Every May in Bend some 3,100 people participate in the US Bank Pole, Pedal, Paddle multi-sport race. (And there’s still time to sign up for this year’s event, held on May 20th.)
The event starts with three legs at Mt. Bachelor – a short downhill ski, 8k Nordic race and 22-mile bike ride – before the 5-mile run, 1.5-mile kayak and half mile sprint legs back down in Bend. It’s become the signature athletic event for Bend – if you’re not participating, you know someone who is or someone who is part of the army of volunteers it takes to pull it off so smoothly. (The race is the main fundraiser for the Mount Bachelor Sports Education Foundation, which promotes and supports amateur alpine, cross country, snowboard, and cycling training for junior athletes.
The event showcases everything that is great about Central Oregon – and the perfect time of year when doing all of those things in one day is possible.
But you don’t have to be competing to take advantage of everything the PPP provides. You can pole, pedal and paddle almost whenever you want.
There’s still tons of great powder up at Mt. Bachelor for some spring skiing. Or you can head over to the Nordic center for some great cross country skiing (and, many locals will tell you, the best burritos in Bend!) The ski area is expected to be open through May – extending one of the longest ski seasons in the country.
But come summer, when the snow’s gone you can just replace the “ski pole” with a different kind of pole…a fishing pole. Let the guides at Stillwater Fly Shop in Sunriver take you to one of their secret spots or go rent some gear at The Fly Fisher’s Place in Sisters and venture out on your own.
Once the snow melts enough, the road to Mt. Bachelor – also known as the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway – is a great place for a long road ride, but there are plenty of other scenic bikeway options for you in Central Oregon. (McKenzie Pass early in the season is open only to cyclists, which is a great time to check out one of the most scenic rides in the state!) Or, you can turn it up a notch and hit some of the Central Oregon mountain bike trails nearby. Pine Mountain Sports, The Hub Cyclery and Hutch’s are a couple of great spots to rent bikes if you need them – or, if your legs are a little tired take a guided Bend brewery tour with Let it Ride Electric Bikes.
If you’re not quite ready to kick off the race season in May, no problem. In June, Sunriver Resort hosts Central Oregon’s largest athletic event, the Pacific Crest Weekend Sports Festival.
More than 5,000 athletes, their family and friends, converge on majestic Central Oregon to take part in what is known as the jewel of multisport events in the Northwest. It has become a traditional destination race for athletes from across the nation, as well as from across the globe. Coupled with a finishing in a five-star destination resort, it is the perfect family vacation destination.
There is a race for absolutely everyone from the Long Course Tri/Du/Aquabike, Olympic Tri/Du/AquaBike, Ulta-Sprint Tri/Du/AquaBike, Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k, 5k, 26 and 55 mile Tour de Crest, Kids Tri and Kids ½ mile and 1-mile dashes.
If running is your thing, you’re in luck. It’s Central Oregon’s thing too. With more than 65 miles of maintained trails just in Bend alone, you can find a running route to fit your needs whether it’s pavement, track or dirt – including the very scenic Deschutes River Trail (which is part of the PPP course.)
And while it’s not yet hot in Central Oregon, it’s warm enough to take advantage of all the water sport activities the region has to offer. Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe is located right on the river so it’s easy to rent some gear to get your paddle boarding muscles in shape for when high lakes open up this summer.
You can also create your own multi-sport event to impress all your friends. Click here for a look at what we like to call the “Central Oregon 6-pack.”
Whatever you decide to do, just get out, explore and have fun!
Life’s not about being timed.
Other stories
More inspiring stories, adventures, and tips & tricks for planning and experiencing the best Central Oregon has to offer.
-
Curl Up and Get Warm – Central Oregon’s Cozy Romantic Getaways
With the weather making a quick turn toward winter, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about creative ways to get cozy with your significant other.
-
Central Oregon Golf: Best Par 3s
Play a good golf course and chances are that when you’re back at the 19th hole, you’re talking about the Par 3s. The short one you made double on. The bear where you snaked in a 20-footer for your only birdie all month. They’re the “short” holes that can make or break a round. Some of the signature holes on the Central Oregon Golf Trail are Par 3s. Here’s a look at some of the best.
-
Central Oregon Mountain Bike Trail Guide
The Central Oregon mountain bike scene is 300 miles of diverse singletrack through high alpine forests and sagebrush dotted deserts from Madras to La Pine, Sisters to Prineville. Bulletin newspaper reporter Mark Morical has ridden just about every one of the trails you’ll find on any mountain bike trail map – and he’s written about his experience.
-
Hiking Black Butte – Central Oregon’s Iconic & Majestic Cinder Cone
From a distance, Black Butte looks like it doesn’t quite match the picturesque alpine mountains that surround it. The volcanic rock that emerges above the tree line gives the impression of a hill constructed with loose stones that was carelessly dropped in the middle of the woods. Unlike the Cascades that puncture the horizon to the west and north, Black Butte can be hiked and enjoyed in under four hours.
-
Outward Bound in the City: Central Oregon’s 5 Best Urban Hikes
Hiking in Central Oregon can take you deep into the wilderness, far away from worry and stress. But sometimes all you need is a quick break from reality…just a half hour or so outside in nature, on a trail, alone with your thoughts (or with your dog, husband and two kids.) There are hundreds of hikes and trails available in and around Bend, Oregon and Sunriver, Oregon. These “Urban Hikes” are the perfect remedy to slow down our all-too-busy lives.
-
8 Pictures That Will Have You Rethinking Some Life Decisions (Central Oregon Food Edition)
Is this plate from 5 Fusion and Sushi Bar art or food? (It’s food. Definitely food.)
-
Central Oregon Hiking Trails
Head east on Highway 20 (Greenwood Avenue) to the Pilot Butte State Park. The parking area and trailhead are just east of the butte. Walk on either the nature trail or the paved road. The road is also for vehicle traffic, weather permitting. It is a wonderful viewpoint for the entire Bend area. This hiking trail is one of the most popular in Central Oregon.
-
Scenic Bikeways Showcase Central Oregon’s Backroad Beauty
Oregon’s official scenic bikeways are the first of their kind in the U.S – and Central Oregon is home to 6 of the state’s 11 most beautiful bike routes. An absolute summer must for road cyclists are riding the best of the best – our scenic bikeways. Every rider can find a ride to suit their style and mood, from family-friendly to adventurous.
-
Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show Brings Fabric Artists to Central Oregon
Blankets keep you warm. Quilts tell a story. So imagine all the tales to be told at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show on the second Saturday of July, when the streets of this small Central Oregon town are blanketed (pun intended) with the creative tapestries woven by thousands of quilters from around the world.