and…read moretranquil.

Did an engagement session, winter 2019 and there were a ton of cars/people in the parking lot. We…read moredecided not to hike the trail since my couples were dressed up and didn't have the proper shoes to hike. We went down to the field and took pictures and found snow to do the rest of the engagement photos in. If you are looking for an intimate wedding or elopement photographer, please visit stunningportraitphotography.com

Nice warm winter day at Todd Lake

The lake

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Shevlin Park

(13 reviews)

3.5 mi

Shevlin park is somewhere we would visit every summer growing up when visiting family in the area…read more They have great trails, fishing, picnicking, and even slow spots where you can get in the water. Shevlin park has a teepee that you can check out and go inside of, they have more than one trail, good for bike riding, dog walking, fishing. I remember having picnics here as a kid and I still come back as an adult when in the area. They trails are low impact and fairly flat.

My mom friend and I were visiting from out of town. As we were visiting Dudley's bookshop, the book…read moreshop seller shared that we had to try hiking here. We absolutely love nature, and knew we had to try it. At first upon arriving, I feared there would be no parking at 11:00 a.m. However, the lot was only halfway full which was nice. The trails were laid out on the trail map a little ways past the shelter on the left, but there was a discrepancy between what the trail map said and the websites listed in terms of trail names and trail lengths. So, we decided to forge our own path. We took the main loop around. The conifer trees and contrast with the desert landscape were beautiful, and the creek shots were stunning.

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Shevlin Park - trail map

Drake Park and Mirror Pond

4.7

(62 reviews)

0.5 mi

A beautiful park right here in downtown Bend. What seems so far away is within walking distance if…read moreyou are anywhere close to downtown Bend. Lots of space to throw a blanket and chill. You can put i. to float here as well.

Drake Park has a lovely walking trail as well as water access, restrooms, picnic tables and large…read moregrassy areas. There is alot of street parking (4 hour max). There were people floating on paddle boards, there could be some good fishing within as well as alot of crayfish. There are beautiful homes along the waterfront as well as some resturants and downtown access from the parkway.

Ducks

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Riley Ranch Nature Reserve

(6 reviews)

3.0 mi

Great place for a peaceful walk…read more We love Riley for getting some exercise in a serene setting. There are a couple of loops running the upper perimeter of the ranch...flat and easy for anyone. Then there's the gorgeous canyon loop below, through the trees and along the river. Both are great, but canyon loop is my favorite, just a beautiful space...large boulders, sweet trees, and the constant sound of rushing Deschutes. Apparently you can take the canyon trail to Tumalo State Park, although we haven't done that yet. Love having this space for nature and animals. Although we saw deer on the way in, we didn't see any while inside, but we did spot lots of tracks...as well as lots of birds. Great preserve!

Riley Ranch is a wonderful nature area operated by Bend Parks & Rec that probably many Bendites…read moredon't know about yet. It hasn't been open long. - Scenic views of the Deschutes, where the river runs fairly fast and has carved a canyon through the lava. Above the canyon wall on the east side lies Gopher Gulch air field (private property). - Lots of riparian areas here. People are instructed to only approach the river at designated access points. There are several, so that isn't too much of a restriction. - Junipers and ponderosas abound. - Trails are easy walking on mostly level terrain in the higher elevation areas (Juniper and Sage Loops). Robin's Run is a short segment which drops down somewhat steeply but there are rock steps installed to make it easier. The Canyon Loop trails along the river are much like you'd encounter along the Deschutes River Trail south of Bend. - This is a well-marked hiking area. Directional signs at key intersections, a very good overall map at both entrances (and mini-versions on some intersection markers), river access points identified. - If you keep going north past the Canyon Loop, the trail will take you out of Riley Ranch and towards Tumalo State Park. Along the way is the confluence of Tumalo Creek and the Deschutes River, which is pretty cool. - There are a couple of old (~1900) cabins fenced off along the Canyon Loop trail (one is actually a short distance down the trail towards Tumalo SP). - A Bend Parks & Rec person was stationed at the parking lot on a Sunday to remind people not to bring their dogs. - Medium-sized parking lot. As Rick J suggests, maybe its not larger on purpose. There's certainly room for a bigger lot. Bend has a surplus of great in-town and nearby casual walking trails. Riley Ranch is one.

Riley Ranch - trail to the canyon loop below

Riley Ranch - canyon overview

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Riley Ranch - canyon loop along the Deschutes

Sun Mountain Fun Center

3.4

(93 reviews)

2.4 mi

Super cool - lots of cool stuff to do! Bowling, VR, golf games. Could literally take family there…read morefor hours!

Sun Mountain offers a wide variety of amusements: bowling, arcade games, mini-gold, go-karts (not…read moreoperational when I was there) and pool tables. Plus other stuff. It really is a complete fun center. - Bowling alley here is laid out better than at Lava Lanes in that there are tables at each lane, rather than on the level behind the lanes at LL. - Very nice mini-golf course. It's in good shape and is interesting without having ridiculous holes. - Two pool tables in fair shape. - Food menu is typical of the breed; vegetarians will struggle. - If you're here to bowl, note that there are more small children at Sun Mountain than at Lava Lanes but they tend to congregate in the arcade area.

Mini-golf

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Mini-golf

Diane's Riding Place

4.9

(44 reviews)

8.8 mi

Diane's Riding Place offers a fantastic horseback riding experience for everyone. We took our four…read moregrandchildren to ride and learn to be cowboys and a cowgirl on the beautiful grounds and trails. Diane has the utmost patience with all of us beginner riders. The kids learned how to lead the horses and not let the horses lead them, not to be afraid of the horses, and to enjoy the trail rides. Diane is extremely knowledgeable and kind. Her horses are well cared for. She took fabulous photos for us while we were on the horses so we adults could enjoy ourselves and not worry about capturing the perfect photo. I highly recommend Diane's Riding Place.

We came to Diane's 5 years ago, with neither of our kids ever having been on horses..my daughter,…read morewho was only 5 at the time wanted desperately to ride a horse. My son, who was 3, was terrified. He was in love by the end of his first ride as was our daughter. Five years later and we made it back! This time for our daughter's tenth birthday celebration. And while they ALL loved it, my son especially, said that he absolutely loved it. We now have 3 kids wanting horseback riding lessons and 5 kids that LOVED their day. Once again WE ALL loved the experience and thank Diane so much for the incredible experience.

So many of us on horses!!

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Alpenglow Park

3.0 mi

We visited this park while in town on our road trip. The staff member at the nearby Sun North…read morerecommended it to us because we have dogs and small kids. What a cool park! Plenty of space for your little ones to run and parks for them to play on. There was also a small and large dog parks so your furry friends could run out their energy. There were also some picnic areas that looked available to reserve as we noticed some families throwing birthday parties. Very nice park and area to take a stroll if in the area. Pro Tip: Grab a waffle from the secret waffle society at Sun North to enjoy in the park : )

Such a fun splash pad!…read more Tons of parking on Friday 7/5 at 1:10pm. But 95% of the spots aren't shaded. Real flushing bathrooms, water fountains available. Our kiddos (aged 3.5 to 6.5) loved the splash pad. We let them use our tupperware from our picnic to catch the water or cover the spigots, and they loved doing that. Most of the kids playing in the water ended up being temporary friends. Besides the splash pad, there is also a music section (with a xylophone) and some fancy swings. All very sun-exposed. There are several grass areas in the shade. There's also a shaded picnic table area, about 6 picnic tables.

Thursday "Music in the Park". Free admission with food and drink vendors.

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Miller’s Landing Park - hiking - Updated July 2026

People who viewed Miller’s Landing Park also viewed

Robert S. Sawyer Park

(3 reviews)

Sawyer Park holds so many memories from my childhood. I still stop by every time I am in the area…read more We used to eat lunch here with my grandma on her lunch break when I was a child. Sawyer has a nice grassy area with picnic benches. There is a few different trails you can take including the Fishermans trail that goes down to a few different water access points. There are large rocks and great photo areas. We used to eat lunch on the rocks by the river. This park is also dog friendly and we met quite a few furry friends on our visit.

See, this is why Bend is so great. Mere minutes from downtown, minutes from most of the city, a…read morestone's throw from a busy commercial street, you find an idyllic river park straight out of A River Runs Through It. This little spot where the Deschutes River gets a bit excited, where a reedy marsh attracts birds, where the Deschutes River Trail passes through, offers a wonderful place to do short walks, picnicking, dog-walking or just lazy contemplation. You also can jump on the river trail here and do a longer hike. Robert Sawyer Park is within the city limits and comprises acreage on either side of the river, connected by a nice footbridge. Other than picnic tables and benches, there are no facilities that I saw other than one port-o-john. Access by car is from O. B. Riley Rd just across from the Tumalo State Park Maintenance facility (the access road is easy to miss). There's a small parking lot a short distance down the road that can accommodate maybe a couple three dozen cars at most. Open sunrise to sunset. The parking lot side of the park (east side) offers a picnic area and access to civilization via a paved path. If you step off the path at the bridge and head north, you'll climb the basalt bluff and gain some pretty spectacular views of the river from higher up. You can also head away from the river here and wander among the ponderosa pines. Crossing the bridge, you can walk either straight up the hill to get to the Deschutes River Trail (which is a wide, bike-friendly trail here), or you can take less developed, less obvious paths along the river in each direction and through the trees. There's a large, grassy open area used for ... well, I don't know. Playing with your dog? Frisbee action? Whatever, there are no sports-related improvements such as baseball paths or anything. I'm a big fan.

First Street Rapids Park

One of the reasons I love my neighborhood - the river is right here, with easy access to the…read moreDeschutes River Trail. Small park, nice footbridge over the river, a few areas to explore on either side of the river, a bench to sit on and watch the rapids. There is a very small parking area at the end of 1st Street. Otherwise, you're on the street.

This is a little spot at the First Street side of the Deschutes River Trail that goes between First…read moreStreet and Mt. Washington. Picnic tables and trash cans. A spot for a picnic, or meeting place before strolling along the Deschutes River. Beautiful location, great views, right on the water. Nothing fancy. No facilities. Street Parking in the neighborhood.

Benham Falls

(13 reviews)

Columbia Park

(5 reviews)

Cute little park…read more Note there's no shade on playground in morning. We ended up hanging out more on the grass field where there was a ton of shade. A cool feature of the playground: It's shaped like a pirate ship, and it includes a bouncy plank! There's a small shaded picnic table area with maybe 3-6 tables. There is a water fountain and port-a-potties. Parking was not easy on 4th of July. There was no dedicated lot, and the park's located in a busy residential area.

Great park and playground! We stopped by to let the kids get some energy out and they have a…read morereally nice pirate ship-themed playground. There is also a slide that goes down the hill right alongside the banks of the river, and just a few yards away is a neat wooden bridge that crosses the Deschutes. It was so cool to see tons of people floating down the river, right from the park. Kids had fun and we'd come again.

McKay Park

(2 reviews)

This is a really fun park. Difficult to find parking around the area but it's a great place for…read morelittle kids to swim in the river and there's small rapids for people to surf and bodyboard etc.

This little park has changed drastically since the new whitewater park has been built. This is the…read morepark where you typically get out of the river when floating by. If you are not experienced with whitewater, you will most get out here. There are a couple of sections with grass where you can sunbathe or play some frisbee. Though this is really not the best park for that as it will be slammed in the summer with boaters and floaters walking by. There is a little boat ramp to enter and exit the river on the north side of the park. There are drinking fountains and restrooms for folks as well. The pathway through this park will take you to a bridge where you can watch surfers and kayakers surf the waves and wreck. This is one of my favorite past times lately. Along the park, you can walk by the shore of the river to see the mellower channel of water. This is almost guaranteed carnage as most of the people who are running this section are new to paddling. Along this path, there are a few benches to stop and have a snack. This park has transformed drastically, and I am stoked to use if over and over this summer. If you are in the Old Mill on a warm sunny day, this park has to be on your list of things to do.

Lava Island Day Use Area

4.0

(3 reviews)

We'd been to the other falls along Conklin Rd but missed Lava Island so we stopped by Saturday…read moremorning to check it out. The road down to the trailhead is rough, but so were those to the other falls. There's a turn around and parking near the water, with a picnic area at the day use and restrooms at the ramp loop. Unfortunately the trash was majorly overflowing at the day use...instead of carrying out apparently lots of people chose to just pile their refuse and dog poop bags around the full trash can. Real bummer. Luckily a good citizen must've had a bag on them, and by the time we returned to our van someone had sacked much of it. Thank you! The trail along the water to the falls is very pretty. You can't actually see the falls without doing a bit of climbing around the lava rocks. The falls aren't anything spectacular here, especially compared to those further up the road/trail. But the river is still very pretty and the surrounding area peaceful and lovely.

Lava Island is one of the many day use hiking and walking areas in the Deschutes National Forest…read more Located quite near Bend, Lava Island is accessed via Dillon Falls Rd, which intersects the Cascade Lakes Highway right at the ranger station. Just past Widgi Creek golf course and Seventh Mountain Resort. The trailhead parking area is not far off Dillon Falls Rd. The area is so named because of the island formed in the middle of the Deschutes River by a lava flow. The river was diverted by the eruption and now flows on either side of the island. There seems to be no 'official' access to the island, I got over from the main trail using a fallen tree. Even if you don't cross over to the island (which is pretty cool), the trail - part of the Deschutes River Trail - from the trailhead north is very scenic and quite easy to walk. You can also go the other way on the trail towards Big Eddy and Dillon Falls. The north trail direction quickly takes you to Lava Island falls where the river splits around the island. You can also see the Arnold canal/trough, a hundred year old irrigation canal that siphons water from the river. Super convenient to Bend, super nice easy hiking.

Rockridge Park

Mostly paved trails with a few natural areas for walking. There is a skatepark and a grassy area…read moretowards the north end of the park. They also have a small disc golf course.

New multi-use city park in the NE section of town. Boyd Acres neighborhood, I guess. The park has…read moretwo green areas with recreation facilities (a larger one in the NE corner and a smaller one in the SW) and a good bit of acreage in between for bikes. - Lots of bike trails - Spiffy skate bowl - 9-hole disc golf - Picnic pavilions - Various 'nature' areas for kids, including a cool-looking log forest - Another playground area in the SW corner (I didn't go there). - One port-a-john in the main area. There's another in the playground area. I don't think the city intends on installing more permanent restroom facilities. The main access off 18th street via Egypt Dr is still under construction but I imagine it will be complete soon. The park itself is complete.

Cultus Lake

(6 reviews)

Kyle and I love to come to this lake in the summer. It's nice small lunch is always good at the…read morerestaurant.. Great little atmosphere!

Discovery Park

(2 reviews)

The water is shallow so the kids can go out pretty far. It's got a rock beach so you can bring sand…read moretoys or things to float the water with. Awesome way to spend the afternoon!

Great spot for families. ..kids...dogs. Love the lake! My kids had a great time here today. You can…read moreswim and float and have a picnic. Theres a fun natural area for kids to play...fun rocks and sand and tree trunks to play on!

Lava Butte Visitor Center Loop