Exploring Oregon’s High Desert: Bend and Beyond
Oregon, like a quilt stitched together by Mother Nature, is a patchwork of diverse landscapes. From lush green forests to sparkling rivers and rocky coastlines, there’s a new piece of paradise waiting at every turn. But the real unsung hero is the high desert. It’s a place where the warm sun drapes over undulating landscapes, lakes mirror the cyan sky, and tales of yesteryears whisper in the wind. Bend, Oregon, is your gateway to this quiet solace, and a journey through and beyond, is sure to surprise you at every corner.
An Introduction to Bend
Bend hugs the eastern edge of the Cascade Range alongside the Deschutes River. Once sprawling with logging operations, today it is a recreational haven drawing visitors from far and wide. Bend brews more craft beer per capita than any other city in Oregon. Yes, you read it right, even more than our beer-guzzling big sister, Portland! Talk about priorities! But Bend isn’t just about hops and barley; it’s also an artist’s canvas filled with alpine lakes, serpentine trails, and chalk-white peaks.
There’s More to Trails in Bend than Just Bootprints
Any Oregon native will vouch for one thing: there’s a trail tailor-made for everyone in Bend. Pilot Butte, a dormant volcano turned state park, is a local favorite. It offers panoramic views of the city’s skyline and the Three Sisters (don’t worry, these sisters aren’t humans but are beautiful volcanic peaks). It’s also among a handful of places in the world where you can drive to the summit of a volcano in a car and not a movie prop!
Meandering along the Deschutes River Trail offers an excellent glimpse of the area’s flora and fauna. Keep an eye out for native animals like beavers or mule deer who seem to love this trail as much as we do.
Craft Beer: Bend’s Liquid Gold
Speaking of love, locals often joke that water in Bend flows from taps and breweries. While that’s not entirely true, it illustrates the city’s passion for craft beer. With 22 breweries in Bend itself and several more in neighbouring towns like Redmond and Sisters, the Central Oregon beer scene is as bubbling as the brews themselves.
Crux Fermentation Project, Deschutes Brewery, and Bend Brewing Company top the list when it comes to serving pints that make your taste buds dance a jig. Whether you’re into hop-loaded IPAs or velvety porters, there’s a frothy pint ready to be clinked.
Beyond Bend: Exploring Oregon’s High Desert
With its lava buttes, sagebrush plains, and old-growth juniper, Oregon’s high desert is more than just a geographic area—it’s a vibrant mosaic of life. Head to the Painted Hills, bricks of layered geological history painted in earthy tones of red, yellow, and gold. It’s like peering into a kaleidoscope spun by time.
Nearby lies the John Day Fossil Beds, a jackpot for paleontologists. Apart from relics of prehistoric flora and fauna, if you’re quiet and lucky, you might spot a pronghorn (America’s fastest land mammal) or a golden eagle soaring high above.
Down the road, in the quaint town of Prineville rests the Ochoco National Forest. It cradles the famous Big Summit Wild Horse Herd – a rare, palate-pleasing treat for wildlife enthusiasts.
The Sage Ambling Along Rocks
One cannot speak of Oregon’s high desert without speaking of Smith Rock. Crowned as Oregon’s “climbing mecca,” it’s a haven for climbers who rise with the sun to scale its sheer cliffs. But fear not, those fond of terra firma can enjoy miles of hiking trails while soaking in incredible river canyon views. Bald eagles, river otters, and the occasional cougar are residents of this captivating locale, reminding you of the balance between recreation and preservation.
Final Musings
Oregon’s high desert is more than a place – it’s a medley of experiences that etch memories on the canvas of your heart. The landscape, brushed with hues of browns and greens under the blue sky, narrates a tale older than time. It’s the scent of sage on a summer day, the glimpse of a wild stallion against the backdrop of Ochoco, or that well-earned pint after a trail hike in Bend — enduring threads woven into a unique tapestry called Oregon.
As they say here in the Beaver State, “Once a visitor, forever a friend.” So this friend invites you to pull on your hiking boots, raise your pint, and explore the nuances of Oregon’s high desert, where the mountains meet the plains, and the unexpected meets you at every turn.