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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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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Deschutes River Photo Tour
Running through the middle of Bend, the Deschutes River offers plenty of amazing photo ops. Whether we decide to go through downtown Bend, Dillon Falls, or Shevlin Park, the Deschutes River never disappoints.This tour can include some moderate walking. We'll show you our favorite shots based on how active you want to be.Private Tour capped at 2 people to ensure personalized instruction and individualized attention.Tour Price: $299 up to 2 people
$299
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Volcano Tours
The story of Central Oregon’s explosive geological history.Adventure: Wanderlust Tours is the premier destination to explore the belly of a volcano in Bend, Oregon! Join us on this super engaging series of walks inside this massive volcano. Naturalist Guided Experience: At 6,300 feet, our journey will take us to a mountain of pumice and obsidian— black volcanic glass integral to human life! We may explore the shores of the sparkling Paulina Lake where Native Americans once called home. Our knowledgeable guides can introduce you to an old-growth hemlock forest where you’ll see decaying logs that possess more living mass than when the tree was alive and standing. Cool facts like this await illumination on our volcano trip. A combination of short, easy walks totaling just under 2 miles.Our Volcano Tour is the perfect outing for your corporate group or family reunion in Bend, Oregon because it caters to all ability levels!
$75 - $100
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Bend Rock Gym
1 LOCATION – 3 GYMS – INFINITE POSSIBILITIES!
$15 - $20
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Local Pour Craft Beverage Tour
About The Local Pour Craft Beverage TourAdventure: Wanderlust Tours is the premier provider of craft beverage tours in the Bend, Oregon area! Tasting, enjoying friends, comfort and safety are what you can expect on this trail of sipping adventure. Naturalist Guided Experience: Bend’s locally owned pour houses provide tantalizing tastes for the curious tongue! Did you know Bend is home to artisan distilleries, cideries, wineries and kombucha breweries? Join us on a Local Pour adventure to try delectable samples and see behind-the-scenes at a local production facility— get the best of all taste-bud-arousing-worlds in this immersive craft beverage tour!Libation Stops: Your professional guide will provide insights into the processes of distillation, fermentation, and the craft of libation production. Each Local Pour Tour is unique, visiting our partners at their availability. Your expert guides will provide personally tailored information about fermentation science.Three pour houses, with a behind-the-scenes look and light appetizers at one stop.
$100
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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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Limited Entry Cave Tour
Adventure: Wanderlust Tours is the premier destination for cave tours in Bend, Oregon! Join us on this epic subterranean tour on Bend’s ponderosa pine-studded high desert. Our renowned naturalist guides will highlight sweet bits of these cool caverns that might not initially meet the eye. This experience is private, not a public accessible cave. Naturalist Guided Experience: During our 2 hours underground, in the darkest, quietest spot earth can provide, we may impart an understanding of the region’s geology- how massive volcanoes created these wonders. Or we might share how the cave habitat provides for creatures important to human life. 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. Caves: Bend’s lava caves have a delicate ecosystem that few have experienced to the fullest! Wanderlust Tours is the only guide company permitted in these special lava caves. These caves are also wild, meaning they do not have a paved path or lighting. Closed toe shoes are recommended for navigating the uneven rocky surfaces. Cave Difficulty: Mother Nature has created a wonderfully diverse array of caves that offer a variety of experiences. All of the caves we visit are wild, meaning other than the staircase to enter them there are no man made improvements put into the caves (walkways or lights). The walking surface is uneven and can be varying degrees of rugged and rocky.In our estimation, this cave presents an easier degree of difficulty. The walking surface is mostly level and sandy with occasional rocky sections. There are still fun opportunities towards the back of the cave for some scrambling and crawling for those interested.On all our cave tours, our guides are attentive to keeping the pace suitable to all members of the group so that everyone can move at a comfortable speed.
$85 - $110
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Smith Rock Sunset Photo Tour
If you enjoy scenic views of deep river canyons, Smith Rock State Park is the place for you. There are several thousand climbs, hikes and mountain bike trails in the park, so we can often see several climbers as well as some wildlife including golden eagles, prairie falcons, mule deer, river otters and beavers.This tour can include some moderate hiking, or we can shoot right from the parking lot. We'll show you our favorite shots based on how active you want to be.Private Tour capped at 2 people to ensure personalized instruction and individualized attention.You'll have around 2 hrs on location. We'll keep shooting up to 30 mins after sunset. A night photography extension can be added.Tour Price: $299 up to 2 people
$299
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Scenic Hot Air Balloon Flight
We operate flights from Smith Rock Ranch in Terrebonne OR, about a 30 minute drive north of Bend. When preparing for your flight with us remember to dress warmly and in layers. Early mornings are always cool in the high dessert, but it warms up quickly and you'll want to adjust accordingly. Temperatures in flight are actually much warmer than on the ground. A hat and comfortable shoes or boots are recommended, no open toed shoes or sport sandals.We conduct one flight a day early in the morning when wind conditions are calm and the air is stable. Safety is our top priority, flights are conducted only when the weather and wind conditions are favorable. Departure times vary from 6AM-8AM depending on the time of year. We will check-in with you the night before your scheduled flight to confirm the meeting time and location. we typically like to be in the air within 1 hour of sunrise.Flight time is approximately one hour with the entire experience taking about three hours. We can carry up to six passengers per flight, cost is $275/person for 2 and $250/person when booking 4 or more. Please inquire for private charters. All passengers must sign the Flight Waiver prior to your scheduled flight.
$250 - $275
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.