When summer arrives and the temperatures rise, visitors and locals throw on their swimsuits for a day of cannonballs, waterslides, and cooling off in waterways across Central Oregon.
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 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.
Essential Central Oregon Water Safety & Planning
Spring swimming: Many of Central Oregon’s lakes and rivers are fed by snowmelt, so water temperatures may remain extremely cold well into summer—especially at higher elevations. Stick to popular and established swimming holes, which are known for warmer water, and be aware that conditions might not be safe until mid-July in some instances.
Life jackets: If your aquatic activities include paddling or boating, keep in mind that all children 12 and younger must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket whenever the craft is underway. Life jackets are also generally a good idea for everyone 13 and older, as well. A few life jacket loaner stations are available along the Deschutes River in Bend in case you forgot yours at home.
Algae blooms: Algae blooms may render some swimming holes unsafe for swimming—especially at the height of summer, when water temperatures are warmest and conditions are ripe for blooms. Before heading out, check current cyanobacteria advisories to see whether any restrictions may be in effect at your desired swimming hole.
Mosquitoes: They’re a fact of life in Central Oregon, but mosquitoes don’t have to ruin your day. Aim for a midday swim, when mosquitoes are less active, and spray yourself down with an EPA-approved bug repellent (available at REI, Fred Meyer, and other outdoorsy stores) at least 15 minutes before taking a dip. Good news: You’ll face fewer mosquitoes in August and early September.
River currents: If you’re swimming in a stream, creek, or river, always check river currents before cannonballing into the water. Do this by watching drifting logs or sticks to see how fast they move downstream, looking for swirls and ripples, and checking conditions through resources like RiverApp. Currents typically slow as summer progresses, but you’ll always want to check to be sure. Also note that currents are slower, and conditions may be safer, near the riverbanks.
Get more information on our water safety page.
Top Places to Swim in Bend, Oregon
Bend Aquatic 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.
Wide beaches with gentle grades at Farewell Bend Park make it easy for swimmers of all ages to wade into the river’s shallow, slow-moving waters. 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. Since this is a city park, no passes or permits are necessary.
Nearby, Riverbend Park provides convenient river access and swimming at the southern edge of the Old Mill District. A gentle, sandy grade eases swimmers into the water, and the shallow shoreline offers plenty of space to enjoy a little solitude. No passes or permits are required, but note that parking may fill by midday on summer weekends. If you park in the surrounding neighborhood, be sure to pay attention to signs with current parking restrictions; consider starting across the Deschutes in the Old Mill District, where parking is more plentiful, and walking over to Farewell Bend Park for your swim.
Looking for other ways to enjoy the Deschutes River and other regional waterways? Learn how to float the Deschutes River in Bend.
Cascade Lakes Near Bend
Bend sits at the doorstep to the Cascade Range, home to plenty of alpine lakes.
Along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, Elk Lake sits about 33 miles west of Bend and 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 lake is also popular for stand-up paddleboarding.
The quiet Sunset View Day Use Area, on Elk Lake’s eastern shore, is an especially popular swimming hole at the height of summer; swimmers can take a dip via gradual slope into the water from along a lengthy stretch of sandy shoreline. Parking is limited, so consider swimming at another day-use site on Elk Lake (like Beach Picnic Area) if you can’t find a spot. The Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway usually opens to vehicle traffic in mid-May or early June, snow typically melts around Elk Lake by early July, and the warmest water typically arrives between mid-July and early September.
If you’re closer to Sisters, the kid-friendly Scout Lake Day Use Area sits just south of Suttle Lake. There, swimmers 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.
Note that a federal recreation pass, such as a Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass, is required when parking at swimming holes and day-use sites at Scout Lake and along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway. Cell service may limit your ability to purchase a digital day pass, so procure your pass before heading out of town.
Top Places to Swim in Sunriver, Oregon
SHARC Aquatic Center & The Cove
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—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 provides (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. Check their website for changing admissions rates.
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, 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 a shallow, slow-moving bend in the Deschutes River. A mostly flat grade into the water makes Besson Picnic Area ideal for young children looking to splash about. A Northwest Forest Pass, America the Beautiful Pass, or other federal recreation pass is required to park at Besson Picnic Area.
Cascade Lakes Near Sunriver
As you head west from Sunriver, you quickly ascend into the Cascade Range—and toward many of the lakes that offer ample opportunities for swimming, paddling, and other water activities in Central Oregon.
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 early 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.
Consider wearing socks or boat shoes at Cultus Lake, since stretches of the shoreline are somewhat rocky. Cultus Lake is along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, so note that vehicles cannot reach the day-use area until mid-May or early June, depending on when the highway opens, and snow may not melt around the lake until late June or early July. You’ll find the best conditions for swimming between mid-July and early September.
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, and discover natural hot springs on the northern side of the lake (accessible by boat and hiking trail). 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. Paulina Lake is fed by snowmelt, and the water may be extremely chilly into July. The road leading up to Paulina Lake is closed seasonally — usually opening for the summer in late May or early June before closing for the winter between mid-October and early November.
Whether swimming at Cultus or Paulina lakes, you’ll want to purchase a Northwest Forest Pass, America the Beautiful Pass, or other federal recreation pass before heading out. In summer, a welcome station sits along the road up to Paulina Lake and offers the chance to purchase a recreation pass.
Top Places to Swim in Redmond, Oregon
Steelhead Falls
The trailhead for Steelhead Falls, 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 in 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. No passes or permits are required to hike and swim at the waterfall.
See why swimming at Steelhead Falls is one of the best free things to do in Redmond.
Cascade Swim Center
Just west of downtown Redmond, Cascade Swim Center offers 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.
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 swimming.
More than 70 miles of shoreline can be found at Lake Billy Chinook, so consider narrowing your swimming-hole search to 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.
We’d love for you to be informed and up to date on your visit — so keep in mind that Lake Billy Chinook may have occasional cyanobacteria blooms, which can make the water unsafe for humans and dogs. (Advisories are most commonly issued in mid- to late summer.) Check current cyanobacteria advisories to see whether Lake Billy Chinook is currently impacted, watch for visual scum or discoloration, and be sure to rinse off after swimming. If an advisory is in effect, we’d love for you to keep those plans and pivot to other activities around the park—like renting a boat from the Cove Palisades Resort and Marina or hiking the two-mile Crooked River Rim Trail for sweeping rimrock views. See more ideas for enjoying a fun weekend at Lake Billy Chinook.
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.
