With the early arrival of spring in Central Oregon, it’s time to start transitioning what activities we do. Ski racks turn into bike racks and snowmobiles turn into kayaks and paddleboards. Not sure what to do with your time in the changing season? Here is a short guide of a few things to do around Bend that will let you enjoy the warmer weather.
Starting off, spring skiing at Mt. Bachelor is in full swing with 60-degree temperatures, soft snow, bright blue skies and parking lot tailgates. Mt. Bachelor’s spring pass is currently on sale and can be used from April 1 until the closing day. The mountain has some fun events planned for the spring, including the Big Wave Challenge from March 27-29, Subaru Winterfest from March 27-29, Red Bull Roll the Dice on Saturday April 11, RendezVan from April 16-19, and the annual Pondskim on May 24 conditions permitting.
Springtime conditions are back for mountain biking with endless trails to explore around Bend. Some popular riding spots around town are Horse Ridge, Horse Butte, Maston Trail System, Cline Butte, Gray Butte and the lower elevations of Phil’s Trail. Bendtrails.org is a great website to look at for all of the different trails, the conditions, maps, descriptions, photos and discussions from people about how the trails are riding. Multiple bike shops around Bend provide rentals if you don’t have a bike yourself.
Bend also has no shortage of hiking options, ranging from easy to more challenging. Stay close to town with the scenic Deschutes River Trail, where miles of paths follow the river through forests and downtown stretches. For something quick, hike up Pilot Butte for panoramic views, or explore the peaceful trails that go through Shevlin Park along Tumalo Creek. If you’re up for a short drive, head to Tumalo Falls Trailhead for a waterfall hike, or venture farther out to places like Redmond and Madras. AllTrails is a great place to look for different hikes; use the map to explore what Bend and the surrounding areas have to offer.
Smith Rock State Park’s legendary climbing makes for a great spring activity. If you are new to climbing, there are multiple guide services available that take people out for private climbing lessons or large group climbs. There are even some easy bouldering routes that you could just throw your climbing shoes on for. Smithrock.com is filled with all different kinds of information about the park, including where to find the climbing guides, weather and even live webcams. If you don’t feel like driving out to the state park, a closer option in town is the Circuit bouldering gym which offers indoor bouldering for people with all different kinds of skill levels.
These are just a few of the many things that you can do in the springtime around Bend, but they’re really just the tip of the iceberg! As we await the opening of the Cascade Lakes Highway and for the river to warm up, consider getting up to the mountain for some spring skiing, check out Smith Rock for some epic climbing or hit the hiking and biking trails for some real springtime fun in and around Bend.
