Author: Visit Central Oregon

It’s no accident that the fabled Oncorhynchus mykiss, aka steelhead trout, is dubbed the “fish of a thousand casts” It’s not uncommon for novice steelhead anglers to fish for years without ever tying into, let alone landing, one of these powerful and acrobatic sea-run rainbow trout. There’s also a reason…

Forested setting: Check. Gentle flowing river to cool off in: Check. Toilets: Check. Showers: Check. Access to amenities in town: Check, check and check. Tumalo State Park is the state park in Bend’s backyard. It’s located outside the city limits but it’s just a couple of turns and a short,…

When my wife suggested a winter weekend getaway to Sunriver, Oregon my immediate thought was, “Why? The world-class golf courses will be covered with snow.” By the time the long weekend was over, I thought, “Wow. Thank goodness the world-class golf courses were covered with snow.”

Time and time again guests come into our Central Oregon Visitor Information Center in Sunriver and say, “We’re here for a few days. What should we do?” And it’s always the toughest question we get.

Bend sits at the doorstep of Central Oregon’s famous high desert—and the Oregon Badlands Wilderness Area offers a fascinating introduction to the region’s sunbaked ecology. In all, the Oregon Badlands comprise nearly 30,000 acres—largely atop a massive shield volcano just under the surface.

Want to start a debate at a Central Oregon brewpub? Ask a local which season is best: summer or winter? Mt. Bachelor might get all the press – it is the Pacific Northwest’s largest ski area after all. But you’d be hard pressed to find a better summer destination than…