Bend Things to Do – Attractions & Must See

Bend Things to Do

If you love the outdoors, you will find a lot of interesting adventures in and around Bend. There are plenty of activities for both adults and children, making Bend a hotspot for family vacations and day trips.

Camping in Bend

You can easily enjoy the natural beauty of Bend, Oregon by camping with family or friends. Bend is surrounded by several campgrounds with abundant water and some privacy. The High Lakes on Century Drive are ideal for campers. You will need to investigate which areas allow power boats for tubing or skiing. You can readily find fishing and enjoy the scenery. Trails for bikes, hiking and horseback riding give you an opportunity for viewing wildflowers and animals.

Tumalo Falls

Tumalo Falls is a beautiful 97-foot waterfall in Deschutes National Forest, about 12 miles west of Bend. There is a small fee of $5 per vehicle, payable at self-serve kiosks near the parking lot. An overlook at the end of the parking lot provides views of the waterfall straight on from a distance, or you can hike a short ways along North Fork Trail to view the waterfall from the side and top.

In addition to Tumalo Falls, there are a number of other scenic waterfalls within a short distance. Hiking about a mile or so up North Fork Trail past Tumalo Falls, you will see two more waterfalls – Double Falls and Upper Tumalo Falls. Less than a mile along Bridge Creek Trail leads to another nice waterfall – Bridge Creek Falls. Bridge Creek Trail, which heads west from Tumalo Falls along its namesake creek, runs through the Bend Municipal Watershed. Free watershed permits are available at a self-serve kiosk at the trailhead and must be carried by hikers.

Lava Cave

Lava River Cave is the longest known lava tube in Oregon which is located in Newberry National Volcanic Monument within Deschutes National Forest, about 10 miles south of Bend. There is a day-use fee of $5 per vehicle and they also rent propane lanterns for $5 which is highly recommended. It is strongly recommended to wear a jacket and warm clothes when exploring the cave. Underground, it’s about 42°F year round, regardless of the temperature above.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do in Bend.