Tam-a-lau seems like a bucket list hike, at least in terms of those in Central Oregon. It's not…read moreterribly difficult but is well worth the effort nonetheless. The trail runs from near lake level in Cove Palisades State Park to the top of the 'Peninsula', as it's called. The Peninsula is that bit of land jutting north into Lake Billy Chinook between the Deschutes and Crooked Rivers (minus The Island, which is a whole 'nother experience if you are fortunate enough to get a chance to go there). Tam-a-lau Trail is about seven miles in length, which comprises 1.7 miles hiking from the trailhead parking lot and then ascending the steep canyon wall, about 3.6 miles of relatively flat hiking on top of the Peninsula, and then 1.7 down. The trailhead is two locations, really. One starts at the big parking lot just past the boat launch on the Deschutes River and has you walk a bit to the other trailhead. That one is at the Deschutes Campground and is the beginning of your ascent up the slope. Unless you're staying in the campground, I recommend the further trailhead - the half mile or so extra is a nice trail. Footing is OK throughout, although the ascent has some steep bits that you'll want to be careful with. Once you're at the top, it's a piece of cake. The top reminds me of the Oregon Badlands, except for the really nice lake views. Once you get to the top, you'll be at a junction. Left takes you to the tip of the peninsula by way of the Deschutes River side, while right takes you overland to the Crooked River side and thence to the tip. Either way, your goal is the peninsula tip. Some folks seem to think the overland section is boring but not me. If for some reason you want a shorter hike, go left and then backtrack the way you came. Tam-a-lau is about views of Lake Billy Chinook, the canyon lava walls and, if the weather is good, the distant views of the Cascades. It's also a good bit of exercise. During the summer, it will be hot. There's not a lot of shade - this isn't a ponderosa forest hike. Take plenty of water. Being in a state park, you'll either need an annual/biannual pass or pay $5 to park. Note that you can access the upper part of the Tam-a-lau (the flat part on the Peninsula) from roads to the south. You don't have to enter the state park from that way. In fact, much of the Tam-a-lau is not actually within the state park boundaries but rather on BLM land.

Very nice views from the top of trails definitely will be back used to go camping there al the time…read morewhen I was a kid now going back as a adult

We took the river trail on our last visit to the park. The trek is great, meandering along the…read moreCrooked River directly below the wall of rock and climbers above. The trail itself is fairly flat, and should be pretty accessible for almost anyone. There are countless offshoots down to the water and up into the rocks. My only slight disappointment was that it's an out&back. Would be so great if there was at least one place to cross over the river to enjoy a trip back from the other side. There's plenty of parking along the drive in the park, and bathrooms at the start AND down the trail a ways. This time of year there are some gorgeous fall colors to take in along the water. Great, easy hike...and many more to take nearby.

A nice, mellow, gentle trail that takes you around a good section of Smith…read more The grade is calm enough that you'll frequently see families with strollers. I use it mainly to get to climbs. As a destination in and of itself, it's kind of a snooze.

The Deschutes National Forest is one of the twelve national forests in Oregon (Oregon is in a three…read moreway tie for second place with the most national forests in the US & Puerto Rico) and covers over a million and a half acres. They are all beautiful, but Deschutes is special. It spans the area between the McKenzie River area to the high desert in eastern Oregon. You start in the warm(er) area and by the time you hit the summit there's snow on the ground. And as you're reaching higher elevation, you find yourself passing through the lava beds. One of the volcanos in the forest was used by the Apollo astronauts in the 60s. It's a really peaceful drive, and a breathtaking one. Suttle Lake is near Sisters, and it's really beautiful. There are several pull-out areas along the highway to take in the view. Bend is the big town in the area, and Sisters is a popular tourist stop as well.

National Parks have always been at the top of my list of great things: America's Best Idea…read more National Monuments are not far behind. But National Forests really hadn't registered with me until lately - they've just been large undeveloped places with lots of trees that I drove through to get to a park. Not anymore. I love Deschutes National Forest. What with the Cascade Volcanoes, the river, the creeks, the lakes, the many hiking trails, the dirt roads for my 4WD, this forest is like a huge national park. And so close to Bend. You literally are in the forest as you drive out of town. It will take many years to explore even a small fraction of the forest, but I'm up for the challenge.

Otter Bench is a scenic hiking trail located on BLM land at the north end of Crooked River Ranch…read more Running parallel to Otter Bench for most of its length lies the Horny Hollow Trail, which runs closer to the river but is closed for wildlife restoration from February to August. Both trails parallel the Crooked River as it makes its way downstream to join the Deschutes and Metolius Rivers at Lake Billy Chinook. As with all rivers and creeks in Central Oregon, the Crooked has cut deep canyons into the overlying lava, creating spectacular vistas. After just under two miles, Otter Bench takes you right up to the canyon, joining the short Pink Trail that descends steeply down to the river. From there, you have the option to continue north on the somewhat longer Opal Canyon Trail. Other than the steep decent to the river - which is not necessary to enjoy this trail - Otter Bench is a fairly easy, flat hike. Trailhead is at the end of SW Horny Hollow Dr/SW Chinook Dr. From Hwy 97, drive as if you're going to the Crooked River Ranch Golf Course and keep driving until the road ends.

Oh man - how I wish this splash pad and area was here when I was a kid growing up in Redmond…read more As a parent - it is so fun to watch your kids run around this cute little splash pad. If you grew up in the area - you can reminisce about how the place has grown - the old library and post office (which have both moved on to bigger buildings) are within eye view. Watching my two children play with these buildings in sight definitely brought back some nostalgic feelings. As a kid - what a blast! The splash pad rotates through several different blasts and I saw many kids (including my own) enjoying themselves immensely. There was plenty of seating for parents to sit and still be able to watch their children and a huge grassy area where you can sit and have a picnic. Obsessed!

While staying in Redmond we stumbled upon this cute little park with a splash pad area. My 1.5 year…read moreold had a blast! A little hesitant at first but with all the other kids playing there she quickly adapted. I saw a concession stand there but didn't try any food. There were sit down tables with umbrellas for shade and a free tree shade areas in the park. A couple places to sit near the water but you can get wet there. A great park! Lots of street parking and there is a centennial public parking lot across the street.

Located in Smith Rock State Park, this contains a couple super-classic lines:…read more Chouinard's Crack: yes, THAT Chouinard! Test-piece 5.9 trad crack. Super Slab: a sporty, sexy, multi-pitch trad climb. Pitch 2 is contrived and terrible though. Moscow: a un-sexy, blue-collar, no-bolted-anchors, 5.6 trad climb. Crux is an off-width at the top (bring a #4 or you'll be sorry!). I've probably climbed Moscow more times than any other trad route. Most people prefer Super Slab though, you've been warned!

My family and I had an amazing time exploring the Redmond Caves! We took our family, including our…read more5-year-old niece, and everyone had a blast. The area was very well-maintained with hardly any graffiti, which was a pleasant surprise. We were able to explore four of the six caves, and it was a fantastic adventure. Some of the entrances were a bit tricky, but it made it all the more exciting. Walking completely through one of the caves, entering on one side and exiting on the other, was a definite highlight and a really unique experience! ​A few tips for future visitors: don't rely on your phone's flashlight--you'll need something more powerful to really see the caves. Sturdy shoes are a must for navigating the rocky terrain, and be sure to watch your head! The rocks are very unforgiving, as we learned with a one pretty good bump on the head. We highly recommend this spot for a fun and memorable family outing!

I've been to a decent amount of caves and this was a different experience. Without looking at the…read moremap, it doesn't look like much. The caves were neat, but watch your head in them! Bring your own flashlights and I'd recommend close toed shoes.

These guys are awesome! Our pilot was experienced,…read moreknowledgeable and friendly. The ground crew were amazing too. They took video of us lifting off and landing which they sent to us free of charge. We flew right over Smith Rock which was stunningly beautiful. I can't recommend Big Sky Balloon Co. highly enough.

The stunning Central Oregon crisp sunrise was picture perfect, as we trusted pilot Darren and…read morechaser Garrett from Big Sky Balloon Company take our godson on a "bucket list" moment 2,000 feet over Terrebonne and Crooked River with unparalleled views of the Cascade Mountains that became snow capped over the past couple of days. We marveled at a new viewpoint of Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top, the three Sisters (Charity, Hope and Faith), Mt. Washington, Black Butte, Three Fingered Jack, Mt. Jefferson, and Mt. Hood... we even saw Mt. Adams in Washington state. All white with new snow. Even the view on the imposing Smith Rock from the high vantage point was spectacular. Garrett asked me to help inflate the 180,000 cubic foot balloon, and having this hands-on experience was kinda cool. This flying (or floating) in a hot air balloon experience was epic!!! But what made this 5-star, was the crew. Darren and Garrett were so welcoming, knowledgeable, and really made this memorable based on how they treated their passengers. Darren answered all the crazy questions in flight, with a genuine smile and rich answers. Garrett's hugest asset is his personality, humor, and enthusiasm. He had us cracking-up with laughter from start to finish. If you want a balloon flight, I am sure there are multiple options. If you want an amazing "experience," then book with Big Sky Balloon Company. Thank you Darren and Garrett. You guys ROCK!!!