After visiting Smith Rock State Park. we stumbled upon this wayside/overlook where you can enjoy…read morevertical basalt cliffs and secenic river canyon over the Crooked River in Oregon. This spot is on the boarder of the Deschutes and Jefferson counties. This stop is located just 9 miles North of Redmond or 26 miles from Bend on the US Route 97 where this a rest area and viewpoint with tons of parking. Facilities include restrooms, picnic tables and dramatic viewing of the Crooked River Canyon from the pathways or the bridge. For photographers this is an amazing place to get a shot of the Crooked River Canyon and surrounding areas. You can also walk across the historic Crooked River High Bridge just north of the park. Three historic bridges connect both sides of the canyon, unfortunately only one can be crossed today by pedestrians. Two of Oregon's tallest mountains- Mt Hood and Mt Jefferson are visible from the viewpoint on a clear day. Fun facts: the park was named in honor of Peter Skene Ogden who led the trapping parties of the Bay Company back in 1925. Worth a stop to take in the views and enjoy part of history!

First of all, the restrooms here a the best rest stop restrooms I've been to, clean and like 10…read moreindividual stalls! Why don't other places do this? Anyways onto the real reason we stopped, we went here at the end of August. Made our way here after Smith Rock which was only about 10-15 minute drive, it was a beautiful sunny day, the view was breathtaking both ways. They had bungee jumping on the bridge when we went so that kinda blocked a bit of the view but was really cool to watch.

Great big play structure with slides, steps, rock climbing, obstacles, and spinning objects…read more Benches and bathrooms available as well as a water fountain. There's a large grass yard joining it which often has dogs running. Only downside is the only barrier from the road is a log fence

We love this park! It has a lot for kids to climb on. They even have water fountains and restrooms…read morere-opened in June 2021. However, I wish everyone coming here followed the rule to keep dogs on leashes. Last time we were at this park, dogs almost got into a fight because everyone was letting dogs run free.

Gorgeous falls! The trail out to the falls is about a half mile. Parts of the trail are steep and…read morerocky, so make sure you wear decent shoes. The trail has many trees that provide a decent amount of shade. The falls are absolutely gorgeous! They aren't tall, but wide and cascading. Such an amazing view! We really enjoyed our time here. Would definitely recommend.

This trail is an easy .5 hike to the Steelhead Waterfall with breathtaking views. It goes further,…read morebut we just went to the Falls and back. It is a bit narrow in some areas and you must walk in a single line, but it's comfortable and maintained. The trail also has a few flat rock steps that both decline and incline at times. We did encounter other hikers and everyone was courteous and happy to be there. Not a single piece of litter in sight! It is a bit out of the way, but we would definitely return to this beautiful trail and maybe jump in next time!

Simply put, THIS is the epitome of a hidden gem…read more By the end of our visit, you can tell that Gramma Rose (aka Linda) puts her heart into this place and it shows. This has got to be the best animal interaction tour or petting zoo on the planet. It may not be the most sophisticated, fancy or elaborate "zoo" but if you love animals (or have kids who love animals) and enjoy hands on, petting, holding unique animals, then this place is for you. Although it's a little over 3 hours from Portland, it's well worth the trip. Upon arrival, part along the side of the road and enter the small swinging gate and check in at the table. There's a single restroom available where the birds are housed. GR also has a small gift shop with stuffed animals and other unique small gifts available for purchase. For 2 hours, Mamma Rose provided us with a tour where we got to see, feed, touch and interact with a zebra named Maverick, multiple kangaroos including one named Margaret, llama named Saul, a Meisha pig named Daisy. And that doesn't include the myriad of birds, holding various reptiles (including a baby armadillo), tarantula, holding and feeding baby joey's, emu's, and feeding an albino porcupine and tortoises. She even has a Patagonian Cavy. On a side note, bring your own water and be patient as animals are shared amongst the group, especially if you have a larger group.

If I could give this place a 10 stars, I would! Our family had a wonderful experience meeting with…read morethe owner and all of her adorable animals. She had a wide variety of the cutest little fur balls all the way to reptiles and snakes. My twin boys were so entertained and what a healthy childhood experience it was! We spent a few hours there just walking around her cute property and seeing all Of her animals walk around freely. She was so gracious to bring out animals for us to hold and pet. It's obvious the owner is passionate about her animals and takes such good care of them. The animals themselves were all so friendly and loved people, a true reflection on how well they are loved and taken care of. We will be back for sure to bottle feed the wallabies next time we are in town. Such a gem and so glad we found this place.

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.

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.

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.