There is no bad time to go hiking in Central Oregon—but there’s something undeniably magical about an autumn outing on our winding trails. As summer turns to fall, hikers enjoy cool temperatures, more solitude, bluebird skies, and colorful fall foliage along hundreds of miles of trails throughout the region.
To help inspire your next trip, here are seven of the best fall hikes in Central Oregon.
Chimney Rock Trail
Just 17 miles south of Prineville and along the banks of the Crooked River, the 2.6-mile (round-trip) Chimney Rock Trail brings together soaring views, fascinating geology, and occasional wildlife sightings. Best of all: A fall outing rewards hikers with comfortable trail conditions and plenty of solitude.
The Chimney Rock Trail gains about 600 feet while affording views of lichen-covered cliffs, groves of gnarled juniper trees, and the winding Crooked River below. The turnaround point comes at the base of the appropriately named rock formation, which is partially made up of columnar basalt; from a bench at the wide-open viewpoint, take time to admire the surrounding Crooked River Canyon—and keep an eye out for golden eagles, coyotes, and other species of wildlife.
Tumalo Falls
You can enjoy most of what makes the Tumalo Falls Trail so special without ever actually hiking. But a longer outing into the surrounding forests, especially in fall, reveals the region’s natural beauty—including vibrant foliage and rushing waterfalls.
Soon after parking, you’ll arrive at the Tumalo Falls Day Use & Trailhead Viewpoint; here, the 97-foot-tall Tumalo Falls cascades in a leafy canyon of basalt, creating one of the most-photographed sites anywhere in Central Oregon.
The path continues behind the waterfall and ascends gently yet steadily while hugging the banks of Tumalo Creek. If you continue the hike, you’ll pass groves of aspen turning bright yellow and a few more waterfalls—including Double Falls and Middle Tumalo Falls.
Benham Falls Trail
Between Bend and Sunriver, the Benham Falls Trail offers an easy-going, family-friendly escape that heads through a forest of ponderosa pine and along the banks of the Deschutes River.
Two trailheads offer access to Benham Falls; the 1.5-mile (round-trip) route mentioned here begins at the Benham Falls East Day Use & Trailhead. The mostly flat trail, where pups can go off-leash between mid-September and mid-May, heads north below a forest canopy that occasionally pops with red, yellow, and orange displays of foliage; those colorful scenes help cement the Benham Falls Trail as one of the best fall hikes in Central Oregon. A viewpoint then looks out over the 25-foot cascade in the heart of the Deschutes River. For a shorter outing, begin from the Benham Falls West Day Use & Trailhead—where a viewing platform, which overlooks the churning stretch of rapids, is a short walk from the parking area.
Wherever you begin your hike, keep an eye out for migratory birds, foxes, deer, and other species of wildlife that live along the Deschutes River Trail.
Smith Rock State Park
Smith Rock State Park is one of the most-visited sites in Central Oregon, and it’s easy to see why: The park’s namesake rock formations tower over the Crooked River, which snakes by at their base, opening up a wide variety of outdoor opportunities for adventurers from all walks of life.
A whole network of hiking trails crisscrosses the park, which sits just outside Redmond and Terrebonne—making it easy to plan an outing suited to your skills, experience levels, and time constraints. Cool autumn air, meanwhile, cements Smith Rock as one of the best fall hikes in Central Oregon.
Catch some of the park’s farthest-reaching views from atop the 2.6-mile (round-trip) Misery Ridge Trail; the hike scales the side of a sheer cliff but rewards hearty hikers with expansive views that extend west to the Cascade Range and across the high-desert landscape of Central Oregon. For an easier outing, enjoy a walk along the flat, family-friendly the Crooked River Trail; the 4.3-mile (round-trip) hike follows the banks of its namesake waterway while showcasing occasional pops of fall color and affording views of rock climbers scaling the surrounding cliffs.
Deschutes River Trail
Chances are good you’ll wind up on the Deschutes River Trail at some point on your next visit—even if by accident.
That’s because two disconnected loops comprise nearly 30 miles of trail while passing through some of the region’s top sites and offering different glimpses at the beauty of Central Oregon.
The southernmost loop begins at the southern edge of Bend and heads toward Sunriver; this 17-mile loop affords views of Benham, Dillon, and Lava Falls in the Deschutes River; shows off old-growth pine forests; and is awash in foliage displays (courtesy of the aspen and willow trees that occasionally hug the path). The northernmost loop measures 12 miles round-trip and is almost entirely within the city of Bend—but nevertheless shows off Cascade peaks, high-desert landscapes, and the Deschutes River canyon.
If a 12- to 17-mile day sounds like more than you’d like to tackle, take heart: Both stretches of the Deschutes River Trail are mostly flat—and have plenty of trailheads and footbridges that make it easy to pick and choose the perfect length. Either way, you’ll be treated to one of the best fall hikes in Central Oregon.
Green Lake Trail
Residing along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, the 11-mile (round-trip) Green Lakes Trail offers a bit of everything that makes Central Oregon such a beautiful place to hike.
A few of the trail’s many highlights include an alpine forest, the thundering Falls Creek Falls, close-up views of a lava flow, the path’s namesake pools, and panoramic views of Broken Top, South Sister, and other iconic peaks. Keep an eye out for pika (whose squeaks sound like a dog’s chew toy) in the lava flows, and watch for deer relaxing in the meadows toward the end of the trail.
The trail is a popular summertime destination, but crowds largely clear out by mid-October—and, as such, Green Lakes is one of the best fall hikes in Central Oregon. Be sure to snag a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit if hiking before Oct. 15.
Chase Those Colors!
Whether you’re looking for fall hikes near Bend, Oregon, or are planning an adventure during another time of year, make the most of your trip with our look at other trails in the region. Highlights include paths that pass lava flows, rock formations, waterfalls, and more.
