Places to Play in Bend
The Mountain and Much Much More!
When you think of Bend, your first thought is Mt. Bachelor. No surprise there, Mt. Bachelor is, after all, a world-class skiing facility, offering unparalleled downhill skiing and snowboarding and tens of miles of prime cross-country trails. But Bend is more than just the mountain when it comes to getting outside.
Bend is also considered one of the mountain biking capitals of North America. In addition to the hundreds of miles of off-road trails that exist for mountain biking, Bend is also home to the Cascade Cycling Classic bicycle race, running thirty years strong, and hosts this year's U.S. Cyclocross championship. What's cyclocross? Think bicycle steeplechase, and you're on the right track.
With dozens of lakes and rivers, Central Oregon is also a fishing paradise. Fly fishing is big here, and you can practice your casting prowess year-round at Orvis' one-of-a-kind 18-hole "course" in the Old Mill District.
The area surrounding Bend is also prime snowshoeing and snowmobiling terrain. It's easy to strap on a pair of snowshoes and find yourself lost in a winter wonderland of the largest juniper forest in the world. The High Desert also holds over 300 caves and lava tubes, ripe for exploration.
The many lakes and rivers in the area are also prime kayaking and canoeing territory, regardless of the weather. It's not uncommon to see a kayaker on Mirror Pond in the dead of winter, dodging both geese and ice floes.
Winter is not only about skiing in Bend. Look a little closer, and you'll be surprised what awaits you.
