Deschutes National Forest
Deschutes National Forest
5
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Encompassing more than 1.6 million acres of Central Oregon, this region extends for about 100 miles with a scenic backdrop of volcanic mountains of the Cascades.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
206 reviews
Excellent
169
Very good
34
Average
1
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2
Terrible
0
Chowa-Rides-Again
Bend, OR2,039 contributions
Jun 2013 • Family
It cracks me up that this is one of the top places / things to do in Central Oregon. But then again, why not...you have to drive through the Deschutes Forest to get to some of our favorite things to do...like skiing Mt. Bachelor, or hiking along the pacific crest trail, swimming at Cultus Lake or listening to Friday night music at the Elk Lake Lodge.
Here are a couple of our favorite scenic drives - if you are just looking for a nice morning or day trip out through Deschutes National Forest.
1. Cascade Lakes Highway - an Eighty-nine mile paved loop, includes views of Mt. Bachelor, the Three Sisters and Broken Top. There are several lakes to look at including Sparks, Todd, Elk, Lava, Cultus. The portion of the tour beyond Mr. Bachelor (22 miles from Bend), is closed during the winter months. A brochure explaining sites along the route is available at the Bend Chamber of Commerce
2. Sunriver to Cascade Lakes Hwy - You can take a nice loop drive leaving Sunriver on Hwy 42 South Century Drive up to the Cascade Lakes Hwy, turning north and looping back onto 40 Hwy to Sunriver. There is a nice little hiking spot at Wake Butte.
3. Paulina Peak - The turn off is only 24 miles south of Bend, another 10 up to the Visitor center and another 8 up a gravel road to the peak. Some beautiful waterfalls along the Paulina creek on the way up!
4. Last but not least - try a quick drive to Benham falls - 11 miles south of Bend, Oregon. You can also visit the Lava Lands Visitor Center. You can drive through the forest and take a short hike to the falls. Beautiful!
5. Or for something entirely different and unusual take a drive to Fort Rock and see some odd and unusual rock formations including Hole in the ground, crack in the ground, Fort Rock and if you have 4-wheel drive the oldest juniper in Oregon!
Here are a couple of our favorite scenic drives - if you are just looking for a nice morning or day trip out through Deschutes National Forest.
1. Cascade Lakes Highway - an Eighty-nine mile paved loop, includes views of Mt. Bachelor, the Three Sisters and Broken Top. There are several lakes to look at including Sparks, Todd, Elk, Lava, Cultus. The portion of the tour beyond Mr. Bachelor (22 miles from Bend), is closed during the winter months. A brochure explaining sites along the route is available at the Bend Chamber of Commerce
2. Sunriver to Cascade Lakes Hwy - You can take a nice loop drive leaving Sunriver on Hwy 42 South Century Drive up to the Cascade Lakes Hwy, turning north and looping back onto 40 Hwy to Sunriver. There is a nice little hiking spot at Wake Butte.
3. Paulina Peak - The turn off is only 24 miles south of Bend, another 10 up to the Visitor center and another 8 up a gravel road to the peak. Some beautiful waterfalls along the Paulina creek on the way up!
4. Last but not least - try a quick drive to Benham falls - 11 miles south of Bend, Oregon. You can also visit the Lava Lands Visitor Center. You can drive through the forest and take a short hike to the falls. Beautiful!
5. Or for something entirely different and unusual take a drive to Fort Rock and see some odd and unusual rock formations including Hole in the ground, crack in the ground, Fort Rock and if you have 4-wheel drive the oldest juniper in Oregon!
Written June 30, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lorenzo B
Sisters, OR175 contributions
May 2012 • Solo
Came to the Deschutes National Forest this spring to search for the delectable and elusive forest treasure, the Morel mushroom. I found the forest here to hold some very hard to find but treasured sites to pick these Wild Mushrooms, and I will be returning again next year to hunt more Morels. A great forest with lots of quiet and private places to get away from the hustle and bustle!
Written August 22, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CristenB
Bend, OR28 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
Before your hike, stop by the Forest Service Office on Century Drive in Bend to pick up maps and get advice. Just up Century Drive from the Forest Service Office is the turn off to the trail that will take you to a beautiful hike along the Deschutes River. This hike is easy and you will be next to the rushing river where you will see ancient lava flows and gorgeous waterfalls. There is nothing better than hiking next to the water. This hike is close to town.
Written June 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SkiFamily97702
Bend, United States32 contributions
Jun 2015 • Business
I grew up in forests in California and regularly left feeling sad about the state of things, especially mans imprint on the land. I have yet to see a forest in Deschutes that disappoints!
Written June 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RDFarr
AL53 contributions
Sep 2013 • Friends
If headed south out of Bend, OR, travelling to Crater Lake or other, take hwy 46 (aka Southwest Century Dr) though the Deschutes N.F. instead of hwy 97. It's one of the most beautiful drives I've been on, and traffic is light unlike 97.
When 46 tees into another highway, go right and you'll eventually hit 97 north of the Crater Lake turnoff.
When 46 tees into another highway, go right and you'll eventually hit 97 north of the Crater Lake turnoff.
Written October 20, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Waiza007
Bellingham, WA29 contributions
Jul 2013 • Couples
Take Paulina Lakes road, pay your 5 dollars (well worth it) and hike to the Falls. So easy an 80+ year old who is healthy could and did do it. Don't miss the Obssydian Flow either, it is a wonderful 1 mile loop (maybe less) and it is gorgeous. (Don't wear flip flops though, OUCH). Take a Camera.
Written July 30, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christian F
94 contributions
Sep 2016 • Friends
TripAdvisor needs to break this out to activities within the forest. That said, this is one of the best NF areas in the west. Hundreds of miles of well-mapped trails for all-season activity. Different areas are, at least locally, known to be appropriate for different activities. Example: Phil's Trails for mountain-biking, versus the Deschutes River Trail for long runs. Ask locally (REI is good) to make sure you get to the area most appropriate for what you want to do. Once you are there, you are probably in one of the country's best spots for that activity, surrounded by the friendliest of pros and semi-pros who make Bend famous for unpretentious world-class athletics.
Written October 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RCS72
Portland, OR17 contributions
Dec 2012 • Family
This is a beautiful place - great snow-capped mountains, rivers, lakes and majestic views. Come here and you'll see why Oregon is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Great place for skiing, kayaking, camping, fishing, hiking - you name it!
Written December 30, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
M B
Phoenix, AZ164 contributions
Jul 2018 • Friends
Did a half day trip through the park, stopping at Devil's lake to hike around it (in street shoes), and Hosmer lake at the Boating launch site to scout it out for our Kayaks. It was packed 4th of July and no place to park so we just squeezed in just to get out and look. VERY popular with the Kayakers. Better to come during the week. Its just beautiful to drive around, and stop to do short hikes. Plenty of people were set up with tents and trailers to spend more time. We'll be back now that we have our bearings.
Written July 11, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
phoxtrot
La Pine, OR100 contributions
Jul 2016 • Friends
The Deschutes National Forest has every Outdoor Adventure you could dream of. Imagine is the only limit. Lakes, streams, mountains, old growth forests, and hudreds of miles of trails. You can hike, ride, kayak, fish, ski, climb, snowmobile, off road, or just sit back and read a book in view of the snow capped Cascade Mountains. American outdoor recreation at its finest!
Written August 22, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
garlicman666
Gilroy, California
I'd like to take my family on a hike on the Deschutes River Trail. How would I get there? I'm coming from the Crown Villa RV Resort on Brosterhous Rd in Bend.
Thanks
Written June 1, 2015
Head to the Old Mill Shops. You can park by the movie theatre.
Written June 3, 2015
The trails we followed were at The Head of the Metolius, which is a beautiful area. There is ample parking and a short walk to the trails. There's also a fish hatchery nearby. When we were there last October, there was controlled burning in the forest and trail maintenance, so several of the trails were closed; hopefully, the trails are all open now.
Written April 10, 2015
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