Things to do & places to visit in Central Oregon, Oregon, United States

Central Oregon district in Oregon, United States. Timezone: America/Los_Angeles, current date and time: Sunday, May 05, 2024, 8:28.

Top things to do (21)

Top places to visit (27 attractions)

5.0 Sahalie and Koosah Falls (274 reviews)
- Beautiful
Waterfalls

Went last week. We were easily able to see the first waterfall but there was snow on the trail (late April) and too difficult to walk in althetic shoes to the second waterfall (most who continued had boots and walking sticks). Still worth stopping to see. See more..
5.0 Deschutes River (259 reviews)
- Lower Deschutes River guided fishing trip
Bodies of Water

Took a guided fishing trip with Fly and Field Outfitters. It was an awesome trip with good friends, great fishing, and exceptional customer service by the guide team. A special shout out to guide Justin Francis! He was patient and very knowledgeable making it a great experience! See more..
5.0 McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass loop (241 reviews)
- Lots of Curves
Scenic Drives

Eighty-two-mile scenic byway offering the best foliage in the state. See more..
5.0 Oregon Observatory at Sunriver (212 reviews)
- Incredible Observatory
Observatories & Planetariums

There’s no better place! The local elevation, pitch dark surrounding and crystal clear air make it perfect for star gazing. You won’t be lining up for one telescope. The Oregon Observatory is the largest astronomical viewing facility in the United States. Feast your eyes on far away galaxies. Recognize the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter. Witness a meteor shower. Get a glimpse of globular clusters, nebula and deep space binary stars. See more..
5.0 Deschutes National Forest (205 reviews)
- Hunting Wild Mushrooms!
National Parks • Forests

Encompassing more than 1.6 million acres of Central Oregon, this region extends for about 100 miles with a scenic backdrop of volcanic mountains of the Cascades. See more..
5.0 Painted Hills (128 reviews)
- Best of the three Units
Spent 2-3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Geologic Formations • Scenic Walking Areas

I visited the Painted Hills near Prineville on a fine afternoon in June and enjoyed the fabulous views. It appears this Unit is the most popular of the three units of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, and I agree with that view. The colorful stripes and ripples on the mounds and mountains of Painted Hills can be enjoyed just from the overlooks, though there are a few trails if one wants to spend more time. The Carroll Rim trail is the longest with some steep sections; but the view from the top of the rim is gorgeous. The main parking in the Unit has a wonderful picnic spot and when I was there in June the area was chirping with all kinds of birds. The Painted Hills is very beautiful with striking colors of geology. See more..
5.0 Hosmer Lake (119 reviews)
- Loved, loved, loved this lake!!!
Bodies of Water

Loved, loved, loved this lake. Stayed four days in the Mallard Marsh Campground. We brought our SUPs and paddled every day. The lake sits in the shadow of Mt. Bachelor, South Sister and Broken Top. Very shallow (average depth is 3 feet) with gin clear water, you see large brook trout swimming below you. This is a fly fishing only lake, barbless hooks, catch and release. Loved paddling through the canals with the reeds on both sides and countless birds singing around you. Summer time weekends this lake can get a bit crowded, but during the week there is room for everyone. We will definitely keep this one on our list of favorite paddling lakes. See more..
5.0 South Sister (89 reviews)
- Really hard hike!
Mountains

One of the hardest hike I have ever done. Definitely be prepared, have plenty of water, and good hiking shoes. This hike gets harder towards the summit, so take your time hiking to the top. Once you get to the top the view is amazing. See more..
5.0 Erickson Aircraft Collection (68 reviews)
- Interesting stop
Speciality Museums

Spotted a sign for this place as I was leaving Madras and called in on impulse. Was able to park right outside the door. Think it was only $9 admission and there was lots of information as well as a large number of exhibits. Lad on the front desk was very friendly and helpful. See more..
5.0 Deschutes River Trail (61 reviews)
- Beautiful country view close to town
Biking Trails • Hiking Trails • Scenic Walking Areas

A popular 10.5-mile mountain biking trail in Oregon's Deschutes National Forest. See more..
4.5 Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint (715 reviews)
- great, quick, paved, safe day hike (only 2 hours)
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Parks • Hiking Trails

what a great hike, about 3 miles, but the first part out of the parking lot was not paved, but the trail met up with the paved roadway, and it was amazing, steep in parts, but the views were breathtaking, or was that my out of shape body telling me otherwise. this only took about 2 hours, including time at the top for the rest of us to catch out limited breaths. a must do.. See more..
4.5 Tumalo Falls (706 reviews)
- Beautiful falls
Waterfalls

Absolutely stunning waterfall among the fall colors. Easy directions. The 2.5 mile graded dirt road was a bit rough the first mile but was much nicer the closer I got. The pay kiosk is just onto the start of the unpaved road and you need to pay for the pass there as there is no kiosk at the trailhead. ( cards only at kiosk) Parking is limited at the trailhead, and if you have to park on the road it’s a bit of a hike up. Easy walk to the lower viewpoint. The .25 mile hike to the upper viewpoint is steeply uphill, but the path is wide and smooth and easy to stop and catch your breath. See more..
4.5 Mt. Bachelor Ski Area (686 reviews)
- Good old moody Bachelor
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Ski & Snowboard Areas

Mt. Bachelor is the 6th largest ski resort in North America, with 4,323 acres of skiable terrain. This unique Pacific Northwest volcano is the only 360 skiable summit and home to Woodward Mountain Parks. With 101 ski trails and 13 chairlifts - Mt. Bachelor has skiing and snowboarding terrain for all ages and abilities. Mt. Bachelor's Nordic Center has 56 km of daily, groomed Nordic trails for skate and classic skiing, in addition to a network of snowshoe trails. Season pass, lift tickets, rentals, lessons, and more information are available at mtbachelor.com See more..
4.5 Lava River Cave (462 reviews)
- Highly recommend
Caverns & Caves

This was our favorite experience during our trip to Oregon. It is a must see. The cave is quite cold so be sure to dress accordingly with long pants and a jacket. I even used my gloves. It is very dark so be sure that each person has a light source so they can clearly see where they are going. The $5 rental lanterns are very strong and allow you to see all the features of the lava tube. There are a number of stairs at the begining of the cave, but after that the terrain is pretty flat. Don't miss out on this incredible experience. See more..
4.5 Lava Lands Visitor Center (396 reviews)
- Newest National Monument
Visitor Centers

The interpretive hub for the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. See more..
4.5 Old Mill District (266 reviews)
- Beautiful area for enjoyable walk
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Neighborhoods

The Old Mill District along the Deschutes River is home to Bend's premiere shopping, dining and entertainment experiences. Take in concert at the Les Schwab Amphitheater, go for a run along the Deschutes River Trail, or simply stroll from shop to shop with friends and family. The Old Mill District also boasts more than 12 riverfront restaurants that feature everything from exotic happy hours and fine dining to kid-friendly family-style meals. More than just a shopping and dining district, the Old Mill also includes a 16-screen IMAX movie theater, three art galleries, a bike rental station and a kayak/surf/stand-up paddle board shop that'll have you on the river in no time. Coming to Central Oregon during the holidays? Don't miss our one-of-a-kind Santaland and roving carolers throughout the Old Mill. We also provide free horse carriage rides to help visitors tap into their holiday cheer! See more..
4.5 Sparks Lake (262 reviews)
- Great Paddling
Bodies of Water

Center lake shallow, gets deeper as you paddle south. We have secret camp tucked away. Been canoeing since 70’s, spent 5 anniversaries there. Few fish at south end. Kids filled canoe with salamanders. Crowded now a day—get there early. Has ramp but so many people can not use ramp—I now have row boat on trailer. Camping around lake may not be allowed—stay at Elk or Hosmer See more..
4.5 Trail to Benham Falls (246 reviews)
- An easy walk with lots of shade
Biking Trails

Very easy to navigate and find. Our party of six went during stage 2 of shelter in place and it was easy to stay six feet away from everyone. It’s an element easy walk, however I don’t believe wheel chair accessible because of the place we went had stairs, but there might be areas to just view. See more..
4.5 Drake Park (216 reviews)
- Pleasant riverside park
Spent < 1 hour Parks

While on a visit to Bend in June, I took a leisurely walk in Drake Park on a weekday afternoon. The neatly maintained walkways and the beautiful Mirror Pond made for a pleasant afternoon. The bridge crossing the pedestrian Deschutes River is lovely. There was plenty of free parking on the street. Drake Park is a good community park to visit. See more..
4.5 Deschutes Brewery (200 reviews)
- Ya Have To
Sunday: Breweries

Based out of our production facility in Bend, Oregon, our Tasting Room offers complementary beer samples, plus the option to purchase flights, pints, and snifters of cider and beer. Public and private guided brewery tours depart daily. Our tours provide you with an up-close glimpse of our production facility while learning about our history, culture and the details that set us apart. Go to our website to book a brewery tour or to view our opening hours - Cheers! See more..
4.5 City of Sisters (183 reviews)
- Wonderful Small Town
Spent < 1 hour Neighborhoods

I visit this area each time I travel to central Oregon. There are many attractions in the area, including Wizard Falls fish hatchery along the Metolius River where you can fly fish, there is an amazing rodeo in the summer (you can rent a cabin or park model mobil home), several lakes in the nearby area, beautiful views of the Three Sisters Mountains, craft shows (quilt show, etc). Well worth a stop in this small friendly town. I would suggest making lodging reservations ahead of time as there are only a few hotel/motels in the area and they fill up quickly during the summer months. See more..
4.5 Tumalo State Park (172 reviews)
- A wonderful park to hike
Sunday: State Parks

This is an absolutely lovely state park located in the city of Bend, and a great place to spend the day hiking! It was only $5 to park for the day which I thought was very reasonable! I spent about two hours at this park, but you could easily spend the whole day! I choose one hike, the Canyon Loop Trail. I'd say it was a moderate level hike, and very scenic along the river, tall rocks and forest. I saw an otter and many small birds. It was not too crowded on the Saturday I visited. There is very helpful signage along the trail so you do not get lost. It was chilly but sunny and a perfect day to hike. See more..
4.5 Todd Lake (130 reviews)
- Very nice, very popular
Bodies of Water

A great easy hike with a beautiful lake (go around it for maximum effect, not just to the near shore). However, it's popularity has led to quotas and a reservation system, making it not a destination for spur of the moment. If you do go, avoid the temptation to head out of the lake basin - there are considerable difficulties and no reasonable path back to a trail. Been there, done that. See more..
4.5 La Pine State Park (113 reviews)
- Nice SP with hook ups
Parks

Friend and I stayed here for 2 nights. Clean bathrooms, nice showered with hot water. Camp host friendly. Clean campground. A lot to see and do in the area. We were gone most of the day exploring and slept well at night. We went to lava lands, saw the Big Tree and drove to some lakes in the area. We would stay again. See more..
4.5 Lake Billy Chinook (91 reviews)
- Awesome Family Day!
Bodies of Water

Rented 21' Fireball speedboat w swim deck from Cove Palisades Resort for 8 hours, no regrets!! Very professional/helpful employees. Over 100F, barely felt it. Bimini cover and SPF a must, very little shade after 10. Started at 9, recommend this. Explored all arms of lake, stopped in our favorite inlet twice to swim/ float. Water green by mid August but no after effects as others mentioned, felt very clean and refreshed! Rock formations above just beautiful. Lake big/wide enough so can tube easily! Sandwiches at Cove store great! Family w teens and 8 yr old. See more..
4.5 Clear Lake (91 reviews)
- Blue-green and crystal clear
Bodies of Water

This is the source of the McKenzie River and offers hiking worth exploring. See more..
4.5 Brasada Ranch (82 reviews)
- Where great memories are made!
Ranches

Brasada Ranch is an expansive 1,800 acre resort named "Oregon's Best Destination Resort" by The Oregonian and is ranked #1 on Conde Nast Traveler's Best Resorts in the Pacific Northwest. Come experience The Ranch Life for the day. Day visitors are welcome to Brasada Ranch; treat yourself to organic body treatments and massages at Spa Brasada, equestrian trail rides through the studded hills, seasonal farm-to-table dining, scenic hikes through miles of dirt and paved trails and end your day with house made s'mores by one of the many outdoor fire pits. The panoramic views of the Cascade Mountains and High Desert are unparalleled to anything you've ever seen before. If you're stopping by for more than the day, stay in a luxurious Ranch House Suite or spacious Sage Canyon Cabin or Cascade Cabin. Guests also receive access to the 17,000 square foot Athletic Center with indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs and world class golf at Brasada Canyons, private for resort guests and members. No matter how long you stay at Brasada Ranch, we guarantee you won't want to leave. See more..