A Weekend In Bend

So you’re planning a trip to Bend, huh? Maybe you’re coming for the killer mountain biking,  the brewery scene, or maybe just to get some more Vitamin D in your life. Steve and I have been living in Bend for 8 months now and we’re loving every minute of it. Need help deciding what to do on  your Bend holiday? Don’t stress… soon enough you’ll be in Bend. Here ya go! And you’re welcome, in advance.

1. Go Mountain Biking!!!

There are so many trails here and a fair number of them link up to each other. Try out the Deschutes River Trail for some easier trails or head over to Phils if you want to get crazy…. or link them up for an epic day of trail riding. Pine Mountain Sports, Bend Cyclery and Cog Wild are great resources for planning your trip.

Deschutes River Trail Lava Island Falls to Aspen

Mountain bike along the Deschutes River.

2. Get out on the Water!!!

Loose your fear of water and sign up for a kayak lesson with Tumalo Creek. Tumalo Creek is in the Old Mill District and literally right on the Deschutes River. Already comfortable on the water? Check out one of the whitewater trips they offer or try out SUP. I cannot wait for the days to be long and hot, so I can head out to Sparks Lake and Devils Lake for a little SUP action. Tumalo Creek also provides SUP lessons.

SUP at Tumalo Creek

SUP at Tumalo Creek

3. Hit the trail with your own two feet.

Try summiting South Sister or hiking into Green Lakes. You’ll have stunning views of Bachelor, Broken Top, and the Sisters. Legs sore from all the mountain biking? Try out the Deschutes River Trail. There are many loop options in town, but there are also options for out and back hikes that are gentle on aching bodies that take in beautiful waterfalls like Benham and Dillon Falls. Have time for a backpacking trip? Try out the Broken Top Loop or hike into Jefferson Park.

South Sister

The trail to South Sister.

4. Take a yoga class.

Yes, you can do yoga anywhere, but after all of the intense exercise your body will need a good stretch. My favorites: Juniper Yoga for hot sweaty yoga or a juicy yin class, The Yoga Lab for detailed instruction, and Groove Yoga for pumping music and a sweaty good time. Or schedule a private yoga session with Ambuja Yoga or Yoga Indigo.

Yoga at Pioneer Park

Yoga at Pioneer Park

5. Drink beer!!!

Okay this one’s a no-brainer. But if you don’t have time visit them all how do you choose? Well, my favorite is Crux Fermentation. They’re just off of Colorado Ave., east of 97. In my opinion they have the best beer in town…and they DEFINITELY have the best view in town. They have a huge patio and grassy lawn in which to hang out and appreciate the mountain views and chill with friends. Next up is Boneyard, in downtown Bend. They don’t serve food, there is nowhere to sit, and they only serve beer tasters and growler fills…. And Wednesday nights the growler fills are only 7 bucks!!!! BOOM!!! My third fave is Good Life, they have a handful of beers on tap and they have a nice big grassy area to chill and play lawn games…. lawn darts anyone? If you’re feeling particularly boozy try out the Ale Trail, just space it out over a couple of days, so you don’t make an ass out of yourself… we see it all too often.

Crux Fermentation

Crux all lit up at night.

6. Have Breakfast at The Victorian Cafe.

Breakfast at the Vic has got to be one of my favorite meals in town. Let’s start with the Proud Mary, a gigantic bloody mary with a grilled skewer of housemade sausage, cherry tomato, red onion and a prawn topped with a chunk of pepper jack cheese. The Proud Mary also has peperoncinis, green olives and a breadstick. Heaven!!! And for breakfast… eggs benedict. They’re the best in town and the specials are to die for… duck, wild boar, lobster….you name it, the Victorian has done a special with it. And don’t forget the french toast!!!! Warning: you may need to clear your schedule for the rest of the day.

Proud Mary at the Victorian Cafe

The Proud Mary….

7. Pre-hike/mountain bike coffee.

There is only one place in town that I visit regularly for a hot cup of joe and that’s Strictly Organic on Bond and Arizona. They usually have 4 different organic drip coffees available on top of all the foofy drinks. I’m partially addicted to their breakfast burritos (get the green salsa) and it’s one of my favorite places to meet friends for coffee or tea. They also have a patio to soak up the morning sun and a drive-up window for people on the go.

Strictly Organic

Strictly Organic’s patio.

I hope this helps you plan your weekend in Bend. If you have any questions send me a message.

Visit Bend‘s website has great info about things to do in town and a calendar of local events too.

Deschutes River Trail: Lava Island Falls to Aspen

Deschutes River trail lava island falls to Aspen

Steve and I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was….we did this hike in January and it was gorgeous!!!

Quick Stats

Distance: approx. 4 miles

Time: 2 hours (at a leisurely pace)

Difficulty: Easy

Dog Friendly: Yes, Off-leash in the wintertime

Permits: Yes, Northwest Forest Pass

Pros: Beautiful, easy trail minutes from town, option to make hike as easy or short as you like

Cons: Can be busy on weekends.

I love heading out to the Deschutes when I only have a couple of hours to kill. It’s so peaceful and the dogs can run and swim and act like maniacs. The trail is popular with dog-walkers because it’s off-leash part of the year and in some sections I think it’s off-leash all year. The trail doesn’t really gain any elevation in this section, just tiny amounts here and there. It follows right along the river and Lava Island is a bird sanctuary, so there are always birds to be seen….. and other “critters.”

Deschutes River Wildlife

Wildlife of the Deshutes River…. ROARRRR!!!

Also, you can’t actually see Lava Island Falls from the trail…if you want to see waterfalls head to Dillon Falls or Benham Falls, both along the Deschutes River trail.

Deschutes River Trail Lava Island Falls to Aspen

Sunny January day!!!

Even in winter the trail is accessible and used by bikers and hikers. And it’s easy enough that you’re friend who NEVER hikes would probably enjoy it. I never need much of a reason to get out here…it’s just so beautiful. In fact, I will probably head out here today….I need to break in my new Brooks Cascadia 9 Trail Runners anyway.

Deschutes River Trail Lava Island to Aspen

I love the old vintage-y look to this photo

Seriously we have seen lots of birds out here: hawks, owls, a bald eagle…. and tons of the usual suspects too.

Deschutes River wildlife

Look out for the T-Rex downriver!!!

To get to the Deschutes River Trail from Bend you just head west on Hwy. 46 for about 7 miles and then turn left (South) onto Forest Road 41, and then east on 4120. Super easy and less than 15 minutes from town!!!

Resources

Best Hikes with Dogs Oregonby Ellen Morris Bishop is indispensable. It’s one of our go to guides for Oregon.

 

 

 

 

Vista Butte Snowshoe

Vista Butte Autumn and Steve

We made it to the top!!! What a view!!!

This winter season hasn’t necessarily been the best for outdoor pursuits, but Steve and I have managed to go snowshoeing at Vista Butte Sno-Park twice this season. It’s literally a twenty minute drive, at most, from our house, it’s relatively easy and it has pretty decent views of Mt. Bachelor, South Sister and Broken Top. Honestly we like this trail because it is little used, so we can let the dogs run around and play in the snow without having to worry about them getting in the way of other snowshoers/skiers.

Quick Stats

Distance: 4 miles roundtrip

Time: 3 hours or less

Difficulty: moderate

Season: mid-December through March

Dog Friendly: Well…if you go to the Deschutes Forest Service site they say dogs are restricted, but the trail is little used, so I don’t think there is a big deal…just don’t leave doggy landmines around for unsuspecting snowshoers/skiers.

Pros: Close to Bend, not much trail traffic, terrific views with little work

Cons: Shares a busy parking space on the side of the highway with snowmobilers, crosses two snowmobile tracks

Permit: Sno-Park Pass required Nov.1 to May 1

Vista Butte view of Mt. Bachelor

Mt. Bachelor

To get to the trailhead head west on Highway 46 for about 18 miles. The Vista Butte Sno-Park is on the right side of Hwy. 46 and is literally just a wide space in the highway directly before the turnoff for Sunriver (Hwy. 45). The parking area for Vista Butte will probably have a handful of snowmobile trailers, but don’t worry you only see/hear them in a couple of places on the trail.

Vista Butte Sal and Jedi

Sal and Jedi in action!!!

For Steve and I this is a pretty easy snowshoe and I think most people in moderate shape will have an okay time with it. The trail gains around 700 ft over about 2 miles with the first quarter mile essentially completely flat. The trail gradually begins to gain elevation.

Vista Butte trail Steve

Loving the fresh air!!! And don’t forget the blue diamonds mark the way.

At about a half-mile in you will get a glimpse of your destination through the trees. And you’ll come to a junction with the lower loop trail. I’ve heard that the lower loop trail is more gradual, but we took the upper loop both times and it was beautiful, so I can’t tell you from experience. The trail does cross two snowmobile tracks, so be mindful and put your pups on leash, so no one gets hurt.

Vista Butte Ice 1

It was super icy when we went up the first time…pellets of ice everywhere.

Vista Butte Bachelor BW

Bring on the snow!!!

Cross the snowmobile tracks and stay on the Butte Trail. You’ll come to an area labeled Bruce’s Ballpark…I’m not sure what the story is behind that, but continue past it and head up the hill along the main trail. There are occasionally boot paths that take a short cut up to the top, but protect the plant life and stay as the trail….trust me it’s not much further. You will be stoked when you get to the top!!! You’ll be blessed with views of Bachelor, Broken Top and South Sister.

Vista Butte view of South Sister and Broken Top

South Sister on the left and Broken Top on the right.

Vista Butte Broken Top View

Broken Top peeking through the trees

Vista Butte View

Looking northeast… I think…

Return the way you came, or maybe check out the lower loop trail.

Vista Butte Ice

One more pic of the crazy ice!!!

Resources

Snowshoe Routes: Oregon by Shea Andersen
Deschutes Forest Service website

 

You Want Me To Write What????

A research paper!!! My jaw immediately drops to the floor and my head spins just thinking about it. For my yoga teacher training we’re required to write a 5-8 page research paper on yoga (and give a 30 minute presentation)….any aspect of yoga, it can really be about anything we want. It took me 3 1/2 months just to pick a topic and now it’s due in three weeks!!!! Eeek!!!

Yes, I’ve begun the research, but it’s so easy to get distracted. Do I really want to read medical studies or do I want to look at pictures of beautiful women doing amazing asanas?(have you seen my pinterest?)…and then try to recreate them…albeit not so beautifully or gracefully or even at all. It’s been tough to stay focused. My goal tomorrow is to atleast get it outlined and maybe one or two sections done.

Oh yeah, my paper’s on yoga and the immune system, which really just boils down to yoga, stress management and it’s impact on the immune system.

If my paper turns out “okay” I’ll post it here, but no promises.

So here’s to having no life!!!

Tumalo Falls to Happy Valley

Quick Stats

Distance: 8 miles roundtrip (can also make a loop out of it if you want)

Time: 3 1/2-4 hours

Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Season: June to October

Permit: Northwest Forest Pass

Dog Friendly: Yes. Off-leash fun for most of the trail, but there are steep drop offs in places and the trail is used by mountain bikers….

Pros: Beautiful waterfalls, gentle trail, close to Bend, views of neighboring mountains and a pretty meadow.

Cons: Multi-use trail, parking lot can be full even on a weekday.

I’ve been eye-balling this area for a couple of years now, so I was pretty stoked to finally check it out. We hiked from the parking area up to Happy Valley, which is just under 4 miles one way. The trail winds through the forest at times, but mostly follows along the creek, allowing stupendous views of waterfalls and occasional access for a doggy dip.

Happy Valley trail waterfall

Waterfall peeking through the trees along the trail to Happy Valley.

Happy Valley waterfall2

One of the many waterfalls along the trail.

The trail is easy going, a nice gradual grade with some flat spots too… ie. much easier than most of the hikes we do. We had a non-hiker friend with us and she loved the hike and didn’t complain…maybe we can convert her?

It was a perfect cool fall day….rain was predicted for mid afternoon, so we turned around at Happy Valley after having a creek-side picnic.

Happy Valley Sal

Sal taking a break in the creek bed in Happy Valley.

Honestly this was an incredibly easy hike with beautiful scenery. It’s perfect for days when maybe you aren’t at 100% energy, you just want a quick jaunt out of town or you’re introducing a friend or child to the outdoors. And the trail is incredibly straight forward, no junctions, no “off trail” navigation…just beautiful trees and waterfalls.

Tumalo Falls

Bonus!!! You don’t even have to hike to see stunning Tumalo Falls…the viewpoint is practically in the parking lot.

And to keep our non-hiking friend happy, and to keep us happy too, we wrapped up our afternoon at 10 Barrel for a victory beer before heading home.


Sisters Mirror Lake

Sisters Mirror Lake family pic

The family at a little lake adjacent to Sisters Mirror Lake

Quick Stats

Distance: approx. 9 miles (more if you have time to explore)

Time: 4 1/2 hours

Difficulty: Easy to moderate with less than 1000 feet of elevation gain

Dog Friendly: Yes, it’s an off leash trail between Sept. 16 and July 14. You may run into pack animals and hunters, so know how your dog behaves around them.

Season: June to October

Permits: Northwest Forest Pass

Pros: you’re outside, close to Bend, tons of little lakes to explore and pretty meadows

Cons: No mountain views unless you head up Koosah Mountain (we only hiked up to an area where there was significant blow down, snapped a couple of pics and turned around)

This hike is so close to Bend it’s amazing that more people don’t use this trail. The trailhead was super easy to find; approximately 30 miles west of Bend on Cascade lakes Highway. There is a small parking area signed Mirror Lake Trailhead not too far passed Devils Lake (the trailhead for South Sister).

After a mile or two you come across a little pond with a large rock outcropping behind it, this is the last place for water until Sisters Mirror Lake.

sisters mirror lake pond

The last pond until you reach Sisters Mirror Lake.

Each of the lakes in the area make a perfect place for a picnic and soaking up some sun.

sisters mirror lake adjacent

Our lunch spot…all to ourselves

Sisters Mirror Lake skimps on the mountain vistas, but the large meadow, and pretty little surrounding lakes with their perfectly still surfaces totally make up for it. To find the lake you just follow the signs all the way there. There is atleast one place to camp on the far side of the lake and an even cuter place to camp at the neighboring unnamed lake (if you’re headed up Koosah).

Sisters mirror lake

Sisters Mirror Lake and a perfect fall day

I think it’s also possible to head over to Nash Lake and make a loop or balloon shaped hike… (check out a map first!!!)

You’ll reach the lake after about 4- 4 1/2 miles of hiking. And if you’re feeling good you could head down the PCT and up Koosah Mountain to get a little more burn in those quads.

South Sister from Koosah

South Sister from Koosah Mountain

To get back to your car just return the way you came….or if you end up doing the loop over to Nash Lake let me know how it goes.

 

South Sister Summit

South Sister summit Autumn and Steve

We made it!!!

Alright, I’m not gonna lie, I haven’t been on a serious hike since May when Steve, Angie, and I did the Pinnacles trek at Gunung Mulu National Park in Borneo. So naturally, summiting a 10,358 foot mountain would sound like a good idea. Why, oh why, do I do this to myself…

Steve and I usually hike alot, but we just got back from our 6 month trip to Asia, so the last month has been spent looking for a new home, a new car, and a new job (for yours truly). And we moved to the other side of the Cascades…hello sunshine!!!

Quick Stats

Distance: 12.23 miles roundtrip

Time: 7-10 hours

Difficulty: Very challenging, but nontechnical (ie. you don’t need climbing gear)

Season: All year (mid-summer to mid fall for hiking; the rest of the year it’s wise to carry crampons, snowshoes, ice axe, etc.)

Permit: Northwest Forest Pass required; Wilderness permit required, fill out your party’s details at the trailhead

Dog Friendly: Hell NO!!!! The volcanic rock would eat their little paws up; the trail to Moraine Lake would be fine though.

Pros: Views of the Cascades, summiting the third tallest mountain in Oregon, bragging rights, you could camp at Moraine Lake

Cons: SCREE, it’s exhausting, trail can be crowded

South Sister Sunrise1

Just above the clouds.

We were hoping to make the summit for sunrise, but quickly realized that there was no way we were going to be up there in time. We arrived at the trailhead around 3/3:30 am on Labor Day weekend….silly kids. Luckily, most people don’t want to hike in the dark, so we hit the trail and only saw two other groups ahead of us…..on the way down it was a different story; we probably saw close to 100 people on their way up. I’m so happy we started early.

South Sister Sunrise

Morning light on the glacier.

The hike itself is just over 12 miles roundtrip from the Devil’s Lake Trailhead and gains approximately 4,900 feet in about 6 miles. It’s a doozy. The hike from the Devil’s Lake trailhead up to Moraine Lake (about 1.5 miles up the hill) is easy enough and the trail is well packed, which you will definitely appreciate after hiking to the summit and back. If the trail up to Moraine Lake is tough for you, you might just want to call it a day and enjoy the lake. It looked beautiful from up above and it would be way more relaxing than a summit attempt.

South Sister Sunrise above the clouds

Steve waiting for me to catch up.

South Sister lakes

You can see a few of the lakes in this pic and the ridge we hiked up.

I love scree!!! Oh wait, no I don’t. I hate it. It freaks me out! And the summit trail is mostly scree…loads and loads of loose volcanic rock. I definitely had to suck it up and resist the urge to turn around. My fear of falling was overpowering…I’m not truly afraid of heights; I’m afraid of tumbling down a hill. Anyway, I eventually made it to the top, probably 20 minutes after Angie and Steve. They patiently waited for me while there fingers, hands, limbs, and faces froze. The view was beautiful from the top, but it was bitterly cold and even operating the camera was a challenge.

South Sister Summit Autumn and Angie

Angie and I took a quick pic before hustling down the mountain to get warm.

Anyway I’m happy to check the South Sister off of the list, but I’m not exactly jumping at the chance to do it again. Will I do it again? Probably, but I need to forget about all of that scree before I even consider it…lol. Maybe they could build some stairs and a put little hot chocolate shop on the summit? Just kidding….it was beautiful, it just so happens that it was really challenging too.

South Sister Steve

Beautiful lake on the way down from the summit…maybe Tear Drop Lake?

South Sister

Check!!!

 

Notes: Pack your layers. I wore a tank, a Smartwool Midweight top, a vest, a lightweight jacket, leggings, thin gloves and a fleece headband. Honestly, I wish I had brought my Patagonia Down Sweater too. I was fine in boots with no gaiters, but I went fairly slowly. My trekking poles also came in handy, but like I said I was going slow. I saw some people running down in tennis shoes. Pack your sunscreen and sunglasses too. You will definitely need them as there isn’t much shade on the trail until below Moraine Lake.

Resources

Everytrail.com provides a play by play trail guide

 

 

 

Broken Top Loop

Broken Top from Park Meadow

Broken Top from Park Meadow; Day 1

Quick Stats

Distance: 23+ (our hike was approximately 26.5)

Time: 3 days

Difficulty: Difficult

Season: End of July to beginning of October

Dog Friendly: To Golden Lake, yes; to Green Lakes, yes; Green Lakes to end of the loop, NO!!!

Pros: Gorgeous meadows, views of Broken Top, all Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, and Mt. Bachelor

Cons: Busy trail that is pounded to dust, off-trail section is over steep, sometimes loose rock, no water source on third day after leaving the glacier, no fire allowed at golden or green lakes

Day 1

The trail begins at a parking lot just before the Driftwood Creek Campground at Three Creeks Lake. For the loop follow the signs to Park Meadow. The dusty trail will switchback up to the ridge where you might get a glimpse or two of the surrounding mountains before descending to the Snow Creek irrigation ditch and a four way junction, turn left here and continue onward to Park Meadow. Y

ou will be greeted with wildflowers, a view of Broken Top, and pretty Park Creek. This is a great place to take a break and refill water. You’ve made it about 6.4 miles at this point. Cross the creek and continue gradually uphill.

Park Meadow Broken Top

View of wildflowers and Broken Top from Park Meadow.

At about 7.2 miles there is a dusty unsigned trail that leads to Golden Lake, your camp for the night, once you reach the lake cross the outlet creek on the left and continue a bit further to the inlet creek, here follow a boot path up along the creek to some amazing campsites.

Golden Lake Camp

Our camp above Golden Lake with Broken Top in the background.

We camped near the creek about a mile or so up the hill, but it’s rumored there are a couple of tarns just a bit further that have even better views. We, however, were exhausted and decided that our unofficial campsite with views of Broken Top and South Sister was perfect.

Golden Lake, Middle and North Sister

The view on our hike back down the hill from our campsite shows Middle and North Sister reflected in Golden Lake.

 

Day 2

Make sure to wake up early to watch the morning sun dance across the mountains and light them up with a red glow. Today, hike back down to the main trail and take a left. The trail will ascend to about 7000 feet at a pass between Broken Top and South Sister and then descends again into the Green Lakes Basin. The basin is super crowded, has designated campsites, and fires are prohibited so I recommend continuing on to camp closer to the day 3 push up Broken Top.

Green Lakes Basin

The parting view of Green Lakes Basin looking toward the pass you just came from.

Meadow, Green Lakes, Broken Top

Meadow with a great creek for refilling water bottles with Broken Top in the background.

Once you leave the basin the trail continues through meadow and open forest, so make sure your water supplies are good. You will come to a Y in the trail, keep to the left toward Broken Top. Once you reach Camp Creek and the Drainage start looking for a place to camp. The better camps are uphill, but there is one nice camp about a ¼ mile down the drainage, that has a nice sheltered meadow, that was perfect for an afternoon nap.

Day 3

Today is going to be long, hot and exposed, so start early and put on some sunscreen!!! Make sure ALL of your water bottles/platypus bags are full, and I recommend filling up before you leave Camp Creek behind and at any other decent source of water before you reach the Tam McArthur Rim Trail because there is NO water once you reach the rim, it’s 7+ miles without water.  To reach the Bend Glacier and the iceberg filled lake that it fills, follow Camp Creek till it starts to level off and then head east toward a rock outcropping, we hiked just to the right of this and were able to pick up a trail that we followed nearly all the way to the lake.

View of Mt. Bachelor from Broken Top boot path

View of Mt. Bachelor from the boot path leading up to the lake in front of Bend Glacier. At this point you’re almost to the lake.

Frozen Lake on top of Broken Top Mountain

Hey look, there are wildflowers even up here near this partially frozen lake on Broken Top.

After you leave the lake, begin the long hot push to the rim trail. Take care crossing the snowfields and remember that big rocks move too. Once you reach the rim “trail” you will have amazing views of all the surrounding mountains. The path here is sketchy and kinda comes and goes as you climb over and around rocks; I promise that the trail gets better the further east you go. Just continue on the trail, through the dust, and dry forest.

Broken Top Views to the North

So, I finally dragged my ass up the hill to the rim and it was totally worth it. You know it’s been a hard hike if Sal is resting in the shade. From up top you can see the Three Sisters, Mt. Washington, and Mt. Jefferson to the North and Mt. Bachelor….and maybe Mt. Thielson to the South. Beautiful!!!

Tam McArthur Rim

This pic makes the trail look “not so bad” don’t be fooled; day three is a pretty crappy hike and you’ll be wondering how you got sucked into it.

Our poor dog Jedi, would race to each shady spot and lie down. I would NOT recommend any part of day 3 for your pup, if you must take your dog invest in booties, joint supplements and take some baby aspirin with you as well. I wish someone had warned us. Steve and the dogs finished their water less than halfway through the day’s hike, so we were left to ration out the remaining 1 ½ Liters that I still had. We were very relieved to get back to the car, blast the AC and get rehydrated.

GPX File of Our Hike

I’ve included a link to a GPX file of my hike around Broken Top as recorded by my Delorme Earthmate PN-60. You can load this file into Google Earth or any GPX-compatible GPS device to follow my path.

Download the Broken Top GPX file here

Photo Aug 23, 16 50 36 Photo Aug 23, 16 51 17 Photo Aug 23, 16 53 02 Photo Aug 23, 16 53 36 Photo Aug 23, 16 55 13 Photo Aug 23, 16 55 27 Photo Aug 23, 16 55 53 Photo Aug 23, 16 56 47

Planning Resources

US Forest Service Central Oregon Website great for general info and trail conditions

Portland Hikers Field Guide a great resource for trip reports, tips, and insider info