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Bend Artist June Park’s Paintings Tell Stories

Pablo Picasso said that every child is an artist—the problem is how to remain one once they grow up. June Park, an artist living and working in Bend, is refreshingly honest about how this works: with community.

Park grew up in Moscow, Idaho in the 1980s, the child of Korean immigrants who encouraged creativity and made it part of the home. Though Park, who uses the pronouns they/them, had wanted to pursue a career as an artist and writer when they were growing up, after moving to Seattle for school, and needing to earn money, they earned a bachelor’s in electrical engineering and master’s in human-centered design and engineering. “That degree and the way that you think through ideas is so important for where I am as an artist today,” said Park. “The artistic side was always there, but I had to make money.”

Next Steps

After fifteen years working as a UX designer in the Seattle area, Park took a job teaching digital art and creative innovation, and found they loved working with students every day while also homesick for the high desert and rural landscape they were surrounded by growing up in Idaho. They moved to Bend in 2017, and when the pandemic hit, Park took the chance to pursue art full time and applied for the newly created Scalehouse artist-in-residency program.

Park’s acrylic and gouache paintings are intentional in their design, creation, and narrative. Park wants audiences to see the story in each piece and collection. The paintings feature intricately detailed lines, stark contrasts in color, and surprising perspectives. The line details in the brushwork and sketches create movement, resulting in pieces that capture the energy of their subjects, whether a high desert landscape or portraits of migrant families.

The work in the current collections clearly tell stories, and Park hopes to bring that storytelling to the residency in what they create next.

“It’s really solitary to be an artist,” said Park. “I wanted to connect with other people in the organic way that happens in the creative spaces, and be with other people in the creative process.”

Park is frank about what it takes to be a full-time creative today, and how important it is for artists to find a supportive community, like the one Park is trying to cultivate through art in Bend. Park also credits their partner for making it possible.

“I say I’m a full-time artist, but there are lean months when I definitely get scared and feel like I need to go back to making money,” said Park. “Being an artist is hard because you have to believe that developing your art and craft is worth it despite the sacrifices you might have to make in order to do it. I couldn’t do it when I was younger, but sometimes I think that maybe I didn’t get to do it because it wasn’t my time yet.”

Finding Space

A contemporary art center founded in 2013, Scalehouse had established itself as a respected gallery for contemporary artists, but something was missing. Executive Director René Mitchell said that in a conversation with Patricia Clark, a founder of Scalehouse and driving force of the art community in Central Oregon before she passed away last year, Clark said that she wanted to see the process—to see behind the curtain and to witness the mess of artists creating. That’s when the vision for the artist-in-residency program emerged.

“I believe our community loves arts and culture,” said Mitchell. “And with that comes supporting artists and providing them the freedom to create and get messy.”

Rain Carry Us Father and Child painting by June Park

Park’s current work is centered around painting, but the time and space to unleash creativity in a supportive community during the residency has Park considering how else to tell their story through art. Park is also exploring an experiential installation, which is another place where the tech background comes out to play in art. They’d like to create a cohesive exhibition that explores what it’s like to be a rural BIPOC artist and a Korean immigrant who grew up in rural America.

“None of the stereotypes that are put on me fit,” said Park. “I want to tell a more nuanced story of me as a human being and uplift other people about their intersections.”

See junelparkart.com.

Explore Fishing, Rafting and Waterfalls on the Lower Deschutes

When the frost has thawed and the stoneflies make their debut, it’s go-time in the Lower Deschutes River canyon. This part of north-central Oregon is sleepy in the winter, but wakes up in the late spring as the big bugs emerge from the water. While anglers mark the season change with their annual pilgrimage to the river with the hopes of landing a native redside, there’s a host of other activities to enjoy in this part of the region, from rafting to kayaking to hiking. It’s a magical time of year on the Deschutes River, and this season, this river, and all that they offer may convince you to stick around in the canyon for good.

White River Falls — Photo by Adam McKibben

Easy Treks to Stunning Waterfalls

Near Terrebonne, a half-mile hike to Steelhead Falls is well-worth the trip to see this stunning natural display of geology and gravity. The trail is open year-round, but without many trees or shade, the sandy trail is best trekked before summer heat starts to bear down. You may spot some anglers in the area, but it’s most popular as an easy day-hike that suits the whole family.

Just outside of Maupin, White River Falls is equally stunning and significantly less busy than other waterfalls in the region. Before it became a state park, the falls used to be the power source for mid-century hydroelectric dams. Some of the dam structures remain along the river (though the buildings have been boarded up with “No Trespassing” signs), and it’s worth visiting to see and read about the history of the place. Today, the park is mostly accessible, with paved pathways that lead to a view of the falls and grassy areas with picnic tables. A steep path a little less than a mile long will take visitors down to the river, where they can explore the shallow water and cool off in the local watering hole.

A few tips to make the most of the day: Get started early to get to the trailheads before it gets crowded. These are less traveled than other waterfall hikes in the area, but still draw plenty of people on a weekend. Pack a lunch to eat at the falls or make a plan to visit one of the local restaurants afterward. Apply sunscreen and wear a hat. Though it’s not the peak of the warmer seasons, there are few places to hide from the high desert sun out here.

Rafting & Kayaking & Paddleboarding

Maupin is the last town on the 100-mile stretch of the Lower Deschutes River and the basecamp for river recreation. Local river outfitters are just getting their seasons started by May, and on warm and sunny weekends the river will start to fill with rafters, kayakers and paddleboarders. Book a guided trip from one of the companies in town if you’re new to the sport or looking for a low-impact, high-energy family adventure. They will take care of the entire trip—gear, shuttles, lunch and more—so you can enjoy the day. Outfitters such as All Star Rafting, Deschutes River Adventures, and River Drifters are just a few of the companies in town that cater to families. The most popular full and half-day trips take rafters through the classic rapids and on extra excursions, like the natural rockslides below White River Falls.

whitewater rafting — Photo by Steven Heinrichs, courtesy of Visit Central Oregon

Many companies in Maupin also rent gear for those who want to enjoy the river without a guide. Some experience in kayaking or paddleboarding is encouraged, but one of the draws of the Lower Deschutes is that it contains stretches of water that don’t require any technical whitewater skill. Rent gear from one of the local shops, book a shuttle and drive downriver past Sherars Falls to get away from the crowds. Floating from one of the boat ramps down to Macks Canyon, the last takeout on the access road, is a memorable experience. You’ll spot wildlife, practice your paddling skills and see fewer other boats on the water.

Fly Fishing

May is the busiest time of year for fly fishing in this region, because the stonefly hatch draws anglers from around the Pacific Northwest who are addicted to watching big fish bite dry flies on the surface. Trout are eager to feed on large bugs after a winter of measly rations, and anglers take full advantage of the conditions.

If you’re new to the sport, you’ll have much better luck finding fish when you book a guided trip with a local outfitter, who can get you set up, take you to the best spots on the river and help you land a native rainbow trout, named for its striking rouge body. Fly & Field Outfitters in Bend, Fin & Fire in Redmond, Deschutes Angler and Little Creek Outfitters in Maupin, and Fly Fisher’s Place in Sisters all book day and overnight trips. One of the draws of booking with a guide—besides learning from the experts—is to experience the river from a drift boat and to fish the sought-after left bank of the river, which gets much less pressure from anglers. Out of Warm Springs, Littleleaf Guide Service is well-known and guides above Maupin.

Don’t be surprised by the crowds on the river access road in Maupin. There are thirty-two miles of river access available to the public by car, and on weekends in May it will be filled with anglers looking for a place to cast. Stay patient and persistent, and you’ll find some water of your own—and the work is well worth it when you finally land a native redside. Fly fishing can often be about the journey as much as is about the result, but in spring you can have it all. Everything is alive on the river this time of year. Wildflowers and grasses are blooming along the river, ospreys have returned from their winter homes, and a multitude of insects and animals emerge, signaling that the seasons have changed. The confluence of all this just might make a Lower Deschutes believer out of anyone.

Overnight Lodging in Maupin

Oasis Cabin Resort
This historic cabin resort was run by the same family for more than fifty years. In the past few years, it’s undergone substantial upgrades by new owners. Book a cabin for a retro-inspired stay and to hear live music on weekends. oasiscabinresort.com

River Run Lodge
This quiet lodge is tucked within walking distance of the river and the best restaurant in town. Small rooms can accommodate couples, and a larger suite can host the whole family. riverrunlodge.net

Imperial River Company
Located on the water, this hotel offers an on-site bar. Sip drinks and enjoy the firepits alongside the meandering river and wave to rafters as they pass by. deschutesriver.com

A Once-Hidden Gem: The City of Sisters

Is there anything original to say about Sisters anymore? The views are stunning. The food scene is producing some of the most delicious bites on this side of the Cascades (check some of them out in our online dining guide). There are seemingly infinite trails and lakes to explore within a half-hour drive of town. With the addition of Laird Superfoods’ headquarters and manufacturing, the town is building a local economy that can withstand tourism boom and busts. So why don’t we all live there already?

Judging by the real estate market this year, it seems we might all be trying to.

Since bottoming out in 2011, the real estate values in Sisters have continued to climb at a rate on pace with the rest of Central Oregon. In 2015, the median home value was around $300,000. Today, it’s almost $500,000, according to Zillow. Real estate broker Jennifer McCrystal described the current Sisters real estate scene as “very active.”

She answered a few questions over the phone while she was attending a home inspection in Pine Meadow Village, a planned community in Sisters.

“Houses are going so fast,” she said. A townhome that was listed at just under $300,000 and a home in the Village at Cold Springs valued at $360,000 both had immediate offers over asking price. The rush for home buyers in Sisters wasn’t anything new before COVID-19, but the urge to find a home with more space, potentially an office, and a smaller town with more outdoor recreation led a lot of buyers to the town more recently.

“What I’m finding is, I have a lot of clients who are wanting to retire in the next few years, and instead have made the decision to do so now,” she said. “They’re coming from the [Willamette] Valley, San Francisco and Portland.”

Some may recognize McCrystal as the former owner of the Cottonwood Cafe (previously known as Jen’s Garden). She recently sold the café and transitioned full-time to real estate.

“When I moved here fourteen years ago it was a retirement community,” she said. “Now, it’s much more developed. Neighborhoods are filling in. Now there are kids around town … It’s definitely changing the face of Sisters.”

All those changes are good news for the town, with a population climbing toward 3,000. Annual events like the Sisters Rodeo, Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show and Sisters Folk Festival have kept a steady stream of tourists visiting town, but with more people calling it home year-round, local businesses don’t have to rely on the summer months to make their income.

Ken Merrill is one of the small business owners in Sisters that has seen the growth firsthand. His studio and storefront, Canyon Creek Pottery, is located off of the main highway that cuts through downtown Sisters. He’s been a resident since 1998 and opened his pottery business in 2002. “For the most part it’s all been pretty good change,” Merrill said. “New businesses, new buildings. It seems like the city has progressed with the growth pretty well.”

The growth also brought better trail maintenance, more restaurants and more foot traffic to his store. “We’re getting more families coming here,” he said. “It’s a cool mix of people. There’s lots of stuff going on all the time.”

One of the new businesses, Laird Superfoods, has based its manufacturing in Sisters, and is poised for even more growth. In April, the plant-based superfood creator received $10 million in venture capital to increase its operations. The company employs more than 100 people.

The locally owned businesses, the new restaurants and the growing neighborhoods are all well and good, but there’s still really one factor that pulls people in and makes them want to settle down here.

“It’s just the beauty of Sisters,” Merrill said. “We’re located in a place with views of the mountains and the trails and the creeks and the lakes. I see it in my gallery—everyone is talking about wanting to live here. They come here and they’re like, ‘I really want to move here.’ We feel fortunate to live here, especially in the times we’re in.”

Editor’s Note: The article was originally published in October 2020. Click here to read more about SISTERS, OREGON.

Artist Paul Alan Bennett Reaches For The Stars

Sisters artist Paul Alan Bennett marries iconic desert landscapes to the heavens in a new book of works, Night Skies.

It’s 1986, and Paul Alan Bennett is driving alone around midnight toward the tiny town of Jordan Valley, near the Idaho border. He’s on the road through Paleolithic-age marshes, en route to rural schools as part of a state program to bring art lessons to remote communities. The headlights illuminate the path, with waves lapping over it from Malheur Lake, swollen with melting snow. The lake appeared endless, with nowhere to turn off the two lanes of asphalt.

“I just had to keep going, and I became so aware of the landscape and the power of it,” said Bennett. “I was amazed at how dark the sky can be and how many stars I could see. I found it spoke to me—driving off in the night sky—the sense of the scale of things.”

Although he was born in Montana, this was new to him. He came of age in Baltimore, went to the Maryland Institute of Art, and earned a master’s in Greek history at the University of LaVerne in Athens, Greece—places where the night sky is obscured by city lights and pollution.

That night on the road not only inspired the first of scores of works about Earth’s celestial ceiling, but it also ignited his passion for stargazing, informed by the Greek mythology behind the constellations. Bennett wrote a play themed on the night sky and penned star-themed songs for ukulele. Most recently, he self-published the hardcover book Night Skies, which includes forty-four of his paintings. Employing his signature style, the look of knitted fabric created with watercolor, he depicts headlights projecting into the night beyond the blacktop, to a swirl of planetary splendor above.

There’s a paddleboarder with a dog under a full moon and Virgo skies, a climber atop a Smith Rock spire beneath the constellation of Cygnus and a lone red car with beaming headlights joining the Corona Borealis, mythically formed when Dionysus tossed Ariadne’s wedding crown into the night sky.

Each illustration is accompanied by short bits of text such as:

“Look up. Feel the wonder and mystery above you.”
“Feel the moon welcoming your gaze.”
“Feel the night upon your skin.”

More Than A Muse

Yet the night sky is more than Bennett’s muse. He believes it’s a rich part of the human experience now largely ignored.

“That’s how people lived—watching the night sky—it was their Facebook,” he said. “That’s how they would navigate and know when to plant. For thousands of years we were connected [to] the night sky, but that’s not the case anymore.”

Bennett advocates for stargazing’s soothing, nurturing effects on the human brain.

“It’s like a battery of wonder, to be connected and aware of this world, this spinning globe that we’re on and the swirling stars above,” he said. “When you get into negative thinking, or your brain gets stuck in the monkey mind, or maybe just being angry with yourself or thinking bad thoughts and you can’t seem to shake it, you’re in your head, and so the idea of looking at the stars is to get out of your head … getting people out of their computers, their phones and their heads.”

Just as people have embraced a Paleo diet, looking up seems to tap healthy benefits embedded in our DNA too, he said.

“I talked with people about the night skies and it’s almost always a personal, powerful experience,” said Bennett, 69. “It’s a time to connect with the bigger, vaster universe in which we live. It found a way into my work, and I found people really liked that.”

Free Show, Nightly

Central Oregon’s night sky is an asset as great as its mountains, rivers and trails, but doesn’t get as much attention.

“We live in a planetarium, and we have a free show here every night. Well, where’s the money in that?” he said.

Each evening, he looks up from his front porch in Sisters, where he’s lived since 1990 with his wife, Carolyn Platt, also an artist and teacher, and where they raised their son, Parker Bennett, now 27 and studying in Berlin.

“I don’t own a telescope, I just like standing on the front porch and seeing what I can see,” he said. “I like the feeling of vastness—nothing between my eye and the night sky.”

It’s his artistic eye that draws partners and gallery owners. Pendleton Woolen Mills created sixteen tapestries based on his images. People even wear his work, printed on leggings and dresses sold along with his book, original works, prints and cards on his website. Myrna Dow, owner of High Desert Frameworks, recalled discovering Bennett’s work shortly after opening her gallery in Sisters in 2001. One piece stood out to her.

“It featured the Owyhee River. To this day I love the colors, pattern and lyrical feeling of the river and surrounding land,” said Dow. “I knew right then that Paul was a wonderful artist with a unique style. at style is proven to be a very collectible characteristic that is loved by many.”

4 Great Brunch Dishes in Central Oregon

The best dishes in some of the region’s most popular brunch restaurants. Who decided that only moms love brunch? Yes, Mother’s Day is synonymous with brunch, but the dual-purpose meal has become a whole new ballgame. There’s a brunch restaurant for every culinary trend, monster-sized drinks that could easily be a meal on their own and a new use for that charming Craftsman in your neighborhood. In Central Oregon, the brunch line is as ubiquitous as the lift line. With so many options, it’s impossible to narrow down the best or the favorite, but these are the dishes that make us want to skip the standard soggy cereal and indulge.

Christie’s Kitchen
Order: The quiche, made special every day

Christie Bryant of Christie’s Kitchen in Redmond wouldn’t call her restaurant a brunch destination, even if other people might. “We’re a breakfast and lunch restaurant, but we serve breakfast all day,” she said. “Especially on the weekend, our guests really enjoy the option of all-day breakfast.”

Christie and her husband Gary sold their previous restaurant, the Country Nook, over a decade ago to retire. “But I got bored,” said Bryant. Christie’s Kitchen was born in a red house in downtown Redmond six years ago to immediate popularity, given the frequent line out the front door. The menu is diner happiness, from biscuits and gravy to an eight-ounce sirloin to a malted waffle. Homemade cinnamon rolls or muffins are a delicious smaller treat, or go big with chicken fried steak, country gravy, eggs and potatoes.

Bryant’s “brunch” choice? The quiche. She makes it herself with handmade pie crust and different fillings every day. “I like them all, as long as they don’t have mushrooms,” said Bryant. Try the bacon spinach Swiss quiche or the club quiche, which mimics the namesake sandwich with smoked turkey, bacon, American cheese, Swiss cheese, ham and fresh grilled tomatoes. The quiche comes with fruit or hashbrowns, or upgrade to a soup or salad. When you’re finished, wave into the open kitchen to thank Bryant yourself for a great meal—just don’t call it brunch. — Kim Cooper Findling

Chow
Order: The Blackstone

In peak season, there’s going to be a line out the door of Chow no matter what day of the week. Not to worry, though, as there are bloody marys and mimosas to tide you over until you can nab a table at the popular west side Bend breakfast and lunch destination. Known for its commitment to locally sourced ingredients, including from the onsite garden, Chow offers a unique take on traditional and Southern-style flavors. Everything is made from scratch, from the sourdough toast to the innovative hot sauces like habanero carrot at each table.

There are classic breakfast options to choose from, but Chow is the kind of place to get out of your breakfast comfort zone. The Blackstone is a new take on eggs Benedict, with cornmeal-crusted tomatoes serving as the platter for smoked bacon, spinach and two perfectly poached eggs. A bernaise sauce, similar to a hollandaise but with more acidity from white wine vinegar and includes shallots and herbs, is poured over the top of it all. The result is a savory dish that feels fresh with each bite.

Opt for the bacon cheddar grits on the side instead of standard fried potatoes. The Southern delight could be a standalone meal, with bits of bacon and melted cheese inside a not too mushy, not too grainy corn grit. This is comfort food at its finest and what keeps people coming back. — Bronte Dod

Jackson’s Corner
Order: The Cristo

When Jackson’s Corner opened its doors on the corner of Delaware Avenue and Broadway Street more than a decade ago, it was on the leading edge of the local farm-to-table movement, with an emphasis on fresh and local ingredients and handmade breads and pastas. Today the cafe is an institution in Bend, having expanded to a second location near St. Charles Hospital.

The breakfast menu is straightforward, but the execution is pitch perfect on standards like huevos rancheros, prepared with Imperial Stock Ranch beef chorizo, and the playful Green Eggs (and ham), pesto scrambled eggs with shaved parmigiano-reggiano. But if we had to select just one dish that embodies Bend’s brunch ethos, it would be Jackson’s Cristo, a sweet and savory delight that is part lunch sandwich and part breakfast plate in one decadent package.

A variation of the traditional croque monsieur, a fried ham sandwich that appeared in French cafes in the early 20th century, the Cristo takes the concept to another level with egg-drenched French bread enveloping thinly sliced Hill’s ham and Tillamook Swiss cheese. The entire concoction is then pan fried to crispy perfection. Jackson’s finishes the sandwich with a fried egg perched atop. A dusting of powdered sugar and a side of maple syrup completes this brunch de resistance. — Eric Flowers

McKay Cottage
Order: Stuffed French Toast

The service at McKay Cottage is just about as charming as the 20th-century Craftsman that was converted into the brunch destination. Servers buzz around the tables, topping off coffee, chatting with regulars and balancing the plates that come stacked with food. The restaurant is off the beaten path for Bend standards, overlooking the Deschutes River on O.B. Riley Road, but that doesn’t stop the hordes of people who will wait in line for a table.

McKay Cottage has been open for more than a decade and is well known for its scratch-made dishes and freshly baked treats. If your meal doesn’t come with an incredibly light buttery scone, splurge and order one for the table, especially one that comes with a seasonal fruit baked inside. There are more than enough options to choose from for breakfast, including classic favorites such as eggs Benedict and biscuits and gravy, as well as modern takes such as breakfast burritos and even what can only be described as breakfast nachos.

The stuffed French toast is one of the best options. The typical hearty slice of toast is swapped for a flaky croissant, which is stuffed with an Italian mascarpone, a citrus and cheese filling. The entire concoction is dipped in batter, grilled and topped with a strawberry compote. It’s less adventure-fuel and more indulgence, but entirely worth the wait. — Bronte Dod

Bend Couple Personalizes a Semi-Custom Tetherow Home

A Bend couple personalizes a semi-custom design to make their house a bright and modern home in the Tartan Druim neighborhood in Tetherow. (Photo by Eilish and Eric Canady inside the kitchen of their Tetherow Home.)

It’s a sad truth that the home we want to love is just not always worthy of our affection. Such was the case for Eilish and Eric Canady who had lived in their NorthWest Crossing home for ten years. Purchased before their second daughter was born, the house’s 1,700 square feet had become progressively too snug for the family. While looking for the best fit for their family, they found the Tartan Druim neighborhood in Tetherow.

Tartan Druim is made of semi-custom homes, all built by the same developer, Bend-based Arrowood, and designed by architect John Muir. “We streamline the process for the homeowners,” explained Femke van Velzen of Arrowood. “We have a team already in place that relieves a lot of the stress of building a custom home. It gives you a place to start.” Muir developed twelve plans with optional casitas. Homeowners’ can modify the plans to suit their specific needs, tastes and building site. Arrowood also provides help with interior design.

“With this development,” said architect Muir, “Arrowood is exploring more contemporary architecture rather than just offering the more traditional rustic design seen in Bend. Tetherow wants to stress individuality, and every home will be a little bit different.” Beyond Tetherow’s architectural requirements, Muir strongly feels that “people deserve to have what they want.”

Located between the Scottish links-style golf course and a canyon, the gated community affords unobstructed views of the greens and the Cascades. Tartan Druim perks include a common area with a clubhouse, landscaping and snow removal. There are also social and golf club memberships at the David McLay Kidd designed Tetherow, a Golf Digest Top 100 golf course. Other draws include the proximity to downtown Bend, schools, and Century Drive, the gateway to the Cascade Lakes and Mt. Bachelor.

The Canadys were shown a number of home plans that had already been approved for construction by Tetherow, but then saw a 3,500-plus square-foot, one-story, three-bedroom spec design that had not yet been given the go-ahead. Working with van Velzen and Muir, they were able to get the plan approved and make their wished-for modifications. The most visually significant alteration was changing the roofline from a traditional pitched roof to one with shed and flat planes.

Other changes requested by the Canadys included adding a casita and, due to their building site, changing the garage entry from the side to the front of the home. The couple also opted for wood-burning fireplaces, rather than gas. With that switch, they changed the fireplace walls to an exposed wood-form with poured concrete. Visible from both the interior and exterior, the concrete walls provide textural detail and nudge the home closer to the contemporary yet timeless styling the Canadys wanted to achieve.

Making it their own both in design and purpose, the original study will be used as an additional bedroom, and a wooden floor will go down in the garage to provide a practice space for their elder daughter’s Irish dancing troupe.

Besides these small modifications, Eilish Canady said the inside was perfect the way it was designed.

“I really like the indoor/outdoor feeling of the house. I love how the kitchen and living room form one big room, and that the living room wall is a LaCantina [folding] door that opens to the outside. The master is also at the back and has the same views as the living room,” she explained. “We tried to keep all the colors in light, neutral tones so the design and our choices would last a long time.”

“I know the house really well. I visited every day during construction,” said Canady. “Seeing the whole process and knowing the siding guy and the guy who builds the cabinets makes you know your house in a more intimate way.”

“It’s all been pretty easy,” she said of the decision to build their home, “and I’m really excited about us living there.”

Great Late Summer Hikes Around Central Oregon

These trails are perfect for a late summer or early fall hike with views, wildflowers, refreshing lakes and waterfalls.

Pole Creek

In the Three Sisters Wilderness, Pole Creek is less popular than Green Lakes for hiking, but you will probably still run into other hikers on the trail. The Pole Creek Trail leads to Camp Lake, an alpine lake tucked between South Sister and Middle Sister Mountains. This hike is best done as a two-day backpacking trail, as Camp Lake is about 13 miles from the Pole Creek trailhead. The trail is rated as difficult but has stunning views along the way.

Canyon Creek Wilderness

The Canyon Creek Meadows hike in the wilderness area below Three Fingered Jack is an easy four-and-a-half-mile loop for families with kids and is known for its colorful array of wildflowers. The hike is only open in late summer through October, so get there before it closes for the season.

Doris Lake

Off Cascade Lakes Highway, Doris Lake, about six miles from the Six Lakes Trailhead, is a moderate hike since there isn’t much elevation gain, but the out-and-back trail will still cover about a dozen miles for one day. The trail is popular with backpackers, who will hike in and pitch a tent next to the lake for the night.

Tam McArthur Rim

In the Three Sisters Wilderness Area, Tam McArthur Rim is about five miles round-trip, but has plenty of elevation to make it a climb. At the rocky peak, you’ll find expansive views. A portion of the hike is bare of trees, so bring lots of water. Back at the bottom, a small shack sells ice cream. Enjoy a refreshing treat while you soak your feet in Three Creek Lake.

Teddy Lakes Trail

The Teddy Lakes Trail, about four miles from the Winopee Lake Trailhead, is a lesser-known trek in the Three Sisters Wilderness. Access the trail from the popular Cultus Lake Campground adjacent to the Cultus Lake Resort. You’ll soon escape the throngs of tourists jet skis and power boats. You can continue along the loop for a longer hike. Teddy Lakes is also a good spot for backpackers who overnight in the area.

Paulina Creek Falls

Just north of La Pine near Wickiup Junction is the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Here you will find Paulina Creek Falls, one of the least trafficked waterfalls in Central Oregon. The five-mile out-and-back trail doesn’t offer much in the way of elevation gain. Paulina Falls is about eighty-feet tall, and is a refreshing place to dip your feet on a hot day. Up the trail a little further, you can hike to Paulina Lake. Along the Paulina Lake Loop Trail, you can find natural hot springs—the ultimate reward after a hike.

Click here to find more hiking trails in Central Oregon. | Read more OUTDOOR ADVENTURES with us here.

Best Fall Hikes in Central Oregon

Immerse yourself in the beauty of the best fall hikes in Central Oregon as leaves tumble in shades of orange and yellow through the crisp autumn air. Prepare your hiking shoes, pack a delightful lunch, and fill your water bottle, for now, is the opportune time to explore these trails before the arrival of snow and the seasonal closures that follow.

Metolius River

This is a great hike for families. There’s a fish hatchery at the start of the hike that is fun for kids and parents to explore. The trail stays relatively flat as it follows the Metolius River, but there’s a lot to see, including many different springs that appear from the banks of the river. Hiking among the trees, you can easily forget that you’re actually in the high desert of Central Oregon—it feels more like you’re on the wetter side of the Cascades. The Metolius River area is a small, green oasis that pops with color in the fall.

Driving Directions: Take the Camp Sherman turnoff from Highway 20. Follow road 14, and take the right at the fork. Continue for about 7.5 miles, then turn left at the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery. Follow the signs across the bridge to the parking area.
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 4.6 miles out and back.
Dogs: Must remain on a leash.
Other: There are two routes you can take, starting from the hatchery. The upper part of the hike is the easiest and will take you to a small waterfall at the end.

Scout Camp

The hike is part of a new network of trails along the Deschutes and Crooked Rivers. While the hike is relatively short, there’s a lot of adventure in store. This narrow trail descends 700 feet into the canyon.

Driving Directions: Take Lower Bridge Road west on Highway 97, drive about 2 miles, turn right on 43rd Street. Follow for two miles, then turn left on Chinook Drive. Follow about 2.5 miles, then turn left onto Mustang Road. After about a mile, turn right on Shad Road. Then drive another 1.5 miles and turn right on Peninsula Drive. Follow for 3 miles, then turn left onto Meadow Drive. In about .5 miles, turn right onto Scout Camp Trail. Parking and trailhead is at the end of the gravel road.
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 3-mile loop
Dogs: Allowed.
Other: No bathrooms or water at the trailhead. A little over a mile in, there’s a 10-foot-tall rock that you’ll have to scramble over.

Shevlin Park

There are 652 acres available to explore in this forest on the outskirts of the city. Because the park is mostly flat, the trails can easily be used for running or for hiking with kids and family. October is the best time to visit when the leaves are at their peak fall colors.

Driving Directions: Follow Newport Avenue west until it turns into Shevlin Park Road. Follow for about 1.5 miles. Parking is free and on the left side of the road.
Distance: Almost 10 miles of trails, but there are plenty of options to shorten your route.
Dogs: Allowed.
Other: This is a popular spot because of its location in Bend, and parking can be limited. You’ll want to share the trail with mountain bikers, too.

Paulina Creek Trail and Falls

About a 30-minute drive south of Bend in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, the trail along Paulina Creek offers varying terrains. With steep elevation changes and several rocky areas, this is a hike for families with older children. If you do hike the almost 17 miles in one day, you’ll want to start early, pack a lunch and bring plenty of water.

Driving Directions: Take Service Road 21 off Highway 97, then follow signs to Paulina Lake. Continue on the road until you reach the Peter Ogden trailhead.
Difficulty: Difficult if you hike the whole trail, but there is also a good turnaround point less than halfway at McKay Crossing.
Distance: 16.6 miles out and back
Dogs: Allowed.
Other: Open through November. Horses and bikes may be on the trail. Parking and hiking is free.

McKenzie River and Tamolitch Pool

At the crossroads between the Willamette Valley and the high desert of Central Oregon, the McKenzie River hike takes you through many different terrains. While you’ll start the hike among the green Douglas firs, as you gain elevation, you’ll find that the landscape transitions into the dry and rocky ground that dominates in Central Oregon. It’s four miles to Tamolitch Pool. From the top, the view over the pool is stunning. There is a steep descent if you want to get close to the water. The water is unbelievably clear and blue. The best time for swimming is summer. The water is icily cold, and the bottom of the shallow pool is visibly chunked with boulders.

Driving Directions: Take the Koosah Falls/Ice Cap Campground exit on Highway 126. Follow the signs to the parking area and trailhead.
Difficulty: Moderate.
Distance: 4 miles out and back
Dogs: Allowed.
Other: This is a favorite trail among mountain bikers, so you’ll want to be aware of them.

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Search results

Next Steps

Finding Space

Easy Treks to Stunning Waterfalls

Rafting & Kayaking & Paddleboarding

Fly Fishing

Overnight Lodging in Maupin

More Than A Muse

Free Show, Nightly

Christie’s Kitchen Order: The quiche, made special every day

Chow Order: The Blackstone

Jackson’s Corner Order: The Cristo

McKay Cottage Order: Stuffed French Toast

Pole Creek

Canyon Creek Wilderness

Doris Lake

Tam McArthur Rim

Teddy Lakes Trail

Paulina Creek Falls

Metolius River

Scout Camp

Shevlin Park

Paulina Creek Trail and Falls

McKenzie River and Tamolitch Pool

MOST RECENT

Gorgeously Plated Dishes in Bend Oregon

Dine Like a Local Around Bend

Bend’s Ski Tune Masters

Christie’s Kitchen
Order: The quiche, made special every day

Chow
Order: The Blackstone

Jackson’s Corner
Order: The Cristo

McKay Cottage
Order: Stuffed French Toast