Central: Bend Area
Deschutes River Trail - Bend
Location: Start from Farewell Bend Park, parking lot: 1000 Southwest Reed Market Road
Why Go There? Pleasant, popular urban mostly level walk along the Deschutes River offers views, people watching; several miles of add-ons possible.
More Information: Bend Parks & Rec + Outdoor Project
Pilot Butte Nature Trail - Bend
Location: Northeast Linnea Drive/Larkspur Trail: Take Greenwood Avenue (Highway 20) head east. Pass south side of Pilot Butte one mile, turn left on Northeast Azure Drive. Go one block, turn left on Savannah Drive. At next block, turn left on Linnea Drive two blocks to large parking area in Pilot Butte Neighborhood Park (borders Pilot Butte State Park). The trail starts from the southwest end of the lot, to the right of Larkspur Trail.
Why Go There? Easy access from downtown, 1.8 mile roundtrip trail offers clear day sweeping views at the summit; expect to share popular trail. Bicycles not allowed on the trail, but there is a paved road to the summit. Trailhead, summit have bathrooms. No fee required for parking.
More Information: Pilot Butte Hike
Tumalo Creek Trail from Tumalo Falls - Bend
Location: Head west on Northwest Galveston Avenue/Skyliners Road approximately 10 miles, cross the one-lane bridge over Tumalo Creek, turn left onto Tumalo Falls Road 2.5 miles to the parking lot, day-use area (parking can be difficult). Trailhead starts at end of the road (can start with the short trail to Tumalo Falls overlook).
Why Go There? Beyond the impressive (and very popular = crowded) 89 feet Tumalo Falls, there are numerous pretty waterfalls and surprisingly fewer people along the shared use forest trail that borders Tumalo Creek. Waterfall fans should definitely bring a camera. After hiking 3.2-mile gradual mild ascent to Swampy Lakes Trail intersection, there are several options: turn back the way you came; or turn right and head 0.7 miles up towards Happy Valley, take a right, intersect (heavily used by bicyclists, but makes a longer hike) Mrazek trail and loop back to Tumalo Falls on the Farewell trail; or turn left and head back to the trailhead via Bridge Creek, making a shorter loop that passes several more cascades.
More Information: Outdoor Project
Paulina Falls - Paulina Lake Day Use Area, outside of Newberry National Volcanic Monument (also Obsidian Flow loop, Paulina Peak hikes, within Newberry National Volcanic Monument)
Location: From Bend, travel 23.5 miles south on Highway 97, then 12.3 miles east on Paulina Lake Road/County Road 21 to the Paulina Lake Day Use parking lot (day use fee, or recreation passes)
Why Go There? The short fairly level easy hike from the parking lot along Paulina creek that spills out of Paulina Lake leads to an impressive "two-fer": two waterfalls cascade over the cliff. Take the time to walk down to the bottom of the falls, which is really the more impressive view looking up at the falls. Because it's a very short walk, one can continue on the Peter Skene Ogden trail that parallels the creek on the north side from the trailhead, past the falls and heads west for several miles. Or if wanting to get a good climb workout, hike first to the top of Paulina Peak (which can also be accessed by car via a windy long road), offering views down to both Paulina Lakes, the Obsidian Flow from a distance. If doing Paulina Peak hike first, and get an early morning start, might have the hike to oneself, at least on the way up, as it is popular. Another short side loop hike/walk (.8 mile, 200 feet elevation gain): head east past the trailhead to Paulina Peak a short way to Obsidian Flow trail parking lot, and take the "lollipop loop", a must for geology/rock lovers with close up views of huge boulders of glassy obsidian in different colors (NO rock collecting allowed)!
More Information: USDA Rec Area + Big Obsidian Flow Loop Hike + Paulina Peak Trail
Koosah and Sahalie Falls, McKenzie River - West of Sisters
Location: West of Sisters on Highway 20, turn south on Highway 126, turn right at the Ice Cap Campground/Koosah Falls sign. Can walk to Sahalie Falls from there. Or 1/2 mile before arriving to Koosah Falls turnoff (north 1/2 mile), turn right to parking area, short walk to Sahalie Falls.
Why Go There? Both waterfalls are gorgeous, reached via a short, easy to follow loop trail along the McKenzie river from parking areas. Sahalie Falls plunges 100 feet over a natural lava dam, and Koosah Falls has a 70 foot drop. Expect to share trails and falls views as they are popular.
More Information: USDA Rec Area + Eugene Cascade Coast
Additional Resources
Deschutes Land Trust - Bend Area
Offers scheduled hikes, events
Visit Central Oregon - Bend Area
Several easy to moderate trails
Statesman Journal - Bend
Deschutes River trail
Outdoor Project - Bend
Deschutes River Trail, South Canyon