Bend Parks & Gardens
Three Sisters Wilderness is located in the Willamette National Forest. Not only does the area boast several 10,000 ft peaks, it also has a glacier, waterfalls and fishing areas. A number of campgrounds, trails and scenic views are found in the Three Sisters, which can be accessed from a number of locations, including Bend, Eugene and Lowell.
The park is home to Oregon's largest ponderosa pine at 162 feet tall and over 500 years old. The on-site campground features 87 full hookups, 50 electrical hookups and five cabins.
Fort Rock is an near-circle of towering rock walls resembling a fort structure. Picnics, hiking and wildlife watching are very popular.
The park borders the Deschutes River and offers hiking, swimming, fishing and 23 full hookup and 58 tent sites.
Deschutes National Forest runs along the east side of the Cascade Mountains for roughly 100 mi (160 km), encompassing 1.6 million acres of land. A range of terrain can be explored, from volcanic mountain formations to thick forests to lakes to caves. The forest is best accessed from Bend and supports camping, hiking and many other activites.
Home to several volcanic peaks, Hoodoo Ski Areas, rivers, lakes, trails and campgrounds, Willamette National Forest supports a assortment of activities year-round. It is located in central Oregon, running 110 mi (175 km) along the Central Cascades, and is easily accessible from many of the highways.
Fort Rock Cave
Fort Rock Cave is near Fort Rock State Natural Area, and is a National Heritage site. The cave is open only for guided tours for two weekends per month from April to November.
Sawyer Park
This attractive city park features interesting rock formations along the Deschutes River. A trail runs along the river and is popular with cyclists, walkers and runners. Picnic areas and barbeque pits are available.
Lava Cast Forest
Located approximately 16 miles (26 km) south of Bend, the Lava Cast Forest is a fascinating section of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. A one mile (1.6 km) self-guided nature trail winds its way through tree molds and a hardened lava lake, formed as lava spilled through what was once a mature ponderosa pine forest 7000 years ago.
