This "simplest" yet most complex form of climbing offers a unique blend of mental problem-solving and physical engagement,...

You’ve driven past the iconic wooden Cascade Lakes Recreation Area sign on Century Drive dozens of times and...

Overlanding is as Much About the Journey as the Destination Look out, Redmond. On June 27-29, 2025, the...

Flowing Voices Apologies to Ted Lasso, but water (not football) is life. It’s Earth’s secret sauce, the magic...

In Bend, nature and solitude can be found right outside your door.

Get ready for a cosmic spectacle, 2025 offers a variety of notable astronomical events! 2025 is packed with...

Rowing for a Record Last summer, humpback whales spouted and breached around Bend natives Jennifer and Kristen Hofer’s...

Wildlife and Wildflowers As summer approaches, the wilderness around Bend is brimming with hikers eager to summit buttes...

Marathon training is not for the faint of heart, with only 1% of Americans ever finishing one. However,...

As you descend from the main trailhead at Smith Rock State Park outside of Terrebonne, it’s hard not...

Sundrenched trails beckon high desert adventurers as the days grow longer this time of year. That means you...

In Bend, there is no shortage of adventures to be had. But, not having the proper gear and...

Winter fishing in Central Oregon falls into the Big Risk, Big Reward category. The rewards, which outweigh the...

Mt. Bachelor rises out of the Central Oregon landscape as both a landmark and a playground. Known for...

Roughly 71 hours and 58 minutes before most adult hockey pickup games in Bend, a ritual ensues. Phone...

The mountains aren’t just a playground; they’re launchpads for world-class athletes. For Bendites, much of that credit goes...

Bill Healy brought Central Oregon ski dreams to life. Healy’s vision was realized as a Bachelor Butte, renamed...

Snowmobiling has become a popular recreational activity in Central Oregon, with the Newberry National Volcanic Monument being a...

These Bendites get your sticks in top shape for a slippery season on snow. You know the feeling....

Bachelor is open. The road is slick. Don’t be that driver.  When Mt. Bachelor opened on November 15,...

Get Hooked on a Sport Where Excitement and Teamwork Create Community Jason Gockel felt the alarm bells ringing...

Words and Photos Bring the Lives of Oregon Athletes into Clear Focus Some of Ben Kitching’s favorite childhood...

Dry-Land Training Minimizes Injury and Maximizes Fun on the Slopes As the summer heat wanes and the first...

City Projects and Nonprofits Pave the Way for Urban Cycling ILLUSTRATIONS BY DAVI AUGUSTO, INSPIRED BY JOE KLINE...

Over the years, Bend has earned a dog-friendly reputation, and even accolades. The city was named the most...

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in central Oregon is often criticized for its repetitive, wooded scenery and mosquitoes....

Central Oregon's beach volleyball scene is thriving with numerous sand volleyball courts, clinics, tournaments, and leagues, providing opportunities...

Mark your calendars, cycling fans! The iconic Cascade Cycling Classic Criterium made its triumphant return to Bend on...

A Community Connected by Surf An hour remains before sunrise. The city sleeps, but it’s time for “The...

Here’s Everything You Need for an Epic Outdoor Adventure Summer is in full force, which means it’s time...

Octane Adventures offers guided and self-guided tours of Central Oregon's backcountry, including the High Cascades Scenic Tour and...

Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort in Warm Springs, Oregon is reopening this summer, offering visitors the chance to experience...

Not long ago, the Old Mill District was filled with actual mills, the Whitewater Park was simply whitewater,...

Gaining traction as production boards became available in the 2000s, the International Surfing Association, founded in 1964, calls...

Bill Amerongen creates one-of-a-kind fishing rods that are designed and built to be fished hard, with each rod...

The Three Sisters Wilderness is a spectacular region of shimmering alpine lakes, old-growth forests and wildflower meadows, including...

Central Oregon residents and visitors have made Sunriver a place to rest, relax, and enjoy the outdoors for...

Mt. Bachelor offers a wide range of activities year-round, including skiing, snowboarding, Nordic skiing, backcountry skiing, terrain parks,...

Visiting Bend, Oregon, often has many reaching for their mountain bikes or skis. Bend locals here have made...

Of Oregon's 17 scenic bikeways, six are in Central Oregon. All will benefit by slowing to appreciate the...

The mission of the Bend Paddle Trail Alliance is to promote and establish a navigable paddle trail within...

Regardless of who you are, starting something new can be intimidating. It can be especially intimidating if you...

A bounty of spring and summer wildflowers blesses Oregon. Early in the season, wildflowers arise and unfurl their...

While mountain trails are buried beneath blankets of snow, what better way is there to enjoy spring than...

Smith Rock State Park offers world-class rock climbing, and Bend Rock Gym offers 31,000 square feet of indoor...

The Phil's Trail network was created by a group of visionaries, builders, and riders in the 1980s and...

SAIF provides tips on staying healthy and safe while enjoying outdoor activities in Central Oregon, including protecting your...

Graham Zimmerman is an alpinist known for establishing dozens of new routes and first ascents up the world's...

There are different types of avalanches and in the Central Cascades, many come from new snow forming either...

Throughout winter, Mt. Bachelor buzzes with activity that most of us Bendites never see. Beyond the groomers and...

When the days get shorter and colder, many Central Oregonians will trade their mountain bikes for skis and...

It’s not just skiers who have wintertime fun on winter trails. Modern snowshoes are now lightweight, rugged and...

Mt. Bachelor Mountain Report: February 28, 2025 Skiers and riders are enjoying sunshine, soft snow and 4,323 acres...

Segments for all Seasons on the Deschutes River Trail The Deschutes River Trail (DRT) connects people to nature,...

For those anxious to test their ski or snowboard legs and get a jump on the season, early...

Although the end of summer brings shorter days, fall weather brings phenomenal trail conditions for mountain biking in...

Trails that are clear of snow and crowds.

Each September, the Thrilla Cyclocross Series has been the heart of casual bike racing here in Bend for...

The words of John Muir—“The mountains are calling and I must go”—echo with every footfall and inspire the...

Mountain biking starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.

Routing the Climbing Course It’s late morning as Alan Watts pulls up at Smith Rock State Park. We...

Throw, Hike, Repeat Just about every 1970s American household had at least one Frisbee sitting on a garage...

A short walk from the forested parking lot to the put-in above Benham Falls on the upper Deschutes River....

Enjoy the heat while it lasts! Here’s a run-down of ten ways to cool off in the high...

Winter is a long season in Bend but that’s also why many of us live here. For Bend-based,...

The first rule of gravel riding: Always carry a first-aid kit. And salami. Oh, and a fly rod...

Fair-weather skiers rejoice the return of Oregon’s ideal conditions. 

Photo by Trevor Lyden While more established winter pastimes such as Nordic and downhill skiing have surged in...

The Meissner Nordic Ski Club was at it again, and the Forest Service roads and paths southwest of...

Plus, where you can bring your dog.

The Lightning Springs trail offers a spectacular shoulder season hiking opportunity to explore the western flank of ancient...

I arrived in Paisley in the afternoon with the sun still high. Michael Norris, owner and guide of Paisley...

Mount Ashland, 4:40 a.m.—With the sun still hiding behind the evergreens, nearby speakers sparked to life as music...

Rent a mountain bike in Bend and you’ll likely find these guidelines on a sticker attached to the...

Mackenzie Stabler was nervous. Dressed in a waxed canvas vest with a badger fur collar and a black...

The bug bit early. LB Gossett first started rollerblading as a child, at an indoor skating rink called...

They say geology is the study of pressure and time. Lucky for the rockhounds in Central Oregon, geological...

Photo by Nate Wyeth On a hot summer’s day in Bend, it can seem like the entire town...

The best way to keep from growing old, according to Tim Casinelli, age 54, is to never lose...

When the frost has thawed and the stoneflies make their debut, it’s go-time in the Lower Deschutes River...

The Madras East Hills Trail System is Central Oregon’s newest and potentially unique trail system, offering downhill-adrenaline and...

Want to up your own tailgating game? Learn from these Central Oregonians who take après outdoor gatherings to...

As climate change becomes one of the most significant issues of our time, POW is turning outdoor enthusiasts...

Every few years, gear, equipment and mountain culture have a way of reinventing themselves. Terrain parks have transformed...

Bend’s backcountry is alive and well, with more people choosing to explore these areas than ever before. Ready...

The Willamette Pass area has it all: sno-parks, snowmobile trails, a ski resort, overnight lodging and restaurants, plus...

The weather might be cooler, but some trails typically remain snow-free and just right for an easy hike.

Fall provides an excellent opportunity to access two higher elevation hikes in the Central Cascades west of McKenzie...

Finding ways to alter one’s state of consciousness is human nature. For some, the gravity-assisted sport of downhill...

The intoxicating combination of the McKenzie River and the Willamette National Forest is extraordinarily otherworldly.

While the majority of park visitors enjoy only the overlooks and viewpoints along Rim Drive at Crater Lake...

Try these four shoulder season hikes located in the high desert or Cascade foothills while waiting for hot...

Not a bad way to wake from a winter slumber.

For many reasons, exploring what lies beyond the out-of-bounds signs of developed ski resorts by backcountry skiing is...

Time to lace up sneakers, skip the treadmill and hit the trails.

As cities in Oregon continue to develop and expand, the likelihood of animals getting caught in the middle...

The allure of fly fishing is one that has been deeply romanticized, so much so that it has...

There is an old adage, “If you can walk, you can snowshoe.” This bodes well for a popular...

With winter on the way, here are four of our favorite hot spring adventures for stripping down and...

Open spaces outdoors, distance between players, tee times booked in advance and long, leisurely games—it’s hard to envision...