Central Oregon sits at the heart of the Beaver State—and at the nexus of natural beauty, fascinating attractions, and endless opportunities for outdoor adventure.
That means you can hike through active volcanoes and ride scenic bikeways by day—and rent movies from Blockbuster Video and stargaze under pristine skies by night. So to help you get excited for your next trip, and to help showcase some of the incredible stops across our scenic region, we’ve put together a guide to some of the top Central Oregon attractions:
- The Last Blockbuster Video Store
- Cline Falls State Park
- Newberry National Volcanic Monument
- High Desert Museum
- Peterson Rock Garden & Museum
- Crooked River
- Prineville Dark Sky Park
- Three Sisters Viewpoint
- Pilot Butte
- Smith Rock State Park
- Plan Your Unique Adventure to Bend & Central Oregon
Keep reading for more about fun things to do in Central Oregon.
1. The Last Blockbuster Video Store
In the 1990s, the blue-and-yellow color scheme of Blockbuster Video was synonymous with strip malls across the country. As consumers shifted to renting DVDs through mail and, eventually, streaming their favorite movies, the stores disappeared—mostly.
Today, the Last Blockbuster Video Store on Earth resides in Bend. Relive your youth by checking out the store’s well-stocked selection of new and classic movies, grabbing candy, and picking up branded merchandise to support the locally owned-and-operated shop.
2. Cline Falls State Park
Cline Falls State Park provides a short, off-the-beaten-path adventure just west of downtown Redmond. From the trailhead at Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint, as it’s officially known, a short trail heads to the park’s top highlight: an overlook that affords views of a 20-foot-tall cascade in the Deschutes River. The waterfall is a sight to behold in all seasons—but reaches its raging peak in spring.
Away from the waterfall, visitors can enjoy a bite at the park’s picnic tables—and anglers may cast a line for trout in the Deschutes River.
3. Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Get an up-close look at Central Oregon’s explosive past with a trip to Newberry National Volcanic Monument near Bend, Sunriver, and La Pine.
In all, the monument’s three disparate units take visitors into the heart of Newberry Volcano, a massive shield volcano that rises between Bend and La Pine. The monument’s many attractions include the Lava Lands Visitor Center (where you’ll learn about the volcano’s past and present—and can walk through a lava flow), Lava Butte (which affords views of the surrounding landscapes), Lava River Cave (which gives hikers the chance to walk through an underground lava tube), and Lava Cast Forest (a short hiking trail that shows how Newberry’s eruptions impacted nearby forests). Newberry Caldera, meanwhile, invites visitors to camp, hike, or drive to Paulina Peak; hike through the 1,300-year-old Big Obsidian Flow; and paddle two lakes—all inside the heart of its namesake volcano.
Note that most of Newberry’s attractions are only available seasonally, largely between late May and mid-October. Check the Newberry National Volcanic Monument website for updated hours and offerings.
4. High Desert Museum
Kids of all ages find plenty to love about the award-winning High Desert Museum, which offers captivating indoor and outdoor attractions located between Bend and Sunriver.
Inside, the museum explores Central Oregon history—including regional Native American tribes and early European-American emigrants—through replica lodgings and townsites, artwork, cultural artifacts, interpretive panels, and other educational materials. You’ll also see snakes, turtles, lizards, and other animals that call Central Oregon home. Outdoors, the museum spotlights even more wildlife—including birds of prey and playful river otters—as well as a historic sawmill that reflects Bend’s time as a burgeoning logging community in the early 1900s.
For more cultural attractions, check out our guide to museums in Central Oregon.
5. Peterson Rock Garden & Museum
Since 1935, the Petersen Rock Garden & Museum has been one of the top Central Oregon tourist attractions. The rock garden, located between Bend and Redmond, is exactly what it sounds like: pastoral displays constructed from jasper, agate, lava rock, petrified wood, obsidian, thundereggs, and other rocks—artfully designed and intricately crafted. Some of the designs you’ll see at the historic garden include a seven-foot-tall Statue of Liberty, miniature castles, faux wagon wheels, and replica homes. In addition to the mineral displays, the space is also a peacock sanctuary where you’ll no doubt encounter some of the colorful birds who live on site.
Photo courtesy of Peterson Rock Garden
6. Crooked River
Whatever your preferred flavor of outdoor adventure, you’ll find plenty to love about the Crooked River as it winds its way through the Central Oregon high desert.
Avid cyclists love riding the 37-mile Crooked River Canyon Scenic Bikeway, which parallels its namesake waterway while twisting through a rugged canyon south of Prineville. Hikers enjoy traversing the footpaths at Smith Rock State Park and tackling the short Chimney Rock Trail, which ends at a basalt rock formation that resembles (you guessed it) a chimney. And paddlers and anglers love getting on the water at Prineville Reservoir State Park, which is a manmade lake created on the river by the Bowman Dam. However you choose to enjoy it, there’s no wrong way to savor the 125-mile-long Crooked River.
7. Prineville Dark Sky Park
In 2021, the nonprofit organization DarkSky International named Prineville Reservoir State Park a certified Dark Sky Park—recognizing the destination for its clear night skies and incredible stargazing opportunities.
Take advantage of those pristine conditions on your next visit, and look to the skies for stars, planets, moons, constellations, and other cosmic curiosities. The park is 16 miles from Prineville and about 30 miles from Bend, which limits artificial light pollution and puts the clear night skies front and center. Learn more about Prineville Dark Sky Park, and get the scoop on scoring a Stargazing Permit before visiting. Clear night skies are possible all year long, but be sure to bundle up in all four seasons, since temperatures on the high desert can cool rapidly after sunset.
8. Three Sisters Viewpoint
Take Highway 20 between Bend and Sunriver, and you’ll see the Three Sisters mountains rising to the southwest. For a better look and a quick photo op, pull into a small parking area at the Three Sisters Viewpoint to enjoy panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks—informally known as Faith, Hope, and Charity—as they rise above the forests and farmland of Central Oregon. As an added bonus, the jagged peak of Broken Top rises to the left (or south). Time a visit around sunset to see the peaks bathed in hues of purple and pink.
9. Pilot Butte
Have you ever wanted to hike or drive up the sides of an extinct volcano? If so, you’ll want to make Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint part of your next visit to Central Oregon. Best of all: You don’t even have to leave Bend city limits for the experience.
All year long, hikers can follow a dirt path as it ascends the slopes of Pilot Butte and ends at the cinder cone’s pancake-flat summit; in all, the two-mile hike gains about 450 feet. Between spring and early fall, meanwhile, vehicles can drive a paved road to the summit, where a parking area awaits. No matter how you arrive, you’ll enjoy views of roughly a dozen Cascade Range peaks—including Mount Bachelor, Broken Top, Mount Jefferson, and the Three Sisters. Sunsets are spectacular all year long above Bend, Oregon.
If you’re curious about other outdoor adventures and hikes in the area, get the info on visiting Tumalo Falls.
10. Smith Rock State Park
Smith Rock State Park is one of the top outdoor attractions in Central Oregon, beloved for the rock formations that rise from the Crooked River as it winds its way through the park. The park receives only the occasional dusting of snow in winter, making it a year-round destination for outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes.
The park was the birthplace of sport climbing in the United States in the 1980s—and is today home to thousands of routes across its sheer rock faces. Smith Rock is also home to myriad hiking and mountain biking trails, as well as viewpoints that showcase the Crooked River and—from atop Misery Ridge—the wider Central Oregon landscape
Plan Your Unique Adventure to Bend & Central Oregon
Excited to visit these central Oregon attractions on your next visit? We’re excited for you to explore the sites—whether you’re going to make it a Blockbuster night, want to see some of the region’s oldest sites, or are admiring Cascade peaks from local viewpoints and hiking trails. Check out our guide on where to stay in Central Oregon, and start planning your next trip today.
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