As spring turns to summer, blue skies provide the perfect backdrop for your next outdoor adventure, while comfortable temperatures offer ideal conditions for enjoying a day in nature.
And what that day in nature looks like is up to you. Get the adrenaline flowing with scenic mountain biking trails and hikes that end at sweeping viewpoints—and recharge with river floats, disc golf courses, and stand-up paddleboarding. After the sun sets, pitch a tent and stargaze under some of the world’s clearest night skies.
Here are just some of the top summer activities around Central Oregon.
As you start making plans and booking reservations, a few friendly reminders: Plan a weekday trip (if possible), and try to start your outdoor activities by 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. for more solitude on the trail and at your favorite lakes. Wherever you go, make sure to apply plenty of sunscreen and drink lots of water.
Outdoor Activities in Central Oregon
Your options for outdoor adventures are limited only by how many days of vacation you have. Get on the water, hike and mountain bike our trails, spend a night under the stars, and see your favorite bands at outdoor concerts. Here are a few ideas to inspire your next trip.
Golfing
With 300 days of sunshine annually, it’s no surprise Central Oregon is a golfer’s paradise. In all, nearly 30 courses cover the region, offering fast-playing fairways, thoughtful layouts, and all manner of natural features—including the occasional cluster of lava rock—that show off Central Oregon’s natural beauty. Play your way through the Central Oregon Golf Trail, and get the skinny on stay-and-play packages, featured resorts, upcoming events, and the region’s best views.
Outdoor Concerts
Central Oregon is paradise for outdoor enthusiasts—so why should that end when you finish your hike or get off the water? Across the region, outdoor concerts and music festivals keep the party going all summer long.
Between May and September, a wide range of performers—including classic rock mainstays, up-and-coming artists, and stand-up comedians—take the stage at Hayden Homes Amphitheater on the banks of the Deschutes River in Bend. The fun doesn’t stop there, though; multi-day music festivals and popular concert series pack the calendar throughout the summer—including the Big Ponderoo Music and Art Festival in Sisters, Munch & Music series in Bend, and the FairWell Festival and Cascade Equinox Festival in Redmond.
Stargazing
Starry night skies are a hallmark of Central Oregon evenings, and stargazing has become a popular pastime across the region—where planets, shooting stars, and even the Milky Way make regular appearances all year long. (We even wrote about why stargazing is so easy and popular in Central Oregon.) Prineville Reservoir is an acclaimed International Dark Sky park and the hub of outdoor adventure.
You can also sign up for dark sky adventures with local outfitter Wanderlust Tours, whose guided outings include nighttime canoe tours, snowshoe excursions, and stargazing in the Oregon Outback.
Get started with our guide to observatories and stargazing in Central Oregon.
Discover Central Oregon’s Dark Skies
Check out our Dark Sky Guide for unforgettable stargazing in Central Oregon. From Sunriver to Sisters and Antelope to Prineville Reservoir, watch far-off planets, twinkling constellations, and even the Milky Way in some of the world’s clearest night skies.
Horseback Riding
Embrace your inner cowpoke, and try horseback riding in Central Oregon. Mosey through wide-open meadows, at the base of khaki-colored rock formations, and into forests of ponderosa pine with outfitters who are happy to provide training and lead you on a memorable ride. Some even let you feed the horses before or after your trip.
Zip Lining
Mt. Bachelor is best known as a wintertime destination, but the iconic peak offers plenty of fun after the snow melts—including the Mt. Bachelor ZipTour Adventure. The zip line adventure—which you can do side-by-side with a friend—drops about 1,400 vertical feet in three separate stages for a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled adventure. Views of Tumalo Mountain, Broken Top, and the Three Sisters get more impressive as you descend the volcano’s rugged slopes.
More Outdoor Activities in Central Oregon
Boating
Numerous lakes, rivers, reservoirs, streams, and more span Central Oregon, providing plenty of fodder for active boaters.
South of Bend, in the heart of an active caldera, travelers can rent all kinds of craft through Paulina Lake Lodge and go boating inside an active volcano. Further north, Cove Palisades Resort and Marina rents ski boats, runabouts, and even houseboats at the miles-long Lake Billy Chinook. Cultus Lake Resort sits along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway and offers jet ski, pontoon boat, and ski boat rentals in late spring and summer.
Fishing
Anglers of all stripes love fishing in Central Oregon waterways—where they enjoy the region’s cool, deep river channels; chilly reservoirs; and protected waters that allow bass, kokanee, and several species of trout to thrive.
The Metolius River—just outside Camp Sherman—is noted for its productive runs of wild rainbow trout and kokanee salmon. (Just be sure to check with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for gear and catch restrictions before casting your fly.) Near Sunriver, Crane Prairie Reservoir is renowned for its trout and bass populations; boat rentals, gas, tackle, and other services are available between April and October at the reservoir’s Crane Prairie Resort. Read more on fly fishing on the Deschutes.
Kayaking and Canoeing
From mountain lakes to high-desert reservoirs, you’re never far from your next canoeing or kayaking adventure.
The 15-mile-long Prineville Reservoir State Park, for instance, offers plenty of room to paddle alongside rugged rock formations, sprawling hillsides, and elegant pine forests. Sparks Lake, surrounded by lava rock and forests of fir, is another popular paddling spot in the Deschutes National Forest that’s beloved for gorgeous sunsets and views of nearby Cascade peaks. Get more ideas for kayaking and canoeing in Central Oregon.
Tubing in Central Oregon
The upper Deschutes River around Bend, Sunriver, and Tumalo is known for its wide channel, slow currents, shallow waters, and scenic natural surroundings—all of which make it the perfect place to go floating each summer.
The stretch of Deschutes River in Bend is a particular favorite; here, floaters pass the Old Mill District and enjoy a quick (optional) series of class-II rapids at Bend Whitewater Park. Get the skinny on floating the Deschutes River in Bend. Further upstream, floaters can enjoy a quieter experience while floating around Sunriver. Get started with our guide to tubing in Central Oregon.
Rafting in Central Oregon
If you’re up for a thrilling day on the water, learn all about rafting in Central Oregon. Just outside of Bend, Big Eddy Thriller delivers class-III rapids and is a rite of passage for whitewater rafters. Further north, the lower Deschutes River around Maupin cuts through rimrock canyons—with half-day and full-day outings available for paddlers of all skill levels.
Stand-up Paddle Boarding
In recent years, stand-up paddle boarding has become the activity of choice for Central Oregonians and visitors alike.
Devils Lake sits just outside of Bend and is beloved for its crystal-clear waters, myriad mountain views, and stunning scenery that includes porous lava rock and pine forests. Outside La Pine, savor the flatwater offerings at Paulina Lake or East Lake, both inside the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. For more ideas, start planning your next stand-up paddle boarding tour out of Sunriver.
Hiking
You could spend years hiking around Central Oregon’s high desert, old-growth forests, alpine lakes, and volcanic landscapes—and still only scratch the surface of what the region has to offer. (Believe us, we’ve tried.) Check our page on hiking across Central Oregon to get inspired and plan your adventure.
If you’re hiking or backpacking certain trails within the Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington and Three Sisters Wilderness areas between mid-June and mid-October, you may need a permit through the Central Cascades Wilderness Permit System.
Trail Running
On your next visit to Central Oregon, lace up your sneakers for a run that may head through pine forests and wide-open high desert, along the banks of crystal-clear rivers, and past ancient rock formations. Our wide variety of landscapes, hundreds of miles of trail, and sunny skies mean you’ll always have more room to roam while trail running in Central Oregon.
Biking
Sweeping backroads and forested mountain bike trails span the Central Oregon landscape, making it a world-class destination for cyclists of all stripes—whether enjoying road rides or shredding backcountry trails.
Our scenic bikeways traverse little-traveled roads in the heart of pristine wilderness areas, gravel rides head through high-desert landscapes, and mountain bike trails descend the slopes of iconic volcanoes and wind through ponderosa pine forests mere minutes from Bend. So hop in the saddle and see our area from your road ride, gravel bike, or mountain bike. Learn more about biking in Central Oregon.
Camping
Central Oregon is home to dozens of scenic campgrounds, so it’s no surprise camping is one of the region’s most popular outdoor activities.
Each has its own charms, but a few favorites include LaPine State Park, which sits along the Upper Deschutes River near La Pine and hosts nearly 130 tent and RV sites, as well as 10 cozy cabins; Creekside Campground, home to 68 sites along Whychus Creek—and a short walk from downtown Sisters; and The Cove Palisades State Park, where you’ll find more than 175 tent and RV sites, as well as three cabins, near the shore of Lake Billy Chinook.
If you’re jonesing to spend a night under the stars soon, plan your trip with help from our page on campgrounds in Central Oregon.
Climbing
Rock formations big and small dot the Central Oregon landscape, drawing climbers to our countless routes. Smith Rock State Park is the birthplace of sport climbing in the United States and is the region’s most popular climbing destination today, thanks to several thousand climbs (many of which are bolted routes) on dust-colored rock formations. Further east, the 350-foot Steins Pillar is a popular climbing outpost in spring and summer—and can be accessed via 4-mile round-trip hike. For more, check out our page on climbing in Central Oregon to get started.
Disc Golf
More than a dozen disc golf courses cover the Central Oregon landscape, making it a fun place to play for casual players and avid aficionados alike.
The Hyzer Pines Disc Golf Course, just west of downtown Sisters, offers an approachable introduction to the sport with a mostly flat, 18-hole course. Further east, the Pine Nursery Disc Golf Course hosts 18 holes at the northeastern edge of Bend and delivers wide-open views of several Cascade peaks. Explore more on our region’s courses with our page on disc golf in Central Oregon.
Indoor Activities
Not all of Central Oregon’s top sites are outdoors. In fact, you’ll find plenty of indoor activities in Central Oregon, with a wide variety of fun for everyone in your crew.
Popular stops include indoor trampoline parks for the little ones, fascinating museums that explore the people and history of Central Oregon, tours and tastings at our award-winning wineries, and world-class breweries, art-house movie theaters, boutique shops, and more.
