Plan Your Visit To
Tumalo, Oregon
Roughly 15 minutes northwest of Bend sits the community of Tumalo, a city of just 500. But don’t let that small population fool you: Tumalo is home to a burgeoning food scene, creative craft beverage producers, and easy access to some of Central Oregon’s top outdoor destinations.
So the next time you’re in the area, here are a few reasons to make time for Tumalo and its wide range of fun attractions.
Map of Tumalo, Oregon
Want to know where to go around Tumalo—and how to get there? We’ve got you covered with a map of the Tumalo area.
And even though the town shares its name with Tumalo Falls, keep in mind that you won’t find those photogenic falls
around Tumalo; rather, the waterfall is about 30-40 minutes southwest of town—or about 25 minutes due west of Bend.
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Night Photography Tour
Since Bend is located in such an amazing spot with hardly any ambient light, it lends it's self to some awesome night photography. Whether it's the milky way, star trails, light writing or the moon... we can target your tour to your specific night photo goals.Private Tour capped at 2 people to ensure personalized instruction and individualized attention.Tour Price: $325 up to 2 people
$325
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Half Day Boat Trip: Cascade Lakes
A fly fishing trip to one of the Cascade Lakes is best suited for anglers looking for relatively low impact and highly productive outings. If you are interested in a positive first fishing experience with your son, daughter, or non-angling spouse, consider a trip to East Lake or Lava Lake. During the peak of the season on either lake, we can practically guarantee they catch some fish.
$375
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Cascade Lakes Kayak Tours
Join us on this iconic paddling tour on the high elevation mountain lakes in the mighty Cascade Range.Adventure: Wanderlust Tours is the premier destination for canoe tours in Bend, Oregon! Join us on this iconic paddling tour on the high elevation mountain lakes in the mighty Cascade Range. Naturalist Guided Experience: Our renowned naturalist guides will highlight the sweet spots on these stunning lakes that might not initially meet the eye. During our 2 hours on the water, along with the fun and sun, we may impart an understanding of the region’s geology- how fire and ice built and sculpted our landscape. Or we might highlight how wetlands surrounding the lake provide incredible habitat for vocal avians amped on finding great lakeside food! Your crew will be energized with revelations about natural and cultural history that’ll keep your mind humming with delight long after you return home with fond memories of the tour. Location: Wear your swimsuit for a refreshing dip along with eco-friendly sunscreen! You’ll see parts of these large lakes that are only accessible by paddling into the fingers, coves, bays, and wetlands created by ancient eruptions and erosion. With sweeping views of our local mountains, our Bend, Oregon canoe tours have it all!Our kayaks are tandem sit-on-top models, which are comfortable, fun, and easy to paddle. Kayak tours are best for those over the age of 8, and the weight limit is 450 lbs per kayak. If you want to paddle with younger kids, consider our Canoe Tour!
$75 - $100
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Basic Skills Stand Up Paddleboarding
A great launching point for the aspiring paddleboarder, our basic skills standup paddleboard class will prepare participants to confidently explore our area lakes and rivers.A great launching point for the aspiring paddleboarder, Tumalo Creek’s basic skills standup paddleboard class will prepare participants to confidently explore our region’s flat and moving waterways.In the Basic Skills Standup Class you will learn basic paddle strokes, maneuvers, balance, and safety, all while enjoying the support of expert Tumalo Creek instructors.The basic skills paddleboarding class is suggested for beginner paddlers or for the seasonal paddler in need of a quick refresher.This class is intended for paddlers 15 years of age or older. Please call for additional details or any needed accommodations 541-317-9407.
$85
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Singletrack Sampler Half Day Guided Ride
BEND OREGON MOUNTAIN BIKING SAMPLER - HALF DAY GUIDED RIDEPlease see the COVID 19 guidelines that we are following to stay in compliance with the Oregon Health Authority.Bend Oregon is home to some of the best mountain biking in the nation. We have hundreds of miles of trail to share with you, and this ride combines the best of what Central Oregon has to offer. From the world famous Phil’s Trail to lesser-known singletracks loved by locals—shhh, don’t tell—we will hand pick a sampling of trails based on your desires. Looking for a fast-flowing descent? We’ve got it. Want to improve your skills on technical rocky sections? We have that too. Searching for that perfect ride? Let us help.These rides are custom designed as we put riders of similar skill levels together for a half day shred. This is a great ride for the solo rider, the mountain biking family, or for a group of buddies that regularly ride together. We’ll make sure your time with us is optimized for maximum fun and trail time!This Half Day Mountain Bike Ride Includes:3-hour Bend Oregon guided mountain bike ride, personalized to your groupLocal, expert and caring guidesShuttle to the trailheadSubstantial, healthy snacks on the trail including Picky BarComplimentary Deschutes Brewery beer and Humm KombuchaPrice does not include bike rental. See our bike rental page for options.Please contact us directly with questions about the activity.
$64 - $150
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Shoes, Brews & Views Snowshoe Tours
About Shoes, Brews & Views Snowshoe ToursAdventure: Wanderlust Tours is the premier destination for snowshoe tours in Bend, Oregon! Join us to go splashing through the powdery snow in the Cascade Mountains west of Bend, Oregon. Bend? You mean where incredible beer is brewed for sipping splendor? YES!Naturalist Guided Experience: Shoes, Brews and Views says it all- snowshoe to a serene spot, sip suds in true Bend fashion and wonder at inspiring views while at it! This is the Bend lifestyle in which our tour will fill your spirit and mind. Following animal tracks, eating some lichens and running downhill in playful powder demands tasty libations as a reward- whether a locally crafted hopped beverage or root beer for the kids it all goes down well in the forest surrounded by visually splendid peaks. And get this connection, the no-impact-nature of our snowshoe tour produces no adverse affect on what becomes the water for the beer you drink on this experience. Baby, that’s goodness!Location: Snowshoeing tours take place in the areas around Mt. Bachelor and the surrounding Deschutes National Forest of the Cascade Mountain Range of Oregon. New to off-trail snowshoeing? Let Wanderlust Tours do the driving and teach you fun snowshoeing techniques and tricks. All tours include instruction. Wear winter boots and powder/ski pants to keep your feet and legs dry while snowshoeing
$75 - $110
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Full Day Trip: Cascade Lakes
Nestled in the Cascade Mountain Range just west of Bend are over 10 quality stillwater fisheries. Couple these unique fly fishing lakes with the nearby streams, creeks, and rivers, and you get a fly fishers dream. Located a short drive from downtown Bend, these lakes range from modest to grand in size. One aspect they all share is beauty. When you visit one of these fly fishing treasures, youll agree.A fly fishing trip to one of the Cascade Lakes is best suited for anglers looking for relatively low impact and highly productive outings. If you are interested in a positive first fishing experience with your son, daughter, or non-angling spouse, consider a trip to East Lake or Lava Lake. During the peak of the season on either lake, we can practically guarantee they catch some fish. Your guide will meet you at the designated location at a predetermined time. Packed with everything you'll need for a successful day of fishing, you will travel with your guide to the lake of choice. A full day trip will span 8 hours for fishing, and includes a lake-side BBQ lunch.
$500
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Bend Rock Gym
1 LOCATION – 3 GYMS – INFINITE POSSIBILITIES!
$15 - $20
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Cascade Lakes Canoeing
Join us on this iconic paddling tour on the high elevation mountain lakes in the mighty Cascade Range.
$75 - $100
Things to Do in Tumalo, Oregon
The question isn’t finding things to do in Tumalo, Oregon—it’s how to fit it all into your next trip. Here’s a look at the restaurants, bars, and cider makers crafting a creative culture around Tumalo.
Enjoy a quality meal—indoors or out: Tumalo is home to a handful of family-friendly restaurants popular with locals and travelers alike. Tumalo Feed Co. Steakhouse, for instance, has been serving filling steak and seafood dishes since 1991—and pairs its meat-forward menu with live music on the restaurant’s patio. Pisano’s Woodfired Pizza, meanwhile, serves a wide range of artisan pizzas made with fresh, local ingredients whenever possible. And if you’re feeling indecisive, Tumalo is also home to The Bite—a food truck pod comprising five carts that dish tacos, pizza, sushi, American comfort food, and Thai cuisine; a partially covered outdoor space invites diners to sample their way through the pod’s many offerings, occasional live music adds to the atmosphere, and several taps pour some of Central Oregon’s best-loved beers and ciders. For more on the culinary scene around town, get the skinny about restaurants in Tumalo, Oregon.
Float the Deschutes River: Most floaters around Central Oregon put their tubes and rafts in the Deschutes River around Bend—but a quiet stretch around Tumalo offers the opportunity to spend a lazy summer day away from the biggest crowds, all surrounded by grasslands and peaceful forests of ponderosa pine. Would-be floaters can walk the Deschutes River Trail to find a good put-in spot along the slow, shallow stretch of river near Tumalo State Park—or put in at the park and float through the heart of town, up to an hour away.
Sip some quality cider: Tumalo is home to one cider maker—and it just happens to be one of Central Oregon’s best. Tumalo Cider Co. launched in 2014 and, since then, has made a name for itself crafting crisp, dry ciders that bypass sweeter flavors for a more balanced approach. Popular offerings include huckleberry lemon, raspberry, and pomegranate pear. If you want to learn more about the area’s burgeoning cider scene, check out our page on cideries in Tumalo, Oregon.
Kick back with a cold one: Tumalo is home to a few watering holes that boast friendly atmospheres, extensive drink selections, enjoyable diversions, and more. Tumalo Tavern, for instance, offers plenty of natural light (and not just Natural Light) to go along with local beers and wines, pool tables, karaoke, and wood-fired pizza. If you want to keep the night going, we’ve put together a guide to bars in Tumalo, Oregon.
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Things to See in Tumalo, Oregon
Ancient forests of juniper, the bubbling Deschutes River, and sweeping mountain peaks—you’re never far from epic views around Tumalo. Here are a few fun ways to enjoy the city’s natural beauty.
Take in panoramic mountain views from the tasting room at Crater Lake Spirits: Just about two miles west of Tumalo, the Crater Lake Spirits tasting room pairs its award-winning, small-batch spirits with views of nearby Cascade peaks. The distillery has been going strong since 1996 and, today, produces a wide range of whiskeys, flavored vodkas, and gins (with wild juniper berries picked in Central Oregon). Looming to the west are the snow-covered Three Sisters. And if you’re curious about the craft spirits scene around the region, learn more about distilleries in Central Oregon.
Enjoy the sights at Tumalo State Park: Just five minutes south of town sits one of Central Oregon’s most popular parks. Discover Tumalo State Park for pleasant camping (the park hosts 77 sites and seven yurts, with showers and flush toilets throughout the campground) alongside a day-use area next to the Deschutes River—where anglers can fish for brown and rainbow trout, paddlers can put in and take out, hikers can access the 12-mile Deschutes River Trail, and picnickers can relax in a forest of juniper and ponderosa pine.
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More stories from Tumalo
More inspiring stories, adventures, and tips & tricks for planning and experiencing the best Central Oregon has to offer.
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Top State Parks to Visit in Central Oregon
A trip to Central Oregon is usually one with ample time spent in the great outdoors. From the expansive high desert landscape to the Deschutes National Forest and all the rivers, lakes and sometimes volcanos in between, Central Oregon is an outdoor adventurer’s paradise. What better way to explore the region than to take a tour of the local state parks? To get started, check out these six state parks to get an idea of what Central Oregon is all about.
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Central Oregon Campgrounds: Tumalo State Park
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, pretty drive from the middle of town.
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Beyond the Beer: Bend Craft Spirit Scene Forging Own Path
Central Oregon might be known for Craft Beer, but we’re also known for Craft Spirits. “You can and people do make an entire vacation out of touring Central Oregon and all we have to offer in the culinary world,” said Alan Dietrich, CEO of Bendistillery. Bendistillery opened in 1996 and has grown massively ever since.
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Scenic Bikeways Showcase Central Oregon’s Backroad Beauty
Oregon’s official scenic bikeways are the first of their kind in the U.S – and Central Oregon is home to 6 of the state’s 11 most beautiful bike routes. An absolute summer must for road cyclists are riding the best of the best – our scenic bikeways. Every rider can find a ride to suit their style and mood, from family-friendly to adventurous.