Sam Johnson Park sits just west of downtown Redmond and offers plenty of activities for kids of all ages. The fun includes a basketball court, barbecue grills, tennis and pickleball courts, covered picnic tables, restrooms, a climbing wall, and shady walking paths underneath trees that turn vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow every autumn.
LaPine State Park resides in a forest of ponderosa pine along the Deschutes River—and offers four seasons of fun less than 10 miles from the city of La Pine. All year long, 14 miles of multi-use trails serve hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders while heading alongside the river, passing through forests, and accessing park landmarks. When snow blankets those trails in winter, they become popular spots for quiet snowshoe and cross-country skiing trips. In summer, paddlers with their own gear enjoy patrolling the slow-moving waters of the Deschutes in and around the park—while families enjoy splashing about in its shallow waters. Between spring and fall, anglers fish for trout in the river’s chillier pools. Multiple day-use areas provide access to those opportunities between spring and fall.
Farewell Bend sits just south of the Old Mill District shopping district and along the banks of the Deschutes River—showcasing a little of everything that makes the Bend outdoor scene so special. The park’s long, narrow design means you’re never far from the Deschutes River—no matter which of the park’s activities you’re enjoying.
Drake Park, just west of downtown Bend, is the city’s de facto living room—and one of its most popular destinations.
Shevlin Park sits amid an old-growth forest of ponderosa pine near the western edge of Bend, essentially sandwiching the bubbling Tumalo Creek, and offers a glimpse at much of what makes the region so special.
