Plan Your Visit To
La Pine, Oregon
With a population of fewer than 2,500, La Pine seems like an unlikely gateway to some of Central Oregon’s most popularoutdoor destinations. But what the city lacks in size, it makes up for with close proximity to several trips’ worth of recreation—from the nearby Newberry National Volcanic Monument to the chilly waters of Wickiup Reservoir. And even after you’ve enjoyed a day outdoors, the city still has plenty of hidden gems—ranging from small-batch distilleries to up-and-coming dispensaries—that invite visitors to linger a little longer.
Here’s a rundown of things to do in La Pine, where to go nearby, and how to have a fun adventure on your next visit to the city (named, yes, for the surrounding stands of ponderosa pine).
Map of La Pine, Oregon
Want to find your way around the La Pine area? Here’s a map with attractions, highlights, highways, and other important information:
Things to Do in La Pine, Oregon
Whenever you visit, you’re never short on fun things to do in La Pine, Oregon. Here’s a rundown of some of the city’s most popular activities all year long.
While the night away: La Pine boasts several bars and tasting rooms with atmospheres ranging from relaxed and laid back to boisterous and lively. Legend Cider, for instance, is the city’s first cidermaker—and pours a variety of fun, fruity flavors; its outdoor space hosts a few food carts and offers plenty of room to stretch out. Just down the highway, Vic’s Bar & Grill is a rollicking roadhouse that hosts live music, elevated pub grub (from massive burgers to broasted chicken), pool tables, darts, and more. For more on nightlife around town, check out our page on bars in La Pine, Oregon.
Play a few holes: La Pine sits just 15 minutes south of the public Quail Run Golf Course, an 18-hole championship course that offers plenty of fun for golfers of all abilities. Four sets of tees create course lengths from 5,400 to more than 6,800 yards—and views range from bucolic forested settings to wide-open panoramas of nearby peaks and hillsides. And if you’re looking to hit the links elsewhere around the region, we have plenty of information on golfing in Central Oregon.
Sample spirits from Badlands Artisan Distillery: Since 2020, Badlands Artisan Distillery has taken a creative approach to crafting its unconventional spirits—like a sweet vodka made with plum and sloe berries, and a vodka finished in repurposed wine barrels. Find its spirits at bars and stores around town, or pick up a bottle from Badlands’ production facility. For more on craft spirits around town, learn more about distilleries in La Pine, Oregon.
Dig into a filling meal: Whether spending the night nearby or passing through, chances are good you’ll want to kick back with some grub in La Pine. Fortunately, several restaurants offer a variety of cuisines—including Ponderosa Pizza Parlor (which serves pies piled high in a classic pizza parlor setting) and Cinco de Mayo (home to creative margaritas and filling chile rellenos since 1995). No matter what sounds good, read up on restaurants in La Pine, Oregon.
Check out La Pine’s dispensaries: Despite its relative size and rural location, La Pine boasts three marijuana dispensaries around town. Since 2015, for instance, HD Botanicals has employed friendly budtenders who can offer personalized recommendations on flower, pre-rolls, vaporizers, edibles, and other products; the dispensary even offers a drive-thru lane where visitors on the go can pick up their pre-ordered product. Learn more about dispensaries in La Pine, Oregon.
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Top Areas to Check Out Near La Pine, Oregon
La Pine is a fun destination in its own right, but the city also serves as a waypoint for visitors exploring the nearby Cascades, alpine lakes, Newberry Volcano, and more. Here are a few fun day trips or overnight outings for exploring the landscapes surrounding La Pine.
Newberry National Volcanic Monument: Check out the Newberry National Volcanic Monument for a look at 500,000 years of Central Oregon history. Spread across the monument’s 57,400 acres are dozens of explosive attractions—including the Lava Butte cinder cone, the eerie Lava Cast Forest, the mile-long Lava River Cave, Newberry Caldera, the other-worldly Big Obsidian Flow, and the 80-foot Paulina Falls. Within the Newberry Caldera (the centerpiece of the monument) sit six tent and RV campgrounds with shoreline camping, boat ramps, and restrooms—just in case you need another day or two to see it all.
LaPine State Park: Just 15 minutes north of town and set in a forest of ponderosa pine, LaPine State Park is an idyllic basecamp for year-round outdoor recreation. Summer means exploring the mountain biking and hiking trails that run through the park, standing at the foot of “Big Tree” (the largest in Oregon), floating the Deschutes River, or staying the night in the park’s nearly 130 campsites (in addition to 10 log cabins); in winter, visitors cross-country ski and snowshoe the park’s trails, which occasionally afford dramatic views of nearby Cascade peaks. Discover LaPine State Park, and learn more about other national and state parks in Central Oregon.
Wickiup Reservoir: Just a half-hour west of town, Wickiup Reservoir offers some of Central Oregon’s best fishing and wildlife-viewing. Anglers love trying to catch brown trout (which can reach 20 pounds or more in early spring), kokanee, and coho salmon in the reservoir’s cool, deep channels—while wildlife around the reservoir includes several species of gull, sandpipers, falcons, deer, elk, raccoons, and bats.
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More stories from La Pine
More inspiring stories, adventures, and tips & tricks for planning and experiencing the best Central Oregon has to offer.
Newberry Crater: Ancient Attraction is an Activity Hub
It’s hard to believe, but 25 years ago, the volcanic features that make up Newberry National Volcanic Monument weren’t protected. If it wasn’t for a group of concerned Central Oregonians, the monument wouldn’t exist. “In the late 80s, at the time, the collaborative process we see today for land-use planning just wasn’t as common.
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 Winter Adventures
WHEN THE SNOW FLIES, CENTRAL OREGON SHINES. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE.
Great Getaways: Newberry Country
When plunging into a multi-day adventure in Central Oregon, the number of choices can be well, overwhelming. There is just so much to do in this four-season playground that a traveler can be forgiven for suffering from a little indecision. One strategy is to break down the area by geography, clustering activities together that are within striking distance of a home base, be it a hotel, cabin, or RV parking spot.
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.
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.
The Scenic Waterfalls in Central Oregon
Is there anything more satisfying—anything more awe-inspiring—than gazing upon a thundering waterfall, its raging waters tumbling over ancient rock walls? Does it get any better than seeing a waterfall reach full boil in the midst of an otherwise quiet river as it crashes through a rock-lined canyon?
