Shevlin Park sits amid an old-growth forest of ponderosa pine near the western edge of Bend, essentially sandwiching the bubbling Tumalo Creek, and offers a glimpse at much of what makes the region so special.
On one hand, a seasonal paved road offers easy access to the banks of Tumalo Creek, and picnic tables make it easy to enjoy a hearty lunch. Then again, much of the park can be accessed only through hiking and mountain biking trails that offer plenty of solitude—even on busy summer weekends.
The 4.5-mile Shevlin Loop Trail offers a fine introduction to the park’s highlights—including quiet forests, lemon-scented sagebrush, and the meandering Tumalo Creek. A one-mile (round-trip) interpretive trail, meanwhile, begins at Fremont Meadow inside the park and offers up-close views of wetlands, wildlife (including woodpeckers), and riparian forests.
Snow blankets most of the park’s well-graded trails in winter, turning them into popular snowshoeing and cross-country skiing paths—beloved for their close proximity to town and varying degrees of difficulty.
Open Season
Year-round
Dog Friendly and/or Leash Rules
Leashed dogs are permitted.
Best time to visit
March-Oct.
Don’t Miss
The Shevlin Loop Trail offers a scenic look at the various ecosystems—high-desert terrain, old-growth pine forest, and laconic river canyon—that makes the park so special.
Fees or Pass Needed
None
Restrictions
Motorized vehicles and stock are not permitted in Shevlin Park.
Activities
Walking
Picnic Tables
Biking
Snowshoeing
Parking
Three parking areas, two with restrooms, are near the northern edge of Shevlin Park.
Directions
Shevlin Park is roughly five miles northwest of downtown Bend via NW Galveston Ave., NW Mount Washington Drive, and NW Shevlin Park Road.
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