When summer arrives and the temperatures rise, visitors and locals alike flock to waterways across Central Oregon. Some paddle our lazy rivers, others fire up motorboats beneath snow-capped peaks and in the midst of high-desert canyons, and yet others throw on their swimsuits for a day of cannonballs, waterslides, and cooling off in our brisk waters.
Swimming is among the region’s most popular summertime activities—thanks to sunny skies, warm temperatures, and plenty of space to take a dip—so we’ve put together a guide to some of the best lakes, rivers, and aquatic centers around the region.
Here’s a rundown of the best places to swim in Bend, Oregon, and beyond:
Grab your swimsuit, slather on some sunscreen, and keep reading for the best places to swim in Central Oregon.
Top Places to Swim in Bend, Oregon
When you visit Bend, Oregon, you’ll find no shortage of year-round swimming holes—indoors and out. Options range from refreshing dips in the Deschutes River to community centers with heated pools for lap swimming.
Juniper Swim & Fitness Center
Whether you’re working out or looking to unwind on vacation, a handful of public pools can meet your needs in Bend—and both are run by the Bend Park & Recreation District.
On Bend’s eastside, Juniper Swim & Fitness Center offers aquatic activities for swimmers of all ages. Choose among an Olympic-sized pool (covered and heated in winter—and open-air in summer) for lap swimming and recreational swimming, a summertime splash pad and waterslide (both outdoors), year-round indoor pools for adults and children alike, and a hot tub.
A few miles south, Larkspur Community Center hosts a large aquatic center—the heart of which is a leisure pool that features a current channel that’s ideal for resistance-based workouts.
Deschutes River Swimming Near Bend
Swimming in the Deschutes River is a popular pastime each summer, with plenty of options for swimming in Bend.
Beaches at Farewell Bend Park make it easy to wade into the river’s shallow, slow-moving waters to cool off with a quick dip. Also on site is a lumber mill-themed play area that reflects Bend’s history as a mill town, a small bouldering and climbing area, and a boat (and tube) launch at the southern edge of the park.
Nearby, Riverbend Park provides convenient river access and swimming at the southern edge of the Old Mill District. A gentle grade eases swimmers into the water, and the shallow shoreline offers plenty of space to enjoy a little solitude.
Looking for other ways to enjoy the Deschutes River and other regional waterways? Learn how to float (tube) the rivers in Central Oregon.
Cascade Lakes Near Bend
Bend sits at the doorstep to the Cascade Range, and plenty of alpine lakes around the city promise a refreshing respite from the summer sun. We couldn’t begin to list all our favorites, but here are a few top spots.
Just south of Suttle Lake, roughly 15 miles northwest of Sisters, sits the kid-friendly Scout Lake Day Use Area. There, visitors can cool off in the area’s namesake reservoir, which sits surrounded by a forest of fir and pine. Just note that dogs are not permitted to swim at Scout Lake.
Further south, along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, Elk Lake hosts plenty of beaches alongside dramatic views of the Three Sisters (to the north) and Mount Bachelor (to the east). So clear is Elk Lake, it’s possible to see the reservoir’s bottom from anywhere you swim. The quiet Sunset View Day Use Area, which resides on Elk Lake’s eastern shore, is an especially popular swimming hole at the height of summer.
Photo courtesy of Jonny Oliver
Best Swimming Spots in Redmond, Oregon
Do you have plans to visit Redmond, Oregon? You’ll enjoy a crowd-pleasing mix of scenic swimming holes and indoor pools. Here are a few local favorite spots for swimming in Redmond, Oregon.
Cascade Swim Center
Just west of downtown Redmond, Cascade Swim Center welcomes locals and visitors alike with a variety of indoor and outdoor aquatic attractions. At the Redmond, Oregon, swimming pool, you can swim laps in a heated indoor pool, relax in the gym’s spa, dig into the kid-friendly accessories (such as pool floats), and unwind in the outdoor wading pool.
Steelhead Falls
The trailhead for Steelhead Falls, which sits about 10 miles northwest of Terrebonne, provides access to its namesake waterfall—a destination beloved for how it tumbles over a short, rocky cliff and into the crystal-clear Deschutes River while surrounded by a juniper-covered canyon. That emerald-hued pool, while scenic all year long, is especially popular with swimmers when the weather heats up in summer. Water levels range from about three or four feet deep near the edges of the river to upwards of 10 feet deep close to Steelhead Falls itself.
Hiking to Steelhead Falls entails following a mostly flat, half-mile (one-way) trail to the waterfall itself. Though you might see cliff jumpers, we’d recommend against it; water levels can be low, especially close to the shore and at the height of summer. Be careful when navigating the rock formations and shrubs while trying to find a good place to swim; the waterfall is not managed for swimmers going off trail, and you may have to follow uneven surfaces or scramble around some rock to reach the shoreline. If visiting between spring and fall, keep an eye out for rattlesnakes along the trail.
Lake Billy Chinook
The Cove Palisades State Park surrounds Lake Billy Chinook—a massive, man-made reservoir where the Crooked, Deschutes, and Metolius rivers come together just eight miles southwest of Madras. There, visitors enjoy a wide range of activities on and off the water—such as hiking, camping, boating, paddling, and even swimming.
More than 70 miles of shoreline can be found at Lake Billy Chinook, much of it in the shadow of a staggering rimrock canyon that traces millions of years of natural history in Central Oregon. With so much shoreline to choose from, it’s a good idea to narrow your swimming-hole search to some of the park’s most popular day-use areas.
Swimmers can choose between the Upper Deschutes Day Use Area and the Crooked River Day-use Area—both of which offer well-equipped experiences for groups of all sizes. The fun at each day-use area includes sandy beaches, kid-friendly floating docks (which help block some waves and creates a more peaceful swimming experience), fully accessible kayak launches, picnic tables, and flush toilets between April or May and October.
Top Places to Swim in Sunriver, Oregon
SHARC Aquatic Center & The Cove at Sunriver Resort
You’ll find a pair of popular, family-friendly swimming pools around Sunriver.
The Cove Aquatic Center at Sunriver Resort, open exclusively to resort guests, provides year-round swimming opportunities all year long—complete with an indoor and outdoor pool, jetted spas, a winding waterslide, and plenty of patio space to work on your tan.
The SHARC Aquatic Center is open year-round, with (heated) indoor attractions all year long and outdoor attractions between mid-June and Labor Day. The fun at the Sunriver, Oregon, swimming pool includes an adults-only hot tub, a kids-only pool, twisting waterslides, and more.
The SHARC pool in Sunriver is popular with families, so learn about other popular kid-friendly activities in Central Oregon.
Deschutes River Swimming Near Sunriver
The slow-moving Deschutes River provides plenty of opportunities for a quick dip around Sunriver.
The Cardinal Landing Bridge, which crosses the Deschutes in the heart of Sunriver, is accessible by bike or foot—so you won’t have too much competition for the grassy beaches or calm, quiet waters at its base. And while we understand the urge to dive off the bridge, we’d caution against it; the waters below are extremely shallow.
Across the river from Sunriver, at a bend in the Deschutes, Besson Picnic Area sits surrounded by towering stands of ponderosa pine. There, away from the crowds, you’ll enjoy a few picnic tables, boat ramp, and grassy meadows that offer easy access to the river.
Cascade Lakes Near Sunriver
As you head west from Sunriver, you quickly ascend into the Cascade Range—and toward many of the lakes that draw visitors all summer long.
Roughly 24 miles west of Sunriver, the glacier-formed Cultus Lake sits at the base of North Cultus Mountain and is a popular swimming hole in late July, August, and September. The lake’s teal waters are never more scenic than under the summer sun, and the tip of South Sister rises above the surrounding tree line for added scenery.
And about 25 miles southeast of Sunriver, Paulina Lake provides swimmers with the rare chance to splash around inside the caldera of an active volcano. The lake resides within the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, and views from the water include centuries-old lava rock, jagged peaks, and thick forests of pine. Just note that Paulina Lake is fed by snowmelt, and the water may be extremely chilly into July.
Curious about other ways to enjoy the rivers and lakes of Central Oregon? Check out our guide to how to beat the high desert heat—complete with ideas for swimming, paddling, rafting, and more.
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