Central Oregon Hiking Trails

Shevlin Park – Loop Trail

Nearest city: Bend

Distance (round-trip): 5 miles

Elevation gain: 250 feet

Shevlin Park sits just three miles from downtown Bend—and is a year-round hangout for locals and visitors alike. The well-signed, five-mile (round-trip) Shevlin Loop Trail heads into the heart of the park while largely following Tumalo Creek below. It gains about 250 feet of elevation, most of which comes soon after crossing the creek on a footbridge; along the way, hikers head through a forest of ponderosa pine, a rugged canyon, and a stand of trees recovering from a 2015 wildfire.

Hiking the Deschutes River Trail near Bend, Oregon

Benham Falls

Nearest city: Bend/Sunriver

Distance (round-trip): 0.2-1.5 miles

Elevation gain: 50 feet

Five miles north of Sunriver, this hiking trail provides a spectacular scene of untamed rapids. Hikers have two mostly flat options for reaching Benham Falls. The first option comes via the Benham Falls East Day Use Area/Trailhead; from here, it’s a 1.5-mile round-trip trek through forests of ponderosa pine. Hikers can also start from the Benham Falls West Day Use Area/Trailhead—just a 0.2-mile round-trip hike from the falls; not far from the west trailhead, an overlook peers upstream and offers an impressive view of the thundering rapids. 

Note that hikers must pay a $5 day-use fee (a Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass is also acceptable). Also: Dogs must be leashed at all times at either trailhead—and along the trail between May 15 and September 15.

 A twisted Juniper tree in the Lava Cast Forest near Bend and Sunriver, Oregon
Photo by @danpricephoto

Lava River Cave

Nearest city: Bend/Sunriver/La Pine

Distance (round-trip): 2.2 miles

Elevation gain: 150 feet

Thirteen miles south of Bend on Highway 97, on the east side of the road, is Lava River Cave—the largest un-collapsed lava tube in the state. A 2.2-mile (round-trip) trail descends into the cave, where hikers can head into the heart of the rocky lava flow in total darkness—other than whatever lantern or flashlight you bring into the cave. The sandy path and minimal elevation gain makes this an easy hike.

To help curb the spread of White-nose Syndrome (which is fatal to bats), hikers should not wear any clothing or gear that has been in other caves or mines. Close-toed shoes are advised for safety, as are warm clothes—since the cave is only about 42ºF year-round. Hikers are encouraged to bring two light sources; rentals are available for $5 at the interpretive site. The cave is open to the public between early May and mid-September. Be sure to pack out whatever you pack in—including snacks and wrappers—to preserve the cave’s ecosystem and protect its inhabitants.

A $5 day-use fee (such as Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass) is required, as are timed reservation tickets—available on a one-month rolling basis in spring and summer via Recreation.gov.

Hikers in Newberry National Volcanic Monument’s Big Obsidian Flow

Paulina Falls Trail

Nearest city: La Pine

Distance (round-trip): 0.5 miles

Elevation gain: 125 feet

The Paulina Falls Trail sits within the Newberry National Volcanic Monument—and while the monument is most closely associated with its volcanic features, this trail affords some of Central Oregon’s best waterfall views. It begins at the Paulina Falls Day Use Area, where you can watch the double falls tumble 80 feet over a volcanic rock shelf and into Paulina Creek below. A 0.5-mile (round-trip) trail loses about 125 feet as it descends to the base of the falls—where up-close views await. The trail is typically accessible June-October, depending on snowfall.

Note that hikers must pay a $5 day-use fee (a Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass is also acceptable).

Tumalo Falls near Bend, Oregon

Green Lakes Trail

Nearest city: Bend

Distance (round-trip): 9-11 miles

Elevation gain: 1,275-1,350 feet

The Green Lakes Trail is among the most popular hikes in Central Oregon—offering a steady diet of impressive views. Hikers may gain up to 1,350 feet of elevation, though most of that ascent is gentle and well-graded. Highlights include the thundering Falls Creek Falls, a short stretch of trail that parallels a rocky lava flow, views of Broken Top from the first of the three Green Lakes, and an up-close look at South Sister—which seems to rise directly from the shores of the lakes. The hike is nine miles (round-trip) to the first of the three Green Lakes—and about 11 miles (round-trip) if you’d like to see the rest. Learn more about the Green Lakes Trail, which departs from the Green Lakes/Soda Creek Trailhead.

Note that hikers must pay a $5 day-use fee (a Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass is also acceptable) and, between mid-June and mid-October, hikers must obtain a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit. Day-use permits are released on two rolling windows—10 days out and two days out—and cost $1 via Recreation.gov. The trail sits along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, typically open between late May and early November; snow may linger on the trail well into early July, so exercise caution if hiking in early summer.

Todd Lake Trail near Bend, Oregon

Ray Atkeson Memorial Trail

Nearest city: Bend

Distance (round-trip): 2.5 miles

Elevation gain: 100 feet

The 2.5-mile (round-trip) Ray Atkeson Memorial Trail at Sparks Lake gains about 100 feet while showcasing a bit of everything that makes Central Oregon so special: South Sister rises over the lakeshore to the north, lava flows line portions of the trail, and quiet forests of lodgepole pine offer a sense of solitude.

Note that hikers must pay a $5 day-use fee (a Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass is also acceptable). The trail sits along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, typically open between late May and early November; snow may linger on the trail well into June, so exercise caution if hiking in early summer. Low-clearance vehicles should drive slowly on the forest road to the trailhead.

Trail markers in the Oregon Badlands Wilderness near Bend, Oregon
Photo by @crookedriverranchcabins

Smith Rock State Park – Misery Ridge-River Trail Loop

Nearest city: Redmond and Terrebonne

Distance (round-trip): 4.2 miles

Elevation gain: 880 feet

Several miles of trails crisscross Smith Rock State Park—one of Oregon’s most popular state parks. Enjoy a glimpse of the park’s highlights along the Misery Ridge-River Trail Loop, which totals 4.2 miles (round-trip) and gains about 880 feet; the path ascends the steep, rugged Misery Ridge, offers views of the surrounding farmland and high-desert landscapes, shows off the iconic Monkey Face rock formation, and parallels the Crooked River in a rocky canyon. The trailhead is just 15 minutes northeast of Redmond—so relax with a cold beer or cider in Redmond after your day on the trail.

Note that there is a $5 day-use fee at Smith Rock State Park, which can be paid at kiosks in each parking area. The park can also fill to capacity on sunny spring and summer weekends, so consider a midweek hike—or starting your hike before 9 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays—to enjoy a bit more solitude.

Group Hiking at Suttle Lake near Sisters, Oregon

Black Butte Trail

Nearest city: Sisters

Distance (round-trip): 4.8 miles

Elevation gain: 1,560 feet

Just 30 minutes northwest of Sisters is the Black Butte Trail—one of the most iconic hiking paths in all of Central Oregon. The 4.8-mile (round-trip) hike gains about 1,560 feet while passing through a forest of ponderosa pine and wide-open meadows that offer colorful wildflower blooms in late spring and early summer. At the symmetrical butte’s pancake-flat summit, hikers can walk by an abandoned cupola and enjoy views of nearby Cascade peaks. The trail is typically open June-October; if hiking in summer, consider starting before 9 a.m. to beat the heat—since little of the trail is shaded.

Note that hikers must pay a $5 day-use fee (a Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass is also acceptable).

A view of the winding Metolius River near Sisters, Oregon
Photo by @sistersvacationrentals

Dee Wright Observatory – Lava River Interpretive Trail

Nearest city: Sisters

Distance (round-trip): 0.5 miles

Elevation gain: 30 feet

The stone Dee Wright Observatory, constructed from lava rock in 1935, sits just 15 miles west of Sisters at the crest of Highway 242—also known as McKenzie Highway. When the highway is open and passable, typically between mid-June and early November, visitors can walk a short set of steps to the top of the observatory—where 360-degree views of sprawling lava flows and roughly a dozen Cascade peaks await. At the base of the observatory, enjoy a mostly flat, 0.5-mile (round-trip) hike on the Lava River Interpretive Trail; the paved path loops through the jagged lava flows and hosts interpretive panels that detail the region’s natural history.