Category Archives: Oregon

Best Golf Courses: Central Oregon (SunRiver)

Best Golf Courses: Central Oregon (SunRiver)

Best Golf Courses in Central Oregon (SunRiver)

If you’re a golf enthusiast and want to experience golfing from one spectrum to the other without ever leaving the resort, SunRiver, Oregon is the place for you! Some of the best golf courses in the United States are located in Central Oregon and better yet, some of the best are located in one beautiful area – SunRiver, Oregon.

Let’s take a virtual tour of the 4 magnificent golf courses of Central Oregon located in SunRiver!

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See all 8 photos
Caldera Links

Caldera Links Golf Course

Caldera Links Golf Course is the newest of the SunRiver Resort golf courses that has quickly become a favorite for families. While all the SunRiver Resort golf courses are top of the line and some of the best golf courses in the United States, no matter what your level of expertise is, the Caldera Links Golf Course was designed with families in mind.

The Caldera Links course was designed exclusively for families with the hope that people visiting SunRiver Resort could share their love of golf with their children or less experienced golfers. While again, any level golfer can play on all the courses in SunRiver, the Caldera course is a more laid-back course that allows a new golfer to go at a slower pace and perhaps learn more about the game rather than feeling overwhelmed.

This course was designed by Bob Cupp along with SunRiver Resort owner Jim Ramey. The golf course is manicured daily and this course is accessible only to SunRiver guests, Caldera homeowners, or Crosswater Club members.

No carts are allowed at Caldera Links, thus encouraging a slower paced game of golf. The dress on this course is casual golf – to include jeans or shorts. Pull carts are available.

Cost for playing this course is $39 for adults and $10 for ages 12-17. Kids under 11 are free. You can rent clubs as well.

This course is by no means trivial, boasting 9 holes of 3-par holes – but the yardage is less (averaging between 70 and 150 yards at the maximum) and the layout of the course less challenging so it encourages success in younger or less experienced golfers.

As you can see in the video, this is a family course and a great way to teach a love of golf!

Family Enjoying Caldera Links

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Crosswater Club

Crosswater Club Golf Course

Crosswater Club is an exclusive golf course that opened in 1995 and has been receiving awards ever since. This gem of a golf course is open to only members of Crosswater Club and guests of the SunRiver Resort.

This fabulous course was designed by Robert Cupp as well and is comprised of bent grass heathland style terrain. The Deschutes River plays a big part in this golf course and it crosses the river 7 times throughout the course.

Crosswater is adjacent to SunRiver and has its own driving range, putting green and chipping green. It also has its own restaurant and lounge, The Grille, and its own snack shop, The Turn. You will also find a golf shop and locker facilities at Crosswater.  Through SunRiver Resort, there are also homes and condos available to rent.

This 600 acre golf course was named one of America’s Top 100 golf courses. It has been named by multiple golf magazines for such awards as Top 10 Most Adventurous Golf Courses in America, Top 100 Courses You Can Play, Top 50 Courses for Women, Golf’s 50 Best Gold Destinations, and Top 10 Golf Resorts in the US. As well, SunRiver Resort placed in the top 75 for best resorts in the United States.

This course has 5 tee placements so it can accommodate any level golfer. It is a par 72 course with 7638 yards of golf. The course rating is 76.9 and the slope rating is 150.

Crosswater has been host to the Jeld-Wen Tradition in August for the top senior golf players from 2007 to 2010.

Fees and tee times are available upon request at SunRiver Resort.

Crosswater Club was also named an Audubon sanctuary in 1999 – only one of 150 golf courses in the United States to receive this distinction.

Crosswater is a beautiful golf course with unparalleled views. It has received a 4-star rating since its opening.

Enjoy the video which tells you that this golf course was the longest golf course in America in 1995 when it first opened!

Crosswater Club

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The Meadows

The Meadows Course at SunRiver

The Meadows Golf Course at SunRiver was designed by John Fought and opened in 1969. This is also a 4-star golf course. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s not playable by anyone or learning golfers.

This is a beautiful course that has been the site of many USGA and NCAA golf championships. It has also hosted the NCAA Men’s Championship.

This golf course opened in 1969 and as the other golf courses in SunRiver also boast, this one is alive with scenic beauty. This course is peppered with Ponderosa pines and lodge pole pine trees. It is not unusual to see deer strolling through the golf course or the occasional coyote.

This is an ‘old fashioned’ golf course sporting the style of the courses back in the 1920s and 1930s. The Meadows is 18 holes, 7012 yards, and a par 71 course. The course rating is 72.8 and the slope rating is 128.

Rates for playing this course include practice balls and cart. It also includes the 9-hole putting course.

Rates for The Meadows run between $55 to $75 to $95 – all dependent on the season and the time of play. This golf course is open from April through November 1 and they do offer many specials. There is also a discount for tee times after 1:00 p.m. and weather and daylight permitting after 5:00.

The Meadows Golf Course is located at the SunRiver Resort lodge. After a tiring round of golf, relax in the Owl’s Nest Lounge or have dinner at Meadows at the Lodge.

There is a beautiful cafe at the Meadows called the Merchant Trader, next to the gift shop and a pro shop full of golf equipment and clothing.

Lessons are also available as well as the large putting course just behind the Merchant Circle.

Further out south of the lodge and pro shop you will find a spectacular driving range. It’s hard to leave the views behind.

Take a virtual tour below at The Meadows Golf Course!

The Meadows at SunRiver

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Woodlands

The Woodlands Course at SunRiver

The Woodlands Course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and opened in 1982. This is another of SunRiver Resort’s premier golf courses. This course has received a 3-star rating.

This course is a par 72, 6880 yards of golfing experience. The course rating is a 73 and the slope rating 131.

This course is rated one of the best Northwest championship golf courses. The course is studded throughout with the topography of Central Oregon – lots of water and lots of lava rock, intermixed with deep bunkers to keep you on your toes.

SunRiver Resort and the Woodlands Golf Course won Golf Magazine’s Gold Medal for Award-Winning Resort. Woodlands is rated one of Oregon’s best golf courses.

The fees on Woodlands range from $55 to $75 to $95 – depending on the time of year and time of day as well. There is a reduced rate for playing after 1:00 p.m. and daylight and weather permitting after 5:00 p.m. as well.

Rates at the Woodlands course include a golf cart and a warm-up session on the practice range. There is a driving range at Woodlands also.

Stop for a bite in McDivot’s cafe at Woodlands after a round or drop in at the all-Nike pro shop.

Fine dining and the lounge are only minutes away at the lodge. For the large putting green, head back over to the lodge and the Meadows course.

Check out the video of Woodlands Golf Course at SunRiver for another virtual tour.

Woodlands Golf Course at SunRiver

Golf Courses of SunRiver Resort

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Caldera Links –
#1 Center Drive, Sunriver OR 97707, USA
[get directions]

Caldera Links Golf Course

Crosswater Club –
17600 Canoe Camp Drive Sunriver, Sisters-Millican, OR 97707, USA
[get directions]

Crosswater Club

The Meadows –
Meadows Golf Course, Bend, OR 97707, USA
[get directions]

Woodlands Course –
Woodlands Golf Course, SunRiver, OR 97707, USA
[get directions]

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Meadows at the Lodge Dining
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Merchant Trader
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The Grille at Crosswater

SunRiver Resort and Golf Specials at SunRiver

SunRiver Resort is by far one of the premier destination vacation spots in the United States. However, I think most people would find it highly affordable. The most endearing part of SunRiver Resort is that you can actually just stay there if you’d like and not go outside the quiet community. It is unlike any other resort in that the entire property is a community rather than just a hotel.

There are over 35 miles of paved biking and walking trails, swimming pools, horseback riding, 2 grocery stores to name a few of the amenities. There are also countless recreational activities winter, spring, summer or fall from golf to skiing. There are many services available through SunRiver Resort including bus service to and from and it boasts its own airport. Redmond Airport is under an hour away for major airline arrivals.

Check out SunRiver golf specials for some real bargains on the ultimate golf experience – but check out their specials as well for lodging. The beauty of Central Oregon is enhanced by the weather as nature smiles upon this area of the country with especially dry climate and usually 300+ days of sun per year. You couldn’t pick a better place for a vacation getaway!

PREMIER GOLF OR SPA SPECIAL

1 regular golf round or one 50-minute spa session per day
2 night minimum
Advanced tee times
Includes lodging
Includes golf cart
Includes access to putting green
Also includes 20% gratuity for spa if selected
May-September – rates vary from $229-254/person dependent on lodging selected

UNLIMITED CROSSWATER PACKAGE

Includes lodging
1 round of golf per day at Crosswater
Unlimited golf at Meadows, Woodlands or Caldera including on arrival and departure dates
Advanced tee times
2 night minimum
Available April through September – $109-284 per person depending on lodging

UNLIMITED RESORT GOLF

Lodging included
Meadows, Woodlands, and Caldera – unlimited use
Advance tee times
Unlimited cart use
Unlimited play including on arrival and departure days
May through September – $79-219 per person dependent upon lodging

60-3 GOLF PASS PUNCH CARD

Use once at Crosswater
Use twice at either Meadows, Woodlands or Caldera
April through September
$95-299

Photo Credits

Photo Credits: All images downloaded by written permission courtesy of SunRiver Resort

Links to SunRiver Resort

SunRiver Resort Lodging
Woodlands at Sunriver Resort in Sunriver
Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., the Woodlands course at Sunriver Resort features deep bunkers, lakes and rock outcroppings. These and other obstacles place a premium on club selection and accuracy. The Woodands is consistently rated among Oregon
Golf Courses near Bend Oregon | Sunriver Resort – Crosswater | Pacific Northwest Golf Vacations
Located at Sunriver Resort near Bend, Oregon, Crosswater was honored by Golf Digest as one of ‘America’s 100 Greatest Courses.’ Take a Pacific Northwest golf vacation to Sunriver Resort and enjoy championship golf on its Crosswater course.
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Central Oregon Beauty Services: The Best Spa Services in Central Oregon

Central Oregon Beauty Services: The Best Spa Services in Central Oregon

Top Spa Services in Central Oregon

Some of the top spa services in the country are located in Central Oregon. This is in part due to the fact that there are so many destination resorts here. For such a small part of the Pacific Northwest, Central Oregon has an incredible number of spas and if you ever want to experience the best of the best keep Central Oregon in mind!

We will only focus on 3 of the spas located at destination resorts here in Central Oregon but again, there are many, many more in the major cities of Central Oregon. We’ll see those on another day of touring this region but for now, we’ll explore the 3 resorts and their spas – and what they have to offer.

Our virtual tour for today will cover Sage Springs Club and Spa, The Spa at Black Butte Ranch and the Spa and wellness Center at Pronghorn.

Keep in mind that all 3 of these destination resorts are geared towards pampering their guests and helping them to enjoy the vacation of a lifetime. Each of these destination resorts is the perfect place to go to ‘get it all’ and never have to leave because everything is right there.

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courtesy Black Butte Ranch

Spa Services and What They Can Do for You

Even though I don’t go often, spa services are for everyone.  From time to time, hand and foot appointments are wonderful indulgences – and make the best gifts.

Massages are by far my favorite spa service though.  Most specifically hot stone massages are the most relaxing treatment or spa service I’ve ever had and most often the gift I receive for services.  It is a little piece of heaven to feel the healing warmth of the basalt stones followed by a deep tissue massage.

Makeup spa services for special events are also not only fun but serve a great purpose.  When our daughter got married, we all went together before the event and had pedicures, manicures and then makeup application.  That was a special treat and it really did help everyone relax and not worry so much about how they looked!

Spa services are even for men though.  Although my husband balked at my gift of a hot stone massage for our anniversary, when he came out of the room, he was sold.  He said that he had never thought about indulging in massage services but he, too loved the combination of hot basalt stone massage followed by deep tissue massage. 

There is much to be said for spa services as a form of relaxation and tension relief.  Massage spa services are also a great form of therapy for chronic conditions such as tendinitis, fibromyalgia and arthritis. 

Spa Service Rules of Engagement

Spa trips are generally associated with pleasure. The whole point behind going to a spa is usually to relax or have someone perform a service for you that will either help you look better or feel better.

Spa services range from facials to nails to full body massage to waxing. There is a wide variety of services as you will see – for instance a mud pack is available – or a hot rock massage – or a bikini waxing – or a pedicure complete with massage. There are also great combo packages available at some spas.

Some tips on spa services:

Make sure you book your spa treatments in advance – most are not done by walk-in
Be aware that prices may vary according to the level of service – for instance a ‘regular’ pedicure may be $40 while a ‘deluxe’ pedicure may be $60. Always ask first so there will be no surprises
Ask about payment methods – debit card, credit card, checks – always best to know before you go to pay
Dress comfortably for whatever service you’re having – if you’re having a pedicure, wearing tennis shoes is okay but you might be better off wearing flip-flops until your polish has dried
Shower before a massage so that your skin feels fresh and clean – if you’ve used a pool before the massage, make sure you shower off the chlorine as it can make your skin dry and brittle
If having a facial or makeup applied, use as little makeup as possible before the facial and go easy on jewelry application
Make sure you request a male or female practitioner if you have a preference ahead of time – thus avoiding surprises if you would rather not have a man giving you a massage for instance
If you have special needs, such as being pregnant, make sure you let them know ahead of time and possibly request someone specializing in pregnancy massage for instance
During the course of a body massage or even a foot massage during a pedicure, if the pressure is too much, don’t be afraid to say so – spa services are supposed to be relaxing and your comfort is the most important part of the service
Always leave your cell phone off during spa services – it should be a time of relaxation – for all customers and it can be distracting to others trying to relax
Don’t bring children or pets to spa services appointments unless you have inquired first and have gotten the okay for this – most customers do not enjoy having children and pets distract them from their spa service treatments
If beverages or snacks are offered, be courteous and clean up after yourself – meaning throw away disposable cups or paper
Depending on the service you are receiving, ask about clothing – and go with what you feel is appropriate. For instance, many people leave on their panties or underwear when having a full body massage but remove everything else. It is strictly up to the individual and geared to the spa service being performed
Use only the towels or items you are provided with and don’t take more unless you’ve asked for them
Tipping should be between 10% and 20% depending on how you felt the spa service went. It is customary to tip after the service and as you are finishing up paying for the service.  Be aware that some spa services include the tip in the price so it pays to ask!

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Clubhouse at Pronghorn
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Clubhouse
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Jack Niklaus course
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Lodging at Pronghorn
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Kitchen
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7th hole on Nicklaus course

Pronghorn Spa and Wellness Center

The Spa and Wellness Center in Pronghorn is the largest spa in the Pacific Northwest. Pronghorn is a golf destination resort set in a private golf community surrounding the Jack Nicklaus and Tom Fazio golf courses. This resort is a golfer’s paradise.

However, even people who don’t golf will enjoy the wide array of spa services that Pronghorn has to offer at the Spa and Wellness Center.

The concierge is available at 541.693.5300 for appointments and 24 hours advance notice is suggested. You also must notify the concierge 24 hours ahead if you need to cancel or reschedule the appointment to avoid being charged.

Open 7 days a week by appointment.

Your tip is calculated into the charge and 20% will be added to the bill for spa services.

Check in 20 minutes before your appointment to avoid feeling rushed. It also gives you time to change into a robe and slippers and to relax. Each guest is given a robe and slippers and a personal locker.

Let’s look at what the Spa and Wellness Center has to offer.

HANDS AND FEET SPA SERVICES

Mini manicure or pedicure – for people short on time or needing touch-ups – 30 minutes for $40
Classic manicure – 50 minutes $55 – rejuvenation of hands, nails and cuticles
Pedicure – 50 minutes $55 – complete foot treatment
Paraffin wax added to any of the above – $12
Change of polish color – $8

FACIAL SPA SERVICES

Mini facial – great for teenagers or first time spa goers – cleansing, exfoliation, toning and hydration – 30 minutes $50
Trailhead facial – customized facial for a healthy complexion – this facial is tailored to your skin type whether it is oily, dry or a combination of both – 75 minutes $115
Facial with warm stones – a massage style facial to the face, neck and shoulders with warm stones – great for the complexion and relaxation – 75 minutes $115
Men’s facial – restorative, conditioning and soothing facial for men who spend a lot of time in the sun and wind. Also a relaxing massage of the scalp, neck and shoulders – 50 minutes $90

BODY SPA SERVICES

Desert body mask – Natural clay mask applied to the body finishing with an intense hydration treatment to leave skin feeling great, looking wonderful – 75 minutes $115
Herbal salt scrub – rosemary and pine are used to buff away dead cells creating soft and smooth skin, finished off with a hydrating lotion treatment – 50 minutes $85
Seaweed body wrap – this is a mineral treatment that penetrates skin and gives a more radiant glow to the skin. Application of age-defying hydration treatment and antioxidants follow the body wrap – 75 minutes $125
Self-tanning body application – Moroccan Mineral Bronzed Glow is applied for a natural look without using the sun and harmful rays – 50 minutes $80

FACIAL WAXING SPA SERVICES

Lip wax – $10
Chin wax – $10
Brow wax – $12
Brow shape and wax – $17
Cheek wax – $12
Full face wax – $40

BODY WAXING SPA SERVICES

Underarm – $25
Forearm – $35
Half leg – $35-$45
Full leg – $70
Bikini – $40 and up
Brazilian – $55 and up
Back – $45
Chest – $45

MASSAGE SPA SERVICES

Trailhead massage (deep tissue or Swedish)- therapeutic massage specifically designed to the needs you outline before the massage – 50 minutes $80 — 80 minutes $120
Prenatal massage – stress relief in shoulders, lower back and legs – helps to reduce swelling and improves circulation. Also good for new moms – 50 minutes $80
Aromatherapy massage – therapist-determined blend of essential oils that will most benefit your individual needs for relaxation. The oils are bottled and given to you after the massage to take home – 50 minutes $85 — 80 minutes $125

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Bridge over Deschutes
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SunRiver Resort
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Deer and river
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Lodging at SunRiver
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Suite Lodging
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Restaurant at SunRiver

Sage Springs Club and Spa in SunRiver

SunRiver Resort is one of the most popular destination resorts in the Pacific Northwest if not nationwide. You will find so much to appreciate in SunRiver that you may never want to leave.

You can stay through SunRiver Resort, or you can rent suites, rooms, cabins, condos, townhomes, and even private homes through SunRiver Resort or through many realtors who work in SunRiver year round.

SunRiver Resort is also surprisingly affordable and they often have specials – as do many of the other realtors.

For services at Sage Springs, call to make an appointment at 541.593.7891. They have a wide variety of services and offer many packages – let’s see what they have to offer!

COMBINATION PACKAGES

Sun up package – for tired skin – Oregon Hazelnut Scrub and High Dessert Oasis – 95 minutes $200

Sun down package – a body, mind and soul rejuvenation aimed at total relaxation – Sunriver Nourishing Body Wrap and Hot-Stone Massage – 100 minutes $205

High desert nirvana – restoration and rejuvenation – Gemstone Energy Massage and Goddess Facial – 130 minutes $275

Three Sisters renewal – head to toe relaxation treatment – Deep Tissue Massage, Boot Camp for your Skin, Sage Springs pedicure – 180 minutes $330

MASSAGE SPA SERVICES

Gemstone Energy Massage – massage using gemstone massage oils to restore balance – 50 minutes $130 — 80 minutes $185 – your choices are rose quartz, garnet and amethyst

ISUN blissful infusion massage – massage with ISUN gemstone oils – 80 minutes $185

High desert oasis massage – aromatherapy massage with essential oils – 50 minutes $120 —80 minutes $175 – your choices of oils are spring rain, uplifting and Oregon flowers

Deschutes deep tissue massage – targeting specific areas to release tension – 50 minutes $125 — 80 minutes $185

Hot stone massage – massage and heat combined to release tension – 80 minutes $185

Energizing bodycoffee massage – massage with mint and citrus oils mixed with organic coffee extract and coconut for skin and scalp and Swedish massage – 80 minutes $185

Riverside relaxer massage – Swedish massage to improve circulation, relieve tension – 50 minutes $120 — 80 minutes $175

Maternity massage – prenatal and postnatal massage – available after first trimester – 50 minutes $120

FACIAL SPA SERVICES

Le grand classique facial – therapeutic and restorative – 80 minutes $175

Goddess facial – organic and natural products used for double exfoliation and treatment masks followed by hydration and repair products as well as anti-aging hand treatment and foot rub combined with neck and shoulder massage – 80 minutes $180

Boot camp for your skin – revitalization facial combined with anti-aging treatment to create younger looking skin – 80 minutes $180

Plaisir des sens stone therapy facial – warm basalt stones used to relax facial muscles and back resulting in a more radiant complexion – 90 minutes $185

Eclat cocoon deep hydration facial – deep penetrating facial using warm stones and then toning fruit mask and hydrating formulas – 50 minutes $130

Pure radiance facial – rejuvenating facial with organic skin care products – 50 minutes $120

Metolius men’s facial – deep cleansing designed for men – perfect for roughened skin from wind and sun – also a neck and shoulder massage with warm steamed towels – 50 minutes $120

Wellspring essential facial – Sage Springs signature facial – cleansing, exfoliation and massage along with a mask and anti-aging products and rehydration – 50 minutes $120

Young skin, clear skin teen facial – deep cleansing, toning, steam facial massage – 25 minutes $65

Sage Springs essentials add-ons

Eye opener – diminish dark circles, smooth fine lines, reduce puffiness – $25
Instant peel – do not get prior to sun exposure – $25

NAIL SPA SERVICES

Sunriver manicure – hand treatment and manicure – 35 minutes $55

Sunriver pedicure – soak and exfoliating scrub, massage and pedicure – 50 minutes $75

Cleek and creel – warm therapy bath followed by foot massage – for runners, golfers or people who are on their feet a lot – 50 minutes $75

Sage Springs manicure – deluxe manicure with mask and heated hand cozies – 50 minutes $60

Sage Springs pedicure – deluxe pedicure with exfoliation and warmed mask – 50 minutes $80

Pinnacle pedicure – warm soak followed by foot peel and intensive foot cream – 80 minutes $110

MAKEUP SPA SERVICES – Sage Springs uses Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup

Makeup lesson – 60 minutes $85

Special occasion makeup – 50 minutes $65

Bridal makeup (includes consultation) $150

WAXING SPA SERVICES

Brows – $30
Lip, chin or cheek – $20
Full face – $45
Forearm – $35
Underarm – $35
Lower leg – $50
Full leg – $85
Bikini line – $50
Back – $60

SCRUBS AND BODY WRAPS – for these services call 541.593.7891

Vichy Shower – multi-jet shower for cleansing and therapy

Oregon hazelnut scrub – 45 minutes with vichy shower $115

Sunshine and showers – shower with citrus oils and sea salts followed by Shea and cocoa butter to rejuvenate skin – 45 minutes (vichy shower) $115

Healthy skin sugar scrub – exfoliating dry skin and conditioning with Shea butter followed by body butter – 45 minutes (vichy shower) $115

Bodycoffee pure bliss experience – bodycoffee body scrub followed by body wrap. Scalp massage followed by application of massage oil – this treatment not recommended for sensitive skin – 90 minutes (vichy shower) $185

Detoxifying sea escape – exfoliation with sea salts followed by essential oils – full body mask with seaweed – not recommended for people allergic to iodine or shellfish – 90 minutes (vichy shower) $185

Sunriver nourishing body wrap – body wrap with dry-brush exfoliation followed by calendula balm and then wrapped in warmth – 50 minutes $120

Organic honey and avocado wrap – dry-brush exfoliation followed by full body mask then hydrating body cream – 80 minutes $180

Nirvana for the back – back scrub/mask for exfoliation accompanied by a foot massage after which warm oil is massaged into your back – 50 minutes $120

ISUN detoxifying body ritual – dry-brush exfoliation followed by aromatic oil full body rubbed into your skin as well as scalp and neck massage while you are wrapped in linens, followed by steamed towels and a hydrating massage with gemstone oil – 80 minutes $185

Scrub and body wrap add-on treatments:

Head, hair and scalp treatment – complete with foot massage – 25 minutes $60
Anti-aging hand treatment – raw honey and avocado oils, hydrating mask and antioxidant cream – 25 minutes $60
Hydrating foot treatment – same as above – 25 minutes $60
Spa reflexology – massage focusing on stimulation and release of pressure points in your body – 25 minutes $60
Sound mind – acoustic resonance sound table which allows you to experience music in a different way – they provide music or you can bring your own MP3 player – 25 minutes $40

Spa Hours:

Summer – Mon-Sat 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sundays 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Winter – Mon-Fri 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sundays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Sage Springs Spa Reservations: 541.593.7891 – [email protected]

Spa Concierge & Reception: 541.593.7890

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See all 21 photos
Golf course at Black Butte Ranch
See all 21 photos
Canoes at the dock
See all 21 photos
Dining at Black Butte
See all 21 photos
Black Butte golf
See all 21 photos
Stable horses at Black Butte
See all 21 photos
Swimming pool
See all 21 photos
Fly fishing at the lake

The Spa at Black Butte Ranch

Black Butte Ranch is another destination resort that is famous throughout the Pacific Northwest. It is another of those places that if you visit, you will be tempted to stay forever.

Black Butte Ranch is a favorite spot for destination weddings and the spa services that they offer are numerous.

All their services offer the utmost in relaxation and rejuvenation and the folks at The Spa are well trained in skin care and spa services.

Reservations for spa services: 541.595.5878

SPECIAL PACKAGES

Bridal package – for the bride, her family, future in-laws and/or friends – 3 hours and 45 minutes – $280

60 minutes signature massage
60 minutes signature facial
45 minutes wedding manicure
60 minutes wedding pedicure

Couples package – day at the spa as a couple (all performed in same room) – 2 hours and 45 minutes – $430 per couple

60 minutes couples massage
45 minutes couples salt glow
60 minutes couples pedicure

Men’s revitalizing package – to improve well
being – 2 hours and 45 minutes – $215

45 minutes men’s signature back treatment
60 minutes men’s signature massage
60 minutes Thai foot reflexology

Women’s rejuvenation package – pure enjoyment and relaxation – 3 hours and 25 minutes – $275

60 minutes women’s signature massage
75 minutes Metolius stone facial
60 minutes Thai foot reflexology

Spa custom package – they will design a spa package to suit your needs if you do not see one that you like!

MASSAGE SPA SERVICES

Ranch signature massage – Swedish relaxation and/or deep tissue techniques – 30 minutes $65, 60 minutes $95, 90 minutes $140

Deep tissue massage – therapeutic massage to relieve tension or stress – 30 minutes $65, 60 minutes $95, 90 minutes $140

Prenatal massage – ranch signature massage adapted to the pregnant woman – designed with support system to relieve the strain of gravity and allow face down comfort – 60 minutes $95, 90 minutes $140

Metolius river stone massage – massage with basalt heated stones – 60 minutes $110, 90 minutes $155

Side by side massage – massage for 2 with 2 therapists in the side by side room

Signature massage 60 minute treatment for 2 people $190
Metolius river stone massage 60 minutes for 2 people $220

Add-ons for massage therapy:

Scalp massage with warm grape seed oil – 15 minutes for $25
Stone foot massage – warm basalt stone massage – 15 minutes for $25
Aromatherapy – using essential oils – $15 per session

FACIAL SPA SERVICES

Metolius stone facial – warm stones and lotions – 75 minutes $135

Back to nature classic European facial – enzyme exfoliation ending with papaya mask – 60 minutes $95

Anti-free radical facial – reparation facial using mint and lavender thermal mask – 60 minutes $135

Teen spa facial – fruity facial great for all skin types – 60 minutes $80

Back to basics for women – exfoliation and pore cleansing for back using mango passion fruit mask – 45 minutes $85

Spa salt glow – exfoliation with body scrub using juniper and cypress essential oils.  45 minutes $75

HANDS AND FEET SPA SERVICES

Ultimate hand renewal – exfoliation and vitamin C soak and scrub, massage and therapy cream followed by paraffin treatment and polishing – 60 minutes $65

Signature hand renewal – moisturizing citrus soak, exfoliation, nail care and hand and arm massage with essential oil, vitamin cream and polish – 45 minutes $45

Basic hand renewal – quick manicure including soak, nail care, cream and polish – 30 minutes $35

Ultimate foot renewal – warm conditioning foot soak, therapeutic salt scrub and massage followed by paraffin and finished with polishing – 75 minutes $90

Scents of Black Butte Ranch foot renewal – includes signature foot renewal followed by foot and calf massage with a massage candle which you take home – 60 minutes $85

Metolius stone foot renewal – signature foot renewal followed by warm basalt stones to massage your feet – 60 minutes $80

Signature foot renewal – hot mineral soak followed by sugar scrub, mud mask and massage then toenail polishing – 60 minutes $70

Signature with a twist – signature foot renewal but take your polish home with you for touch-ups and repolishing – 60 minutes $75

Basic foot renewal – short version of signature foot renewal – hot foot soak, nail care, scrub, moisturizer and polish – 30 minutes $45

Add-ons for hand and foot spa services:

Perfect sense paraffin – 15 minute treatment $15
French polish – 15 minutes $15

WAXING SPA SERVICES

Lip wax $15
Chin wax $15
Brow wax $20
Half leg (upper) $45
Half leg (lower) $35
Full leg wax $60
Bikini wax $40

MEN’S SPA SERVICES

Men’s facial back treatment – cleansing, exfoliation and hydration with mango passion fruit body mask – 45 minutes $75

Men’s signature foot renewal – Indonesian exfoliating mask, nail trim, calluses removed followed by foot and calf massage – 60 minutes $65

Basic men’s foot renewal – shortened version with soak, nail care, exfoliation, callus removal and short foot massage – 30 minutes $45

Men’s hand renewal – soak, nail trim, exfoliation with Indonesian scrub and arm and hand massage – 30 minutes $35

Gratuities are not included in the spa services visit.

Hours of operation: These vary according to the season so call for an appointment at 541.595.5878.

Arrive 30 minutes prior to your spa appointment at Black Butte. You can also bring your swimsuit and enjoy the pool and steam room.

Cancellation is requested 24 hours prior to service to avoid being charged for your service.

The Spa at Black Butte Ranch also offers specials at different times of the year and mid week. Call for more details or check on-line.

See all 21 photos
Courtesy Black Butte Ranch

Top Spa Services in Central Oregon

As you can see, finding top spa services in Central Oregon is not a problem – it all depends how much you can afford and how much you can indulge yourself!

These resorts and their on-premises spas give new meaning to the words ‘Calgon take me away’ and should you have the opportunity to check out any of these fine establishments, I think you will come away relaxed and rejuvenated.

Spa services can be a wonderful way to give yourself a special treat but they can also be a great stress reliever and a relaxation technique.

These spa services are but a few of those offered throughout Central Oregon. Even without the spa services, these destination resorts are among the best in Central Oregon if not in the country – enjoy!

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Pronghorn Resort –
Pronghorn Ln, Bend, OR 97707, USA
[get directions]

Destination resort offering Jack Nicklaus and Tom Fazio golf courses, Spa and Wellness Center and the Club at Pronghorn

Sage Springs Club and Spa –
57001 Meadow Rd, Bend, OR 97707, USA
[get directions]

Sage Springs Club and Spa at SunRiver Resort – where all your spa service needs are met at this world famous destination resort

The Spa at Black Butte Ranch –
Black Butte Ranch, OR 97730, USA
[get directions]

Enjoy the finest in spa services while visiting Black Butte Ranch or staying at this wonderful destination resort

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Photo Credits

All Black Butte images used with written permission from Charles Kingsbaker at Black Butte Ranch

All SunRiver images used with written permission from Katy Sparks at SunRiver Resort

All Pronghorn images with written permission from Carrie Ramoz at Pronghorn

Unusual Spa Services Around the World

Foot Massage and Reflexology Demo

Virtual Tour of Pronghorn

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Where To Get The Best Beer In Bend Oregon

Where To Get The Best Beer In Bend Oregon

Where To Get The Best Beer in Bend Oregon

If you like beer and you happen to be traveling through the Central Oregon region, you’ll be astounded at how unbelievably rich the area is with places to find beer. Bend, Oregon alone has 7 – yes 7 – world-class breweries and you can make a hobby out of checking out all the local brews.

If you add in the Sisters brewery (Three Creeks Brewery), which is roughly 21 miles from Bend, you now have 8 world-class breweries. Bend Oregon is one of the best places on earth to find beer!

See all 4 photos
10 Barrel Brewing

The Seven Breweries of Bend Oregon

Starting in June of this year, there has been a little ‘game’ going on in Bend called the Bend Ale Trail. If you love beer and you want to participate, make sure you pick up a Bend Discovery Map which will give you your ‘official’ passport. Collect the stamps as you visit each of the breweries and after collecting all 7, you can turn it in and win something. That something has not been specified, however, send your completed passport to the Visit Bend Welcome Center.

All
7 of Bend’s breweries are located within a 4+ mile radius. Start at any brewery if you wish to participate in the Bend Ale Trail – or just take in the breweries as your time permits when visiting in Central Oregon. You can walk the Bend Ale Trail – or you can take the Bend Brewery Tour shuttle.

Come
along on a little ‘virtual’ tour of Bend Oregon’s 7 breweries – Bend Brewing Company, Boneyard Beer Company, Cascade Lakes Brewing Company and Lodge, Deschutes Brewery, McMenamins Old St. Francis School, Silver Moon Brewing, and 10 Barrel Brewing.

See all 4 photos
Picture by Audrey Kirchner

Bend Brewing Company

Bend Brewing Company is located on the Deschutes River and the pub has a view of the Deschutes as it meanders past. They open at 11:30 daily for lunch, offer specials daily and half-price appetizers 4-6 daily and 9 to close.

Their pub fare features salads, sandwiches, pasta and steaks. It’s a great place to stop in for a brew or lunch or dinner.

Bend Brewing Company is famous for these great signature beers:

High Desert – Hefeweizen – wheat ale with a malty flavor and low in hops
Metolius – Golden ale, almost a lager; fruity and low in hops – 2010 bronze medal
Elk Lake IPA – more of a bitter beer with more hops – most popular beer
Outback – old golden ale – malty, flavor of caramel and raisins
Pinnacle – porter – darkest beer

Seasonal beers offered by Bend Brewing Company:

Big Eddy – several times per year – bitter beer
Paulina – pale summer ale
Hop Head – Imperial India pale ale in late summer – 2008 bronze metal winner

Bend Brewing Company’s awards:

* 2008 World Beer Cup Gold Medal – Outback X & Black Diamond Dark Lager

* 2008 World Beer Cup – Small Brew-pub and Brewmaster of the Year

* 2009 GABF silver medal – Outback X

* 2010 World Beer Cup gold Medal – Outback X

* 2010 NABAA bronze medals – Outback X, Metolius Golden Ale and Dry Irish Stout

Boneyard Beer Company

Boneyard Beer Company is a relatively new brewery to the scene in Bend and is in the process of collaborating with several breweries that helped them get up and running. They actually named the brewery Boneyard because they went into business with the equipment resurrected from other breweries, although the original name was to be Brewtal.

At present, Boneyard Beer is working to introduce Central Oregon to Three Floyds Beer, which is a popular Indiana beer. They are hoping to begin distributing this popular beer from the Midwest soon.

The brewery is open to taste testing and through the Bend Ale Trail, they have been steadily building up quite a few followers. They hope to produce 1000 barrels this first year, having just opened in May. (As a comparison, Deschutes Brewery last year put out roughly 220,000 barrels.) Boneyard Beer is young and even though the market is very tight in terms of competition here in the Bend area, it looks like they will do well.

The brewery is located on Hill Street where it intersects with the Bend Parkway. There is no pub and the brewery distributes its black and white labeled beer to bars and restaurants throughout the area. So far, it’s been a hit.

Growlers (US half gallon used to transport beer) are available for $6.00 and taste testers are always welcome.

Boneyard is so far known for its beer called GIRL, which is a light ale that is flavored with cherry puree. They also have an IPA, a pale ale and a bourbon barrel black 13.

Cascade Lakes Brewing Company

Cascade Lakes Brewing Company produces many different beers that are popular on tap as well as in the bottle. They have several locations around Central Oregon to serve you.

They have many pubs as you can see from the list below and they are all excellent spots for lunch, dinner or just a beer. They are located throughout Central Oregon and check out their menus at each location. They serve the typical pub offerings although some locations serve up nightly specials such as tacos and other selected menu items.

Here’s a list of their traditional beers:

Blonde Bomb Shell – a light ale and their most popular beer – started out as a seasonal beer but was so popular it is now a standard – voted BEST BEER 2010
Rooster Tail Ale – this was the flagship beer made in 1994 – a golden ale that is really popular in Central Oregon
Monkey Face Porter – a medium porter with a hint of chocolate – full bodied beer
Pine Marten Pale Ale – a medium bodied pale ale
20″ Brown – medium bodied malt beer – named after the brown trout
IPA – traditional American style India pale ale
Angus MacDougals – malty amber ale

Seasonal beers:

Skookum Creek Strong
Paulina Lake Pilsner
Runaway Imperial IPA
Kolsch
Bald Mountain Bock
River Side Red
Santa’s Little Helper
Waist Deep Weiss

Check out Cascade Lakes Brewing Company at the following locations throughout Central Oregon – great food and great beer!

Red Dog Depot (Redmond, OR)
Cascade Lakes Brewing Company and Lodge (Bend, OR)
7th Street Brew 7 House (Redmond, OR)
Cascade West Grub and Ale House (Bend, OR)
Tumalo Tavern (Tumalo, OR)

Deschutes Brewery

The Deschutes Brewery has been producing quality beers since 1988. Visit their location in Bend and also their pub in Portland, Oregon. Their menu is typical pub food, concentrating on burgers, sandwiches, salads and soups but they are masters at creating delicious food to accompany their also delicious beers!

The Deschutes Brewery is one of the most popular pubs in Bend and during the good weather, outside seating is available as well. Open 7 days per week, you can find a table from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11:00 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays, and 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sundays.

Deschutes Brewery makes the these standard beers year round:

Black Butte Porter – chocolate-like dark beer
Mirror Pond Pale Ale – American pale ale
Inversion IPA – soft caramel flavor with citrus undertones
Obsidian Stout – smooth, black beer – espresso like in flavor
Green Lakes Organic Ale – amber ale – 100% organic
Cascade Ale – a citrus flavored light ale
Bachelor ESB – English style beer, extra bitter

Try one of their extremely popular seasonal beers:

Red Chair NWPA
Twilight Ale
Jubeale

Deschutes Brewery also has 3 Bond Street Series beers available at certain months of the year only at the Bond Street Pub

Hop Henge IPA (January through April)
Hop in the Dark (May through September)
Hop Trip (October through December)

They also have a Reserve Series:

Black Butte XXI – porter that is available in small quantities on tap
The Abyss Imperial Stout
Mirror Mirror – pale ale
The Dissident – brown ale

McMenamins Old St. Francis School

McMenamins Old St. Francis School is a great place to visit – not only for the beer but also for the food and the entertainment! McMenamins also sports its own movie theater as well as several bars.

Since they are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, McMenamins is a great place for families. You can also rent rooms and cottages! McMenamins is the whole experience.

Their menus are enormous and offer just about everything you can imagine. You can also find many McMenamins pubs in Washington and Oregon.

In Bend, during good weather, there is ample outside seating – stop in for a burger and a brew!

Enjoy some of McMenamins famous beers:

Black Rabbit Porter – American porter
Hammerhead Ale – American pale ale
India Pale Ale – American IPA
Irish Stout – Irish dry stout
Kris Kringle – winter beer
Kolsch – German style beer
Lucky Charms Irish Red – Irish red ale
Milk Stout – sweet stout
Nebraska Bitter – American blonde ale
Purple Haze – boysenberry beer
Ruby Ale – fruit and vegetable beer
Scarecrow ESB – extra strong bitter ESB
Sleepy Hollow Nut Brown – English brown ale
Terminator Stout – American stout
Workingman’s Red – American amber red ale

Silver Moon Brewing

Silver Moon Brewing is located on Highway 20 in downtown Bend (Greenwood Avenue).

This is a brewery that you’d almost miss if you didn’t know where it was but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great place to grab dinner or a brew. Hours are Monday through Saturday noon to 11:00 p.m. and Sundays noon until 8:00 p.m.

Live entertainment is held at Silver Moon Brewing 3-5 nights per week. You can also play pool and foosball for free!

The menu is mostly pizzas, sandwiches and typical pub food. All the better to go along with the delicious beers.

Silver Moon Brewing has been brewing since 2005; here are their standard beers:

Bridge Creek Pilzner – Czech style lager
Hounds Tooth Amber – flagship ale
Snake Bite Porter – English style porter
Badlands Bitter – bitter ale
Hop Knob IPA – Northwest style IPA

For Silver Moon seasonal beers, try some of the following:

Brown Eyes Ale (February and March) – brown ale
Nekkid Creeper (November and December) – golden beer
Dagger Dark Lager (January and February) – American dark lager
Winter Moon IPA (December and January) – English darker IPA
Dark Side Stout (November through January) – medium stout
Hoptygon Imperial IPA (March and April) – Northwest IPA
Epic Trail Ale (April through June) – rye-based pale ale
Saison de Moon (April through June) – farmhouse ale

Silver Moon brews are available in kegs, growlers and bottles. Also served in several restaurants in Bend.

10 Barrel Brewing Company

The 10 Barrel Brewing Company is another of the fine local brewing companies here in Bend, Oregon. Check out their brew pub.

The pub is open Sunday through Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. to midnight.

The 10 Barrel Brewing Company arrived on the scene in 2006 and after success in the brewing arena, decided to open a brew pub. Situated on Galveston in Bend, the 10 Barrel offers a spacious patio for outdoor seating complete with a fire pit and also offers indoor pub style spacious areas of seating in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

The menu offers the usual pub grub but also has 10 pizzas on the menu as well as daily specials, ample soups and salads to choose from as well as sandwiches – even macaroni and cheese. It’s a great place to stop in for lunch or dinner and enjoy their special beers.

10 Barrel makes the following beers in their 10 Series:

10 Barrel Summer Ale
10 Barrel Pale Ale
S1NISTOR Black Ale
Apocalypse IPA
Coming soon – the Revolution Series

Breweries of Bend Oregon

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Show driving directionswalking directionsbicycling directions with distances in mileskilometers

Bend Brewing Company –
1019 NW Brooks St, Bend, OR 97701, USA 541.383.1599
[get directions]

Boneyard Brewing Company –
37 NW Lake Pl, Bend, OR 97701, USA 541.323.2325
[get directions]

Cascade Lakes Brewing Company and Lodge –
1441 SW Chandler Ave #100, Bend, OR 97702, USA 541.388.4899
[get directions]

Deschutes Brewery –
1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR 97701, USA 541.382.9242
[get directions]

McMenamins Old St. Francis School –
700 NW Bond St, Bend, OR 97701, USA 541.382.5174
[get directions]

Silver Moon Brewing –
24 NE Greenwood Ave, Bend, OR 97701, USA 541.388.8331
[get directions]

10 Barrel Brewing –
20750 High Desert Ln, Bend, OR 97701, USA 541.585.1007
[get directions]

10 Barrel Brewing Brew Pub –
1135 NW Galveston Ave, Bend, OR 97701, USA 541.678.5228
[get directions]

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See all 4 photos
10 Barrel Brew Pub
See all 4 photos
McMenamins Old St. Francis School

Photo Credits

10 Barrel Brewing pictures by written permission (Chris Cox) of 10 Barrel Brewing

McMenamins Old St. Francis School picture by written permission (Liz Devine, McMenamins photographer)

The Best Beer in Bend

In short, there is no shortage of places to find and enjoy the best beer in Bend, Oregon. I hope you have a chance to experience some of the local brews as they truly are wonderful.

Many of these brews are found in the supermarkets here in Oregon and some in other states as well.

If you get the chance, stop in for a great bite to eat and a brew and see if you don’t agree – these are the best beers to be found in Bend!

Inside 10 Barrel Brewing Company

Check Out Deschutes Brewery

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The Beer Book
Amazon Price: $6.96
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The World Atlas of Beer: The Essential Guide to the Beers of the World
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1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die (1001 (Universe))
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Tasting Beer: An Insider’s Guide to the World’s Greatest Drink
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Best Places Northwest, 17th Edition
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The Dog Lover’s Companion to the Pacific Northwest: The Inside Scoop on Where to Take Your Dog (Dog Lover’s Companion Guides)
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Urban Mushing And Central Oregon Vacation: Learn To Dog Sled Or Learn About Urban Mushing

Urban Mushing And Central Oregon Vacation: Learn To Dog Sled Or Learn About Urban Mushing

Central Oregon Vacation Learn Mushing

A Central Oregon vacation can offer many things but one activity you might want to try is dog sledding or urban mushing. Urban mushing is actually the same as dog sledding only without the dog sled and a scooter instead! Central Oregon just so happens to have the best teacher around for dog sledding or urban mushing on a Central Oregon vacation with any breed.  Karen Yeargain is happy to share her dog sledding techniques that you may apply here in Central Oregon, Anyplace USA or worldwide.

Tumnatki Siberians is the best kennel in Central Oregon for acquiring a Siberian husky or urban mushing and dog sledding equipment.  Karen Yeargain can teach you all you need to know about dog sledding, urban mushing or dog scootering and get you started in methodology you will understand and find easy to apply here in Central Oregon or back home.

A Central Oregon vacation involving urban mushing/dog scootering or dog sledding can acquaint you with the mechanics and equipment necessary via individual lesson or group lesson in dog sledding and urban mushing/dog scootering and you can even order all the equipment necessary from her. See her website above at Tumnatki Siberians for more details.

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Sheer power – pictures by audrey kirchner
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Kirchner runners – Alaskan malamutes
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See all 11 photos

Dog Sledding in Central Oregon on Vacation and At Home

Central Oregon is a great place to vacation in winter because of the many venues for dog sledding. Even if you haven’t done dog sledding before, Central Oregon is the perfect place to get a glimpse of this wonderful sport. All the principles of dog sledding fortunately also apply to the summertime version of dog sledding here in Central Oregon – urban mushing or dog scootering.

Likewise, all the elements of dog sledding can be readily transferred to skijoring (basically dog sledding on cross country skis) in Central Oregon on vacation or on your own. They also can be applied to daily life wherever you live, not just on vacation here in Central Oregon. There is also bikejoring,again applying all the principles of dog sledding. Bikejoring involves dogs pulling you on a bike rather than on a scooter.

The equipment for dog sledding, urban mushing, dog scooter, bikejoring, skijoring, carting, etc. is basically the same. For dog sledding, whether in Central Oregon or another snow locale, you need a kick sled or a small stand-on sled.

For urban mushing, the most common vehicle of choice is a
Diggler scooter, which you can order through Tumnatki Siberians. There
are many different variations of the Diggler scooter and you will have
the chance to see which scooter would most suit your need, your dogs,
and your pocketbook.

Dog sledding and urban mushing/scootering, or dog carting are sports
that you can do with any breed dog. Some of the fastest breeds of course
are the Siberian husky and Alaskan husky, while malamutes are very good
at it but proceed at a more sedate pace. The Siberian husky is built
for speed as is the Alaskan husky, whereas the Alaskan malamute is built
for load and strength, not speed.

Just because you have another breed though – labs do urban mushing
and dog sledding, shepherds do it, hounds do it, border collies do it –
again there is no limit as far as where you live or what breed the dog
is, though the dog does need to be medium sized and above. Most
recommended is running dogs on dirt surfaces rather than pavement for
long periods of time. Forestry service roads are great or any other
surface with ‘give’.

Urban mushing as an adjunct to dog sledding is becoming perhaps the
most popular way to exercise dogs of all breeds in cities across the
country. It is not a unique sport to Central Oregon. However, Karen
teaches in such a way that people feel at ease running their dogs in
this fashion and she is one of the best teachers I have ever
encountered. Moreover, she totally understands dogs and what motivates
them to run while maintaining the individuality of their breed!

And yes, for those competitive folks out there, there are many races
you can enter once you train your dogs regarding mushing on any level.

Before The Run

Let’s Go Girls!

Central Oregon Dog Sledding and Urban Mushing Equipment

Basically for dog sledding or urban mushing in Central Oregon or anywhere USA you would need the following:

Kick sled, scooter (preferably Diggler), cross country skis, dog cart, bike or even roller blades
Pulling harness for each dog made specifically for pull activities (Taiga recommended)
Lead line which keeps your dog(s) hooked out in front of you
Line or chain that hooks scooter to vehicle while getting dogs in harness/onto lead line (this keeps the dogs from taking off with the scooter or sled while you are getting ready)
Water for dogs!!
Helmet for human (optional)
Knee and elbow pads human (optional)

Whatever you need in terms of equipment, Tumnatki Siberians can get for you or recommend where you can order yourself although there are other websites available.

The 4 videos contained in this hub are all produced by Audrey Kirchner from a scootering outing in Sisters, Oregon May 1, 2010.  This delineates from start to finish what is involved.

On By

Dog Sledding and Urban Mushing Terms

Go /Let’s go – Start pulling or get going faster
Hike or Hike-Hike – Get going
Mush – (although I’ve never heard anyone use this) Get going
Haw – Turning left
Gee – Turning right
Easy – Take it easy and slow down (say it eeeeassssy)
Whoa – or WHOOOOOOAAAAA – Stop and stop NOW
Leave it – Quit messing with that thing you just spied or want to go after and keep your attention on the road (issue this command firmly and loudly)
On by – Used when passing people, dogs, or teams – means leave them alone and keep on going
Straight ahead – Same thing as on by but takes longer to say it
Line out – Face forward on the line and keep it straight and tight – with more than 2 dogs, tangles in the line can occur so it is important for lead dogs to know this command – usually for 1 or 2 dogs – not so important
Tighten up – Means move closer together or can mean line out for 2 dogs
Gee over – Move over to the right side of the road
Haw over – Move over to the left side of the road
Over – If running down the middle of a road, sometimes important to get them to one side or the other but gee and haw works better combined with over
Come gee – Make a U-turn to the right – this is a very advanced command
Come haw – Make a U-turn to the left – this is a very advanced command
NO!!! – The usual meaning – knock it off and now!
Other swear words and adjectives in any language to denote how you are feeling about your run at the moment and what they are doing!  Oddly they seem to translate well to dogspeak! 

More info and mushing terms courtesy of Urbanmushing.com and Audrey Kirchner been there, done that

These commands can also be worked into ‘casual training’ while you have your dogs out and about – especially reinforces when they are in harness.

 

3 Miles Later

Mush! Revised: A Beginner’s Manual of Sled Dog Training
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List Price: $19.95
Ski Spot Run: The Enchanting World of Skijoring and Related Dog-Powered Sports
Amazon Price: $5.49
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Soldiers and Sled Dogs: A History of Military Dog Mushing
Amazon Price: $18.99
List Price: $24.95
Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod
Amazon Price: $3.97
List Price: $15.00
Central Oregon: View from the Middle
Amazon Price: $62.55
List Price: $22.95

Summing Up A Great Central Oregon Vacation Idea

If you ever wanted to try something that involves mushing or dog sledding, here’s your chance to learn from one of the best teachers! If you are ever in Central Oregon on vacation or just passing through, it is well worth the instruction to learn from a pro.

Even if you are not in Central Oregon and want to learn about dog sledding or urban mushing, contact Karen and she will either give you helpful advice or direct you to someone who might be able to provide you with information.

Urban mushing, whether it is in Central Oregon or sunny California, is a great way to exercise your dogs – as is dog sledding or some of the other sports mentioned above.

Do take the time to do it properly, however, because it can be dangerous to you and your dogs if you don’t know the proper techniques, equipment, etc. 

Especially for Nordic breeds, it is advised  not to run them when temps are over 60 degrees, so have a care and try and run them before the thermometer hits 60!

Have a care as well running them on pavement – if you take off your shoes and it is too hot for YOUR feet, it is too hot for their feet. 

Running in snowy conditions, if there is severe ice spiking, booties are a good idea for the dogs.

Happy mushing!

More on Urban Mushing

Dog Scootering
As if the rollerblading experience had not been enough (see my link to that episode), I still looked forward with glee and I mean real glee to training the malamutes to pull me on the Diggler scooter that I…
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Think We Can Pick Up The Speed? We Only Got 100 Years! Skijoring is actually bikejoring only on skis! It is yet another great sport that you can participate in with one dog or several. Your dog does not…
Snowshoeing With Malamutes
I can’t wait to get started! I have snowshoed before but absolutely nothing compares with the fun I had recently taking our 2 malamutes out on their first-ever snowshoe trip! It was wonderful! It was…
Carting – A Sport With Dogs
My new passion Malamute will be to try my hand so to speak at carting! I figure at least this way, I have a much better chance of staying upright and off the ground but then again, where I’m involved,…
Bikejoring-What A Ride
Bikejoring by definition is a dry land activity that is similar to scootering or carting with your dog, however, is widely used to train sled dogs in the off season. This is another form of exercising…

Oregon BLM (Bureau of Public Land Management) Prineville District

Oregon BLM (Bureau of Public Land Management) Prineville District

BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Prineville District

To be honest, I didn’t even know what BLM meant until I moved to Prineville 6 years ago. I soon discovered, however, that there was a wonderful federal government office right here under our noses.

Prineville is the county seat for Crook County and although Prineville and Central Oregon proper are very low in population when compared to most metropolitan cities in the United States, there is a lot to manage here in Central Oregon in terms of public lands.

The Prineville District office of the Bureau of Land Management is one of 10 BLM districts in Oregon and Washington, the other nine being Spokane, Vale, Burns, Lakeview, Medford, Coos Bay, Roseburg, Eugene and Salem.

Each district of the Bureau of Land Management serves an overall common purpose which is the preservation and protection of our public lands as well as the history and culture associated with these lands.

Within each individual district, there are many projects in place for that area of the country in terms of land management and protection.

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Photo by Audrey Kirchner

Burea of Land Management Prineville District

BLM Prineville District Office: 541.416.6700
3050 NE Third Street, Prineville, OR 97754

Hours: 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (closed on holidays)

District Manager: Debbie Henderson-Norton

Associate District Manager: Steve Robertson

Public Affairs: Virginia Gibbons

Deschutes Resource Area Manager: Molly Brown

Central Oregon Resource Area Manager: Christina Welch

Administrative Officer: Rachel Carver

Maupin Visitor Center: 541.395.2778
7 North Highway 197, Maupin OR 97037

Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thursday through Sunday (May through September)

Prineville BLM –
Prineville, OR, USA
[get directions]

Office hours 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday excluding holidays

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Burea of Land Management (BLM) Overview

What exactly does the BLM do and what is the purpose of this government agency?

In general terms, the Bureau of Land Management is a branch of the Office of the Department of the Interior. The purpose of the BLM part of our government agencies is to protect our public lands. However, this task is not as simple as it sounds and learning more about BLM has shown me the many ways this managerial agency impacts us directly.

As part of the Washington and Oregon division of the Bureau of Land Management, the Prineville District is part of the greater arm of the BLM which in turn protects lands such as forests, rangelands, beaches and mountains that cover 15 million acres in Oregon and over 400,000 acres in Washington.

These public lands encompass more than 800 miles where we can find wild and scenic rivers and where people can enjoy hunting, hiking, fishing, and camping. We can also enjoy rock hounding throughout these pristine lands and searching for fossils and artifacts of civilizations millions of years back.

However, the BLM does not just cover recreational lands. The BLM is actually an extremely vital part of our nation’s conservation program while at the same time becoming a leader in our goal to become green in terms of figuring out how to preserve our environment while working on alternative energy sources.

The Bureau of Land Management is also playing a vital role in many other aspects of our national economy and operates with the mission of preserving what we have in this great land in terms of natural beauty and resources, protecting wildlife and most especially endangered species, discovering and heightening the potential of our natural resources, and creating new jobs centered around implementing some of these new technologies.

There are Bureau of Land Management offices throughout the United States and I encourage you to learn more about them as each one of these has a specific purpose and each BLM in the United States is part of a plan designed to preserve and protect one part of the country. The Eastern States division of the BLM encompasses an incredible number of states while others have such vast open land that they cover one state or maybe several such as Washington and Oregon. Then within the national offices there are the district offices such as the Prineville District. There are more than 245 million acres of public lands in the United States, so this puts into perspective the level of management needed.

It is estimated that 57 million people in 2008 visited recreation sites alone on BLM managed lands – and the numbers are growing.

Let’s take a look at some of the parts of BLM management and then I’ll give you a brief tour of what the Prineville District does in terms of managing our lands here in Oregon.

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Wind harnessing project
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Wildfire
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Wild horses
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Salmon run
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Mineral lands
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Grazing
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Public lands
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Fishing
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John Day
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Recreation
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Camping
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Petroglyph
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Solar panels

What Does the BLM Do and Why?

The offices of the Bureau of Land Management oversee the following things:

Energy

BLM is constantly looking towards using public lands in the development of new and sustainable energy sources. Under the direction of President Obama and the Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, there are many programs in place to create jobs as part of the stimulus package in the fields of solar power and wind power. In fact, one of my friends who works at the Prineville District office of BLM just returned from Colorado where she went to a seminar on wind power.

Even though the BLM oversees on-shore drilling and other energy sources throughout the US such as coal and other fuels, and leases the land to companies to produce energy, this is a source of revenue for the US taxpayer and one way that our country is making money. However, the hope is that we can turn to other ecologically safer ways of producing that energy and solar and wind are the target projects for this administration.

Fire

The BLM is crucial in maintaining our public lands and keeping them as free of fire hazards as possible. When you see crews out cutting down trees or clearing underbrush, that is all the BLM at work. Part of the preservation of our national forests and conservation of our land is protecting it against the threat of wildfire and this involves making sure that the forests and lands are as protected from disastrous fire damage as possible. You can imagine how many millions of acres throughout the US this involves and how in Central Oregon alone the task must seem daunting in terms of keeping fire hazards to a minimum. In Central Oregon, the risks of fire are quiet high at all times of the year and the management of such vast countryside is an amazingly well done job here. Several years ago, we had a terrible problem with forest fires and it took months for them to be brought under control. The BLM also employees firefighters in their efforts to keep fire under control as the biggest threat here is lightning strikes.

Grazing

Central Oregon is especially notable for its vast ranches and cattle. It is estimated that nationwide, 157 million acres of the public lands in the US are grazed by livestock, mostly cattle and sheep. The purpose of grazing on public lands is to control growth of rangelands as well as provide livestock with grazing land. History, however, taught us that there is a fine line between grazing and overkill and many of the lands and ecosystems were nearly destroyed by overgrazing and in 1946, unregulated grazing of public lands became a thing of the past. Now, there are studies ongoing to make sure that the lands are not overgrazed and that permits and leases are in place to prevent this from happening. While the purposes of grazing are evident for things such as maintaining rangelands to prevent fire spread, overgrazing can lead to destruction of the land and vegetation that the BLM is striving to protect. That’s why study and management of these lands goes hand in hand.

Planning

Considering the US has 258 million acres of lands and 700 million acres of mineral estate as they term underground lands, it is imperative that plans are in place for the management of these resources. Each branch of BLM throughout the country works in tandem with each other to develop plans that conserve our public lands and also use them to the best of their potential but as one can imagine, this is an ongoing task. The branches of BLM in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Eastern States, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming all work together on such projects as the wild horse and burro project for instance to try and come up with viable alternatives to overpopulation of these magnificent animals while providing protection for them so that they will always be a part of our nation’s heritage.

Recreation

This is one of the biggest areas that BLM has to cover. In Central Oregon alone, the amount of recreation sites on public lands is incredible. While some of the lands are free of charge, some are not and permits must be issued and then regulations followed to assure that the public lands are not overused. For instance in Maupin, not far from Prineville, there is a stretch of river that is extremely popular for rafting from mid May to mid July. Only so many permits are issued per day to avoid overuse of the public waterways which is a great way to preserve and protect one of our national resources – public lands. Public land use for recreation is a privilege most Americans take for granted. There are so many beautiful places to visit and so many ways to enjoy public lands. Tourism in Central Oregon is a huge source of revenue and there are so many beautiful places to see from the Cascade Lakes to the Newberry Crater – but someone needs to ensure that these natural wonders stay intact and that is what the BLM does by monitoring the use of our public lands for recreation and ensuring that they are not overused or abused.

National Landscape Conservation System

This is a part of the BLM that was established to ensure that national monuments, wild and scenic rivers, wilderness areas and wilderness study areas, national scenic and historic trails and national conservation areas are protected. Throughout the United States, there are approximately 886 federally recognized areas covering approximately 27 million acres. It is not hard to imagine the scope of protecting these lands but it is a marvelous comfort to know that someone is looking out for the preservation and conservation of these natural wonders.

Wild Horse and Burro Program

It is estimated by BLM that there are more than 38,000 wild horses and burros that roam on lands managed by the BLM covering 10 western states. The problem arises in that the herds can double in 4 years. This is why this program is so vital and especially here in Central Oregon as the amount of open land is staggering. Each year, BLM gathers thousands of animals from the ranges in an attempt to control the population. There is new research ongoing regarding controlling fertility which will hopefully reduce herd sizes but in the meantime, there are adoption programs all over the country in place where you can adopt a wild/feral horse for $125 and a wild burro for $75. These horses and burros though wild can be gentled just like any other horse or burro and is an excellent solution to the problem of overpopulation. Here in Central Oregon, there are several herds that roam freely and are a beautiful thing to come upon. We saw a small herd running by the river near Warm Springs and I will never forget it. I only wish I’d had my camera out and been able to shoot photos.

BLM Projects at the Prineville District

Currently here at the Prineville District, the BLM office is involved in some of these great projects. There are also volunteer opportunities in many areas throughout Central Oregon but also nationwide. It’s a wonderful way to protect our public lands.

National Public Lands Day – September 25, 2010 – the project for this year is Biak National Guard Base cleanup. There will be weed removal, trail work, etc. – Contact is Ron Wortman 541.416.6700

BLM Academy of Sciences Study – The BLM Prineville District has requested help from the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council (NAS/NRC) to look into the problem with the wild horses and burro population here in Central Oregon to try and come up with viable alternatives that are good for the preservation of these magnificent animals and also good for the public lands. They also opened this discussion up to the people and encourage communities involved to participate.

John Day River Environmental Assessment – An ongoing project to study and protect the John Day River as it is a huge tourism draw when it comes to recreation here in Central Oregon.  However, BLM recognizes the necessity of keeping it pristine and part of the wilderness that is Oregon. This is also a project aimed at protecting the John Day River and environs from abuse and misuse by industry.

Prevention of White-Nose Syndrome in Bats – This is a fungus that was first detected in New York and is turning up in more and more bats across the country. It is a deadly fungus that is destroying thousands of hibernating bats thus reducing the population dramatically.

Vegetation Control – The Prineville District BLM manages vegetation control such as noxious weeds that threaten to take over and wipe out native plants and trees if encroaching ‘bad’ vegetation is not controlled. This project examines the best ways that are environmentally sound in controlling unwanted vegetation while keeping healthy the indigenous growth that needs to be preserved.

Reduction of Dangerous Fuels – The LaPine area has 4 projects currently underway to reduce dangerous material in the forests thus reducing the possibility of uncontrolled wildfires.

Wild Hose and Burro Monitoring – As above, this project is ongoing and a huge concern in Central Oregon. The goal is to maintain the herds and keep them safe while not allowing their population to become overwhelming.

Migratory Bird Project – This project was ongoing in Redmond during a part of July and August when certain migratory birds were passing through.  An area in nearby Redmond was closed to public access while these birds were migrating in order to protect them and the habitat essential to their migratory pattern.

BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Prineville District

As you can see, for one little government office, there is a lot going on at the Bureau of Land Management Prineville District!  It is staggering when you think of all the projects that are ongoing as well as research for green energy sources while protecting our public lands.

One of the reasons I discovered the BLM office here in Prineville was because we mush our dogs on scooters and we wanted to make sure that we were using roads that were safe to use and were also legal to use for these purposes. 

By visiting the BLM office, we were given helpful maps and directions on what roads were best for our purposes and through their guidance, we learned how to best appreciate our public lands in this area as well as use them safely.  They provide a huge service in terms of protecting and utilizing our public lands and it is comforting to know that there are agencies that have their philosophies based on conservation rather than destruction.

The Bureau of Land Management is part of the First Lady’s Take It Outside Program as well (which is part of Let’s Move Outside and Let’s Move) – a program aimed at reducing childhood obesity in this country.  It is a marvelous program to encourage kids of all ages from 2 to 92 to get out and see all that this great country has to offer – to appreciate nature and all the benefits of hiking, camping, boating, etc. while learning how to exercise and live a healthier lifestyle. 

The BLM is also part of the Take Pride in America Program which is a program geared at getting volunteers to help clean up and preserve our national public lands and protect our parks, forests, grasslands, wildlife refuges, cultural and historical sites and recreation areas.  This is an ongoing philosophy and one that takes helping hands to keep in motion. 

VOLUNTEER PROJECTS  – Some of the many things you can volunteer for!

Fish and wildlife – help improve streams to increase fish production
Recreation – lead hikes or tours, provide info to public lands visitors, serve as a camp host, work on trails
Range management and forestry – plant trees after fires, assist in scientific research projects, thin trees
Energy and minerals – take part in geological surveys and fossil excavations
Archaeology and history – locate and map ancient petroglyphs, assist in their discovery, conduct research
Watersheds – assist BLM workers in soil and water conservation programs to reduce erosion and pollution
Administrative support – work on computers, drive vehicles, answer public inquires and supervise other volunteers
Public information – write, edit or take photos for publication, produce graphic arts work, displays or videos
Wild horses and burros – help with private adoptions and feeding; horses and burros that are gathered have to be tended and fed; show trained horses and burros as demonstrations
Engineering and surveying – aid engineers in planning, help build facilities, put up signs, work on roads and trailheads
Data management – work on the computerized system for storing information
Planning – help identify and plan for areas of environmental concern and develop new ideas for ongoing projects

In short, there’s a lot to be done at the Prineville District BLM and you can volunteer on many levels – or contact your own BLM and give some time.  It is worth the effort to protect and preserve our public lands!

Photo Credits

All photos courtesy of the BLM photo gallery (public domain photographs)

Horse Roundup Through BLM

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Best Vacation Spots In Central Oregon SunRiver

Best Vacation Spots In Central Oregon SunRiver

Vacation Destination: Sunriver in Central Oregon

Going on vacation means going to a place where you can
totally relax. Preferably, vacationing means that you have everything you
need right there. 

Some of the best
vacations I’ve ever had are the ones where you don’t have to run here and
there but you can actually just stay put. 
You can go out if you want to but you don’t have to go from point A to
point B to enjoy yourself or find things to do. Vacation destination Sunriver in Central Oregon is one of these places. 

From the first time I read about this
‘resort’ and decided to spend our family vacation there in 1995 to the
present time, I would recommend this self-contained community which is located
in the heart of Central Oregon to anyone from 2 to 92. 

You can’t find a better place for things to do, sights to see
and overall peace and quiet.  It doesn’t hurt that it is set in some of the most beautiful country in the United States.  

See all 13 photos
All photos by Audrey Kirchner

About Sunriver Oregon

Sunriver, Oregon consists of roughly 3,300 acres set in and around the Deschutes National Forest of Central Oregon.  This is a private planned resort community
about 15 minutes south of Bend and on the eastern side of the Deschutes River. 

Sunriver proper consists of residential areas combined with
recreational facilities such as the Sunriver Resort and a commercial town
square known as Sunriver Village Mall. 

Within the Sunriver Village Mall, one can find realty companies,
restaurants and a bakery, various businesses and retail shops.  There are at least a dozen vacation home
rental agencies within Sunriver. 

There
is also a recreation center called Mavericks where you can find a cafe, rock
climbing wall, cardio and weight gym, a 4-lane swimming pool and flowrider,
kids pool and splash fountains. 

There is
also a spa associated with Sunriver Resort called Sage Springs. 

Sunriver Resort and Mavericks also have meeting facilities
and are known statewide for their great convention facilities. 

The permanent population is roughly 1700 (with over 4200
single homes and condos)  but many of the
homes in Sunriver are rentals and at any given time, especially during peak vacation
times of the year, the population is much greater.

Sunriver boasts 33+ miles of paved bike trails, a business
park, an observatory, a marina, a small airport, stables and the mall.  It also is home to 2 swimming pools (North
and South), 26 tennis courts, a sledding hill and amphitheater area, Fort Rock
Park and Mary McCallum Park. 

The Mt. Bachelor ski area is 20-30 minutes from
Sunriver. 

Sunriver also has three
18-hole golf courses and one 9-hole course.

See all 13 photos

Sunriver’s History

Camp Abbot was a World War II training facility for combat
engineers simulating a combat environment.  Present day Sunriver is located on ground that
was originally Camp Abbot.  The US Army
camp opened in 1942 but by June 1944, it was abandoned as a military base. 

The Great Hall was preserved and renovated from its previous state, that of the Camp Abbot Officers’ Club. 

The first condos were built in 1968 along with
the Sunriver Lodge.  In 1969, developers
began selling lots under the guidance of John Gray and Donald V. McCallum who
named the area Sunriver.

See all 13 photos

Accomodations

We vacationed in Sunriver for 9 years and have seen Sunriver in winter, spring, summer and fall.  I can honestly say that every season is wonderful there and we always found more than enough to do.

We rented through realtors.  There are at least a dozen vacation home rental agencies in Sunriver as well as being able to rent through Sunriver Resort.  Many of the homes in
Sunriver are specifically designated by their owners as rental properties and many homes are actually second homes for their owners.

One might think that you would have to spend a fortune for a
well maintained, clean home but in fact, we rented what were termed ‘executive
quality’ homes because we had special needs like Internet access or large groups
of people for reunions. 

These homes were quite reasonable and if
you happen to be going with a group of people, a 5-bedroom 4-bath immaculate
house renting for $250-300 per night is not that bad when you divide it into 5
equal parts for instance. 

The homes that we rented always came with bicycles free of
charge and were fully decked out in terms of furniture, cooking utensils, bed
and bath linens, etc. 

All have decks
and deck furniture so you can soak up the beautiful Central Oregon sunshine and
every one of them always had an outdoor hot tub.  One even had an indoor sauna. 

We have also rented condos at the golf course and
they are likewise more than adequate for any occasion.  

The thing to remember is that you can get as fancy or upscale as you want
in Sunriver or you can rent something on the low end and still end up with a beautiful place!

You can rent a room at the
Sunriver Resort, any number of private homes, condos, and private cabins.  Or
you can rent from any of the dozen plus realty listings for Sunriver that are easily found on the Internet. 

I have yet to know of anyone who had bad
accommodations!  There are even many that
are pet friendly and are immaculate.

Always ask about specials as many realty companies run them.  Sunriver is a very popular
destination vacation spot any time of the year but there are also slow times
and during those slow times, you can get some great bargains.  For instance one year, we ended up with 2
free nights of accommodation just because of the special that was running. 

Most accommodations also have free passes for the swimming pools and other perks that are thrown in.  Renting through Sunriver Resort will also get you onto the golf courses for a reduced rate and they always have specials that target golfing and their wonderful spa. 

Many Sunriver homeowners advertise their homes on youtube and elsewhere and you can take a virtual tour of the homes on-line.  Whatever your budget is, you can always find something you can afford in terms of Sunriver lodging.

See all 13 photos

Activities Within Sunriver

To list the activities at Sunriver takes a while!  There are 2 pools in Sunriver (the North and the South pools).  Everyone we have ever rented through in Sunriver has provided us with free passes to the pools.  This is a great activity for all ages and the
weather in Sunriver except in winter is pretty great for swimming.  Pool closures are different depending on the
weather but there is also an indoor swimming facility at Mavericks located within the community. 

Mavericks also boasts the wave rider which is a great
surfing outing for kids and adults.  They
also have a full gym and lots to do for the athletically inclined such as their wall climbing wall and the kids pool.

Biking is a huge favorite in Sunriver because of the 30+
miles of bike trails.  You can go forever
in Sunriver and not see everything.  You
can start out at one part of the community and end up out at the airport in
relatively little time.  All the bike
paths are paved and well marked.  There are even stopping points that have map pamphlets
in them for your convenience.  There are trail marker signs every so often so you know which way to the village and
which way to the airport for example.  The trails are well marked with regard to their traffic pattern which consists of circles.  For instance, you can go from circle 4 to circle 10 if you follow the map.

In winter months, if there is snow, you can use the paths
and even some of the golf courses for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.  You can rent equipment in the village and
this is a great way to stay put and just enjoy your surroundings without traveling far.  Snowshoeing or cross-country skiing within Sunriver is a great way to see the area. 
We snowshoed one year down by the Deschutes River.  It was
breathtaking with over 12 inches of new powder and a picture perfect landscape with freshly fallen snow and warm sun.

The stables at Sunriver are especially fun in the summertime where you can take group rides or schedule day trips up into the high country
with a guide.  There are all levels of
riding activities available at the stable from pony rides to overnight trips.  In the wintertime, they leave
back some of their bigger work horses and you can go on sleigh rides.  Nothing is more beautiful than a sleigh ride
through the snow! 

Sunriver Resort at the lodge puts on activities throughout
the year from day camps for kids to tennis camps to special events
throughout the holidays.  You can enjoy special seasonal dinners at the lodge without staying through the resort and just need to call for
reservations.  The decorations at the
lodge are worth a trip in at the holidays to see the beautiful
light displays outside the lodge and the huge Christmas trees in the lobby!

You can catch a bus from Sunriver Resort and from other referral spots in town to Mt. Bachelor in winter so you don’t have to drive up to the
mountain.  Check with Sunriver Resort for
times but it is a great way to go skiing without ever taking your car out of
the parking lot!  Mt. Bachelor is famous for its great alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and snowboarding
opportunities.  You can even go on a
dogsled excursion through Trail of Dreams and they are available both in winter and summer.

In the summer and fall, there are raft trips galore; from
nice-and-easy several hour trips down the Deschutes to more arduous trips
such as the Big Eddy Thriller which takes on a Class 3 rapids.  You can check with companies like Sun Country
Tours for more info on the river trips available but they are all highly
praised and so much fun that you find yourself going back again even if you’ve
done one.  They have overnight trips as well down other rivers and my sister and my daughter went on one several years ago and had the time of their life.

Central Oregon is a fly fishing heaven.  You can sign up for classes right in Sunriver
and learn all that you need to know and more about fly fishing.  They provide equipment and transportation if
you need it and can set up group lessons or individual lessons. Just regular fishing is great on the Deschutes River right in Sunriver and you can find ample good fishing spots all along the river.  Or you can just drift in your boat, raft or canoe and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the moment. 

Wildlife viewing and bird watching are 2 free activities
that you can do in Sunriver to your heart’s content.  From the deer that freely roam through the
streets of Sunriver to the coyotes pouncing on voles for food out in the
meadows to the bluebirds in all their glory landing on fence posts as you
pedal by in summer to osprey and turkey vultures lining the Deschutes – it is a photo
op waiting to happen every minute. 

The
most spectacular views are the coyote pups playing with their mama or papa in
the dead of winter on the snow or the
bristly porcupine crossing the road, the only dark spot on the pure white
terrain.  Or the horses from the stable
running across the meadows in the early morning or late evening towards
dusk in summertime.  It’s a great pastime to just tour Sunriver in your car or on bike or foot looking for wildlife.  

In summertime, the Paulina Plunge is well worth the
outing.  The tour company provides a bus ride to the Newberry
National Volcanic Monument where you are tricked out with helmets and mountain
bikes.  Then you cruise down the mountain
roads and hike to 6 different waterfalls where you can play on the natural
water slides and enjoy the day.  A boxed lunch is even provided if you order it. 

You can go on innumerable tours through a great company
called Wanderlust Tours from snowshoeing under a full moon in the snow to
Crater Lake tours to Newberry Volcanic National Monument. 

Golfing is synonymous with Sunriver and the Central Oregon
area.  There are so many great golf
courses in the area that it would take you weeks to play them all.  From the seasoned golfer to the novice, you
won’t be disappointed with courses of all skill levels and all types of
topography.  In Sunriver alone, you can
golf at 4 different courses and never leave the community!  People actually fly in or drive to Sunriver
for the weekend from Portland just for the golfing.  Golf lessons are also available through the resort for any level golfer.

There are also 2 parks within Sunriver that have loads of playground toys and ample picnicking facilities for families or large groups of people.  We have played baseball, soccer and basketball at the parks and also at the nearby school. 

In wintertime, the sledding hill is a very popular spot for kids of all ages and is a great way to spend a snowy day followed by a cup of hot chocolate in the village and a good soak in the hot tub afterwards.

Sunriver has its own observatory and also its own Nature Center located within the heart of the community.  Star gazing opportunities abound and it is a great place for kids to go and learn more about astronomy.  Likewise, the Nature Center is a great place to gather information about the Central Oregon area. 

For boating opportunities from row boats to rafts to stand-up paddle boards, check in at the marina and enjoy an outing on the beautiful Deschutes River.  You can also float the Deschutes or rent some of the other floating options and get a return trip to the marina by activity bus.  There is a point that you turn at along the Deschutes which takes you to a spot on the river where you are helped out of your raft or boat and then driven back to the marina. It doesn’t get much easier than that!

Also in winter, there is an ice skating rink open in the Sunriver Village Mall.  This is a great way to have a family outing and enjoy the beautiful setting as well. 

Tennis anyone? With 26 tennis courts, you can always find some place to play tennis in Sunriver.  The courts are all in excellent condition and you can sign up for lessons as well.

If relaxation is what you are seeking, you’ve come to the right place at Sage Springs Spa.  Here, you can get everything from a hot stone massage to a pedicure and manicure.  Or try one of their body wraps. 

Sunriver is famous for its Music Festival each summer and throughout the year, there are many different goings on hosted at Sunriver.  Be sure to check out all the great opportunities for seeing programs or participating in such events as their car show.

Sunriver Oregon

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Sunriver Resort –
17600 Center Dr, Sisters-Millican, OR 97707, USA
[get directions]

Restaurant, pub, gift shop and golf

Hot Lava Baking Company Suite 17 Village Mall –
Sunriver, Sisters-Millican, OR 97707, USA
[get directions]

Get your fresh cinnamon rolls and loaves of bread

Trout House Restaurant –
57235 River Rd, Sisters-Millican, OR 97707, USA
[get directions]

Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner beside the Deschutes River

Sunriver Observatory –
57245 River Rd, Sisters-Millican, OR 97707, USA
[get directions]

Come gaze at the stars

Sunriver Marketplace –
18160 Cottonwood Rd, Sisters-Millican, OR 97707, USA
[get directions]

Get groceries and gas

Sunriver Stables –
57215 River Rd, Bend, OR 97707, USA
[get directions]

Saddle up for a trail ride or take a sleigh ride

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See all 13 photos

Activities Outside Sunriver

About 15 minutes from Sunriver, you can drive south to the
Newberry National Volcanic Monument and see a live volcano. You can also climb to the top of the Paulina
Volcano which is Paulina Peak where the view is unparalleled. You can see 3 states and innumerable topographic landmarks from California to
Washington.

You can also visit the beautiful Paulina Lake or East Lake and fish for
world-class trout or salmon.
You can also visit the Lava River Cave and Lava Lands which are also
part of the Newberry Monument. Don’t miss the Paulina Lodge for breakfast,
lunch, or dinner or just a piece of homemade pie!

Near the Lava River Cave is the famous High Desert Museum,
which is a wonderful place for all ages to observe wildlife indigenous to
Central Oregon. There are many animals
and birds here that are on display and many interpretative presentations
daily. Most of the animals in the
‘museum’ are rescued animals that could not survive if released back into the
wild. It’s a fascinating place with its
own little cafe.

Traveling a bit north of Sunriver, in under 25 minutes, you
can be in Bend which is the hub of Central Oregon. Here, you can enjoy fine dining, excellent
shopping, outlet stores, theater, movies, art galleries, beautiful riverside
walking areas and just about anything you can think of under the sun. There are many chain stores and restaurants
such as Olive Garden, Red Robin, Lowes, Old Navy, etc. But then there are totally unique and
fascinating restaurants special to the area such as Jackalope Grill or
Blacksmith. There are many places in
Bend and environs that are dog friendly as well and weather permitting, you can
sit outside and enjoy a wonderful meal and then a walk in some of the most
beautiful parks in the state.

A few hours away is the natural wonder called Crater
Lake. We’ve done it several times from
Sunriver as a day trip and it is well worth the drive. You won’t see more spectacular scenery or
views anywhere except perhaps the Grand Canyon.

You can even take in a minor league baseball game in Bend
depending on the time of year that you visit.
The Bend Elks have some of the best college players in the country and
you can attend one of their games for a nominal charge while enjoying the
atmosphere of an old-fashioned wooden baseball stadium.

Take the Cascade Loop Highway for another day trip and visit
the many beautiful lakes along the way.
There are all kinds of fishing opportunities at all of these lakes and
some of the best fishing in the state if not the country. There is also lodging available at many and
camping sites available at all.

Smith Rock State Park is only about a hour north of Sunriver
and is another great day trip. It is
also a spectacular place to watch (or participate) in rock climbing and people
come from all over the world to scale its beautiful rockery. Well worth the drive and the hike, you can
do just about any level of hike at Smith Rock though getting down and back up is the arduous part!

On another day, take a drive east and visit the Painted
Hills of Central Oregon. This is another
national monument with 3 different parts.
There are the Painted Hills of Central Oregon, the Clarno Unit and the
Sheep Rock Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. All 3 are wonderful geological treasures
that you won’t want to miss.

Driving north and west, you can take in the picturesque city
of Sisters, Oregon and if you happen to hit the right week in July, you’ll see the world famous Outside Quilt Show. Here, hundreds of quilters submit their
quilts for judging. They are hung from the outside of buildings and businesses for all to
see on a walking tour. You would be
surprised what you can do with a quilt! It simply will leave you speechless
viewing some of these works of art.

There are annual events in Bend, Sunriver and other cities
throughout Central Oregon and you can always check websites for goings on. The Deschutes Fairgrounds always has things
of interest going on from rodeos to truck shows to home shows to musical groups
performing.

The Les Schwab Amphitheater
in Bend likewise has concerts going on throughout the year and tickets are
available on line. Willie Nelson
performed recently in Bend just to give an example of the level of talent that comes to
Central Oregon.

There are numerous small and large town rodeos and
celebrations that go on year round throughout this area and again, look on-line
to determine which ones would suit your needs. The Sisters Rodeo is quite the event here in Central Oregon.

Art exhibits and galleries are everywhere throughout the area and you
don’t have to travel far to find one. Theater, music and the performing arts are also part of what
Central Oregon is known for. There are
always shows and events going on at the famous Tower Theater in Bend or one of
the many playhouses. Check local
listings and on-line for times and venues.

Movie going is a great pastime throughout the area as well
and there are several movie theaters located within Bend, Redmond, Sisters, and
Prineville. Check for local listings and
times.

Breweries and pubs abound in Central Oregon. There are 7
alone located within Bend! There is one
in Sisters and another in Redmond.

There are also any number of fine dining, casual and
anything in between restaurants throughout the area that serve breakfast, lunch
and dinner as well as appetizers and happy hour menus or snacks that are
fantastic deals. You won’t go hungry while in Central Oregon or find the number of available eateries lacking!

Scenic highways are also another great way to spend time in
the Sunriver area. Take a traveling tour up
Santiam Pass in the fall and you will see some of the most magnificent scenery
ever. Coupled with the lava flows and
the Dee Wright Observatory, you won’t be sorry you went!

A trip to Mt. Bachelor in winter or summer is a wonderful way to spend the day. Ride up on the chairlift in summer and then hike the trails finishing off the day with a great lunch in the restaurant atop Mt. Bachelor. In winter, the skiing is world class and you won’t find a better place for cross-country or alpine skiing or snowboarding. You can also participate in a dog sled ride and occasionally there have been dog sled races put on at Mt. Bachelor which is a great activity to attend.

There are also incredible trails throughout Central Oregon for hiking in spring, summer or fall and then for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in winter along with many sno-parks. There are also many trails for skijoring or snowshoeing. Make sure you check to see which sno-parks are pet friendly.

Not that far away is Mt. Hood which is another heavenly place for skiing and snow opportunities.

Lake Billy Chinook is about an hour and a half north of Sunriver and offers wonderful boating and swimming activities. The size of the lake and its surrounding carved out hillsides are stunning. There are many parks and recreational pull-outs throughout this vast state park and a trip to Lake Billy Chinook is something to remember.

Bend Oregon

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Walmart –
20120 Pinebrook Blvd, Bend, OR 97702, USA
[get directions]

Pick up what you need

Costco –
2500 NE Hwy 20, Bend, OR 97701, USA
[get directions]

Stop in for some shopping

Old Mill District –
SW Powerhouse Dr, Bend, OR 97702, USA
[get directions]

Shopping, food and entertainment

Lost Tracks Golf Course –
60205 Sunset View Dr, Bend, OR 97702, USA
[get directions]

Great slow course in Bend

Tower Theater –
835 NW Wall St, Bend, OR 97701, USA
[get directions]

Plays, shows and singing performances

Olive Garden Restaurant –
63459 U.S. 97, Bend, OR 97701, USA
[get directions]

Enjoy great Italian food and check out Bestbuy

Macy’s –
3188 N Hwy 97, Bend, OR 97701, USA
[get directions]

Shopping at its finest – stop by Kohl’s and TJ Maxx too

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Shopping and Services

Going on vacation wouldn’t be complete without knowing where
to shop! In Sunriver alone, there are 2
grocery stores. One is in the town
square and the other on the back side of Sunriver on the north side. The north side also has gas pumps. If you bike to the store, walk or drive over,
you’ll find just about anything and everything you could possibly need. They may have small spaces but they pack
these stores with everything you’d need on vacation!

There are also many shops in the Sunriver mall area. There is
also a post office and several great restaurants in case you’re hungry and need
to stop in for a bite! Most of the shops
in Sunriver are unique and interesting to browse through. I’ve brought home many souvenirs from our
visits to the area from these shops and treasure them to this day.

There is a pro shop at the golf courses and you can find all
kinds of unique clubs and golfing equipment.
You can also find great clothes and shoes in the pro shops as well as
more unique gifts in the Sunriver Resort Gift Shop.

The Sunriver Village Mall is currently being remodeled and
is it ever gorgeous! The mall has been
there forever and it is nice to see it getting a facelift. It is a wonderful place to walk or bike to in
spring, summer or fall and a great place to snowshoe to during the winter
months for a cup of coffee or hot chocolate!

If you need to do serious
food shopping, Bend is your best bet.
Of course, there is a multitude of grocery stores to choose from in the
greater Bend area from natural food markets such as Whole Foods, Newport
Market, and Trader Joe’s along with the major chains such as Fred Meyer,
Walmart, Safeway, Erickson’s, Albertsons and Ray’s.

If you are shopping for sports equipment, there is a
beautiful REI store in the Old Mill District.
There are also many sports stores throughout the Central Oregon area
including a bike and ski shop right in Sunriver itself where you can buy or
rent for the day or week. You can also
rent bikes, surreys and other types of bikes such as stroller bikes in Bend down
in the Old Mill District.

For clothing shopping, in the Old Mill District, you will
find great stores like Chico’s, The Gap, Gap For Kids, American Eagle, Ann
Taylor Loft, Banana Republic, Bath and Body Works, and Coldwater Creek. Don’t miss the Oregon Store either for all
your sports paraphernalia.

In town out in East Bend, you’ll find Old Navy, Big Lots and
Costco with a myriad of smaller stores in the east end of Bend. Barnes and Noble also has a great little
store and cafe there and there is also an Office Max.

Going into the heart of Bend, you’ll find great shoe stores,
camera stores, galleries, and men’s and women’s stores. You’ll also find a couple of fantastic home
furnishing stores and you can find some incredible treasures there that might
even fit in your suitcase or can be shipped back home!

Macy’s has a beautiful store in Bend along with a Kohl’s that just opened in 2010. There is
also a TJ Maxx and further up the road a Ross store for those looking for
bargains.

For anyone needing hardware items, you’ll find an Ace
Hardware store in Sunriver and if you can’t find what you’re looking for there,
head on up to Bend where you’ll find a Home Depot, Lowe’s and Ace Hardware
stores.

Car repairs sometimes need to be done and several times on
vacation, we were in need of auto repair services.
We have used Subaru, Ford, and the Chevy dealerships for repairs as well
as a couple of private mechanics in the area that have been great in
solving the problem or getting what was broken fixed in a timely fashion. The Les Schwab stores in the area are
some of the most helpful auto places around and usually they don’t even charge
you to take a look or fix a flat!
Unbelievable! They truly believe
in service.

There is no end it seems to the stores in Sunriver and the surrounding area so check on-line for more details. For computer needs, there is Bestbuy in Bend. There also several other chain stores such as Staples, JC Penney, Michaels, Dollar Stores and many more.

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Spa Services

If you are vacationing in Sunriver, you have the best spa
services available right at your fingertips – literally. Sage Springs Spa offers a full menu of
services from body wraps to manicures and pedicures to massage. They have packages available and also
specials if you stay through Sunriver Resort.
You couldn’t ask for a more top quality spa.

If you are in the Bend area, there are numerous spas
available there as well as in Redmond.
The Spa W in Bend is very popular as are Anjou Spa and Jinsei Spa. Try out the Eagle Crest Day Spa if you are in the Redmond area.

If you’re looking for a bargain, try Phagan’s Beauty College in Bend. You
can’t beat the prices on their services which range from facials to hair to manicures and pedicures.

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Worship Services

Within Sunriver itself, you can attend church services at
the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the Community Bible Church or the Sunriver
Christian Fellowship Church.  Check
on-line for mass and service times.

In Bend, you can attend Catholic masses,
Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist and Christian church services
along with the added benefit of being inside some of the most gorgeous churches you’ll ever see.  They have a lot of old
churches in the area and many make stunning photos.

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Pet Services

Central Oregon is an extremely pet friendly area so don’t
hesitate to bring your pet on vacation.
There are plenty of pet friendly lodging choices in Sunriver and there
are likewise many pet friendly restaurants and pubs throughout the area.

Exercising your dogs in Sunriver is never a
problem with the many miles and miles of bike paths and trails as well as parks
within the community.

Going into Bend, you will find even more pet friendly
opportunities with all the beautiful parks such as the Deschutes River Trail Park or
Drake Park where you can enjoy the great outdoors with man’s best friend.

If you are in need of grooming services, there are some in
Sunriver and even more in Bend such as Wet Pet Express. They have a U-wash and also a groomer on site
that does a fabulous job.

Check out the Pet Express for your dog or cat food needs or if you’re looking for that special bed or toy or you need a new crate. They have everything you could dream of for
pets and then some. In Bend, there is
also Pet Express and Petco with the same services available there.

If you are needing emergency pet services, there is the
Sunriver Veterinary Clinic and for more serious emergencies, there is the
Animal Emergency Center in Bend. There are also
many fine veterinary clinics in Bend, Redmond and Prineville that are available
usually 24 hours per day by phone. They
can direct you as to where to take your pet or what to do. Central Oregon loves pets!

Also available are pet sitting services such as Strutt Your
Mutt (out of Bend) and Sunriver Pet Lodge or Bend Pet Lodge in Bend. There are many services available and any of
the realty companies can direct you to find others.

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Healthcare Services

If you are in Sunriver and you need health care for
anything, there is an urgent care center within Sunriver. Call 911 if you have an emergency, and their
dispatchers will send someone to you immediately or instruct you on what to
do.

For more general health care or higher level health care
needs, St. Charles Medical Center has a full array of medical services from a
heart center to diagnostic x-ray centers to labs to practitioners of every
known specialty. There is a state of the
art Emergency Room at St. Charles and also its affiliate in Redmond.

There are also several urgent care centers in
both Redmond and Bend. There is also an
Emergency Room in Prineville, however, their services are limited and the best
place to receive treatment is in either Bend or Redmond for critical care or
obstetrics.

See all 13 photos
Graph by Audrey Kirchner
See all 13 photos
Graph by Audrey Kirchner

Weather in Sunriver

Sunriver is located in beautiful Central Oregon, where you
can enjoy at least 300 days of sunshine per year. 

Central Oregon is known as arid high desert climate which
means low humidity and falling temperatures in the evening. 

Sunriver sits at about 4,200 feet elevation and most of the
precipitation in Sunriver falls each year as snowfall.  This community is famous for warm days and
cool, dry nights in the summer and cool and dry days and nights in winter. 

Central Oregon is east of the Cascade Mountain range and
this creates what is called a rain shadow effect.  Most storms stay on the west side of the
Cascades and this is what keeps Central Oregon high and dry. 

Average precipitation in the form of snow is about 34 inches
per year which usually starts in early November and lasts through late March or
early April. 

Mt. Bachelor is estimated to get about 370 inches of snow
annually.

Although the graph shows that the average temperatures for
summer are about 81, in actuality, temperatures can sore to as high as 100-105
during summer weather occasionally though they then drop precipitously to 30s and 40s overnight
starting the temperature curve all over again by the next morning!

See all 13 photos

Vacation Destination: Sunriver in Central Oregon

As you can see, there is much to do in Sunriver and as a vacation destination, it doesn’t get much better than this.  The beauty of Sunriver is that although it is termed a ‘resort’ community, it doesn’t feel like a resort.  It feels like a wonderful place to just be yourself and unwind.

Throughout Central Oregon, you will find that there is a casual feeling to the area and most people who are here simply want a more relaxed lifestyle and a picturesque place to be.  Having said that, you can visit Sunriver and Central Oregon and simply enjoy yourself as the flavor of this part of the country is really all about outdoor type activities and recreational opportunities. 

The people you meet seem to also reflect this attitude and in general, I don’t think you could find a friendlier place to recharge and enjoy some time off.  Away from the hustle and bustle, Sunriver is a wonderful place for couples, for families or even for business trips because it seems to exude peace and quiet. 

Wishing you the vacation of your dreams in Sunriver, Oregon!

Snowshoe Tour by Wanderlust

Summer Things to do in Sunriver

Lodging at SunRiver

Kayak Tour Near Sunriver at Elk Lake

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Contacts for Sunriver Vacations

The Paulina Plunge – Downhill Waterfall Mt Bike Tour – Bend, Sunriver, Oregon – 800.296.0562
The Paulina Plunge will visit 6 Waterfalls and 2 Natural Water Slides while coasting 6 miles down a smooth forest trail. Call 800.296.0562 anytime. A Mt Bike Tour located in Central Oregon near Sunriver and Bend.
Central Oregon Rafting Trips – Enjoy White Water Rafting in Oregon near Bend, Sunriver & Sisters
Central Oregon Rafting Trips with Sun Country Tours – Enjoy White Water Rafting in Oregon near Bend, Sunriver & Sisters: oregon rafting, oregon rafting trips, central oregon rafting trips, white water rafting in oregon, bend rafting, bend white w
Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort – Mt Bachelor
Sunriver & Bend Oregon Day Spas | Sunriver Resort – Sage Springs Club & Spa | Day Spa in Ore
Welcome to Sage Springs Club & Spa, a luxurious day spa in Sunriver, Oregon. Enjoy a round of tennis, swim a few laps, and experience a number of soothing treatments including massages, facials, wraps, and body scrubs at this day spa near Bend, O
Mavericks at Sunriver : Sunriver Vacations
Information on Mavericks at Sunriver with its new Flowrider Wave Machine and Indoor Aquatic and Fitness Center
Sunriver Rentals and Sunriver Real Estate
Village Properties is a Sunriver property management company, specializing in Sunriver rentals and Sunriver real estate. View our comprehensive list of current Sunriver rental listings and homes for sale online.
Sunriver Chamber of Commerce
Guided Tours, Trips and Outdoor Activities in Bend and Sunriver, Oregon | Wanderlust Tours
Half-day, award winning naturalist guided tours and trips in Bend, Sunriver and Sisters Oregon. Canoeing, kayaking, caving, hiking, snowshoeing and evening tours and special events
High Desert Museum: highdesertmuseum.org
Welcome to the High Desert Museum
Sunriver Oregon Vacation Rentals & Hotels | Sunriver Resort | Golf Resorts & Hotels in Orego
Sunriver Resort, an Oregon hotel, features premier vacation rentals, 3 championship golf courses, a spa and more. Look to this hotel in Oregon for vacation homes that are perfect for golf vacations & family getaways in the Pacific Northwest.

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Where To Get Emergency Vet Services In Central Oregon

Where To Get Emergency Vet Services In Central Oregon

Where to Get Emergency Vet Services in Central Oregon

Let’s face it – sometimes we don’t think about these kinds of things until it’s too late. I’ve found in my experience that emergencies never seem to happen during ‘regular business hours’. So what to do if you are out hiking late on a Saturday afternoon at Smith Rock and your dog gets bit by a rattlesnake and you haven’t gotten your dog anti-venom shots?

Or what if you step outside to say goodnight to your friends who are leaving at 11:00 p.m. after a nice dinner and cards – and your dog who happens to have his cloaking device on slips out the door beside you unaware, runs into the road just in time to get hit by a passing car?

Unfortunately, life is full of things that just happen – both on a human and a canine level. The important thing I’ve found is to try and be as prepared as you can be. We are never altogether prepared but at least if you know where emergency vet services are available in Central Oregon, you have a chance to get your pet the best care as quickly as possible.

See all 3 photos
Photos by Audrey Kirchner or public domain

What Constitutes a Vet Emergency?

Of course this will vary from pet to pet – and most vets nowadays service a wide range of animals such as dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and rodents such as ferrets – even llamas and alpacas. And if you live in Central Oregon, most vets also have experience with cattle, pigs and horses.

I am a dog person and thus I tend to always use dogs as an example. However, most of this information relates to all animals but for simplicity, I will keep it to dogs!

Situations classified as needing emergency attention:

Bleeding
Injury or trauma
Allergic reaction
Known or suspected poisoning
Pet having trouble urinating
Loss of ability to move or get up
Bites – from snake bites to llama bites to dog bites
Burns – caustic or fire
Inability to breathe properly
Pain and discomfort anywhere
Bloat (most common in horses or dogs) – This a medical condition that requires immediate and urgent care because if not treated, the stomach can twist irreparably causing the pet to die a very slow and agonizing death
Birthing that isn’t progressing naturally is a medical emergency and may require a cesarean section to aid in delivery. Failure to get proper medical attention for the animal may result in uterine hemorrhage and death

How Do I Know My Pet Needs Emergency Treatment?

I believe in being safe rather than sorry so if in doubt, calling a vet would always be the wisest choice. I have had to take several of my dogs in as emergencies and several times those dogs did not survive. In those cases, however, it was a case of the dogs being too old and the damage too severe.

Some emergencies with my own pets:

One of my dogs got bloat and it was the second time. She was almost 14 and the vet felt she could not survive the surgery.
An old dog at about age 17 just collapsed and couldn’t move – he apparently had a stroke. We wrapped him in a blanket and carried him to the vet. Unfortunately, there was nothing they could do to save him at that point.
After spaying one of our dogs, she developed a raging infection after the surgery. She became listless and lethargic and by the time we got her to the vet, she had spiked a super high fever. Fortunately, they got it down and she survived.
One of our dogs jumped the fence into the path of an oncoming car and was luckily not killed – but her leg was severely broken. We got her to emergency services and they were able to splint her leg until we could have the vet fix it the next day
We had a dog with a cone on her head because she had a hot spot and would not leave it alone. She somehow hit one of our other dogs with the cone in the eye. This caused the eye to be so scratched that the inside protective lid came down over the eye and we had no idea what was wrong. It looked grotesque and we thought it had damaged his eye permanently. We took him to emergency and they were able to fix the temporary lid and give medicines to soothe the scratched eye.
One of our dogs was in a fight and the other dog bit his leg so badly that the tendon was exposed. He couldn’t even put weight on it. Emergency vet services sewed him up and got him back to normal.
Another older dog woke up one day and just couldn’t stand and walk straight. She could walk but would fall back down. We thought she had had a stroke but it turned out she had vertigo and a neurological condition which was temporary – both treatable conditions.

That said, I always try and call my vet and ask what I should do. Usually vets have an answering service and if they are not available, most often there is an on-call vet that can answer the burning question – ‘Should I bring my dog in right now somewhere or should I wait until morning?’ By listening to the symptoms or circumstances, they can give you some idea of what the problem could be – although bear in mind over-the-phone diagnosis is not always possible.

If you don’t have a vet available that you can call after hours, or for instance if you are traveling, look under veterinary clinics and try to find one that advertises availability 24 hours a day.

There are several instances where taking your pet in right away is not a true emergency but still you might not know how to proceed. Only you and your vet and/or emergency vet clinic can decide that question. They rarely get upset with people for calling and asking so I would always call and ask. Such cases as these might occur:

My dogs were sprayed by a skunk. Almost immediately, one of them seemed to react – he just became ‘sick’ and lethargic. He was sprayed in the face and the vet thought probably it was a reaction to a close range shot to the face. He did tell us what to do to clean them up and what would make him more comfortable – also what signs to watch for. The dog was fine after a day or so and we didn’t have to make a trip in to the vet.
Porcupine quills – It rather depends on how badly they were ‘sprayed’ with quills and where – and if you know that you can safely remove them. It can be questionable whether it’s an emergency. It again depends on where the quills ended up. Waiting in some cases can be hazardous in the event that the pet bothers the quills or any get into eyes, mouth or ears. There are recommended ways of removing the quills but make sure you know what you’re doing or have a professional do it. Parts of the quill can remain lodged which can lead to infection. Again, calling in might save you and your pet grief down the road.

In both these cases, you have to decide if treatment can wait until morning or even if it is needed at all. Is it mandatory that you get the animal treatment right away or if you can handle it yourself?  I’ve found that that’s what vets are there for – advice and treatment!

Check out the video on what signs to look for to determine if your pet needs emergency treatment.

Emergency Dog Health Care – When to Call

Okay – I Know I Need Emergency Treatment – Where Do I Go?

Once you’ve determined that your pet does need emergency treatment, here are some options. I like to have a knowledge base before things happen so hopefully these facilities will be of use in determining who you can call.

These are clinics in different cities of Central Oregon but a nice geographical spread. Use your best judgment on who you could call and then who you could get your pet to quickly if it’s an emergency.

See all 3 photos
Photo by Audrey Kirchner

Animal Emergency Center

The Animal Emergency Center is located in Bend Oregon off Highway 97. This clinic offers specialized equipment to help diagnose your pet’s illness or injury. Some of the things that might be required are available at the clinic such as:

Blood work
X-rays
Monitoring in the form of blood pressure, temperature or EKG

They can also provide these services:

Cesarean section
Anti-venom for snake bite
Wound or laceration repair
Removal of foreign body – including in the stomach
Stabilization of broken bones
Treatment for trauma from being hit by a car
Infection
Bleeding internally

FEES

Fee for examination is $95. You will be provided with a written estimate of the total cost of care in terms of tests or procedures. The Animal Emergency Center takes Visa, Mastercard, check, cash or CareCredit (a credit card program for paying vet bills over time but as needed).

HOURS OF OPERATION

Animal Emergency Center is open Weekdays 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 24 hours per day on weekends and holidays.

PHONE: 541.385.9110

Image by written permission of Redmond Veterinary Clinic

Redmond Veterinary Clinic

Redmond Veterinary Clinic has been in business serving Central Oregon since 1942. The library of useful information that they have on-line is impressive and you can learn much in the way of preventative medicine for your pets as well as learn helpful hints for common maladies – or just read up on pet care in general.

Though cats and dogs are the usual pets we think of, Redmond Veterinary Clinic has expertise with dogs and cats as well as horses, cattle, llamas and alpacas.

There is a vet on call 24 hours per day 7 days per week at Redmond Veterinary Clinic and if you call the number listed below, you will get in touch with a vet and be instructed on how to proceed.

Redmond Veterinary Clinic offers a full plate of services for emergency pet care and they have the facilities to perform x-rays, run tests, perform surgery and administer necessary fluids and medicines.

PAYMENT METHODS

You can pay for services at Redmond Veterinary Clinic several ways: Standard credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard, American Express. You can also pay by check or with cash.

You can also pay by EasiPay which is a service through Redmond Veterinary Clinic where the bill is divided into 3 monthly payments after a deposit is made. You would be required to pay the deposit before taking the pet home and then you are billed for 3 equal monthly bills to pay off the rest with a 1.5% service charge.

Also available is CareCredit which is an on-demand credit card – you use it when you need it and then pay it off.

They also have several health insurance plans for the interested pet owner.

HOURS OF OPERATION

Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 to noon
Sunday – closed
24-hour emergency care

PHONE: 541.548.1048

See all 3 photos
Photo by Audrey Kirchner

Prineville Veterinary Clinic

Prineville Veterinary Clinic has been our vet for the past 6+ years since moving here to Central Oregon. If you are looking for emergency vet services and you are in the Prineville area, this is who you want to call.

This veterinary clinic is top of the line when it comes to knowledge base and care. When one of our malamutes became strangely sick 6 years ago, our vet was able to diagnose him with Addison’s disease where everyone else was stumped. A disease that should have killed him after a year or two ended up staying in remission and gave him 5 more good years of quality life.

Prineville Veterinary Clinic is equipped to do surgery and x-rays. They can also set broken bones and are fully prepared with anti-venom as well. They offer a variety of prevention programs and such programs as shown on the sign – dental health discounts, wellness exam discounts and even senior discounts.

Prineville Vet Clinic believes that pets are more like family members – or at least that seems to be the feeling in this part of the country. They treat each animal to the best of their ability and with compassion. However, they also know when to tell you that there is nothing more that can be done and when it’s time to think about euthanasia.

Check their website for fabulous information on all kinds of pet problems, weight reduction suggestions, and general maintenance for pets. There is so much information there that it may keep you busy for a while.

Prineville Veterinary Clinic also offers boarding and pet sitting during the day.

I have a friend whose golden retriever got into something and was showing all the signs and symptoms of poisoning. Our vet met her at the clinic and the dog received excellent care and was as good as new by the next day.

METHOD OF PAYMENT

Credit cards are accepted, as are checks or cash. You can also use CareCredit at Prineville Vet Clinic when the unexpected bill happens.

HOURS OF OPERATION

Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Closed Sunday

For emergencies, simply call the clinic’s number and someone will meet you at the clinic or advise you on what to do.

PHONE: 541-447.2179

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Show driving directionswalking directionsbicycling directions with distances in mileskilometers

Animal Emergency Center –
1245 SE 3rd St, Bend, OR 97702, USA
[get directions]

Redmond Veterinary Clinic –
1785 N. Hwy 97 Redmond, OR 97756
[get directions]

Prineville Veterinary Clinic –
Hickey Farms Rd, Prineville, OR 97754, USA
[get directions]

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Getting Emergency Vet Services in Central Oregon

In short, there are several options depending on what part of Central Oregon you are in since the region encompasses about a 45-minute radius either way from Bend. Sometimes, time is of the essence and if you have the information available, you’ll probably be in a better position to get emergency care according to where you are in Central Oregon.

I have not tried this particular service, but there is also a mobile service in Central Oregon called Home Comfort Veterinary Services. This is a mobile vet service and is owned by Dr. Rex Urich. Check out their website for more information.  They advertise home visits for all veterinary services such as exams and shots – but also provide euthanasia services in the pet’s home.  This can be a very comforting service when faced with this terrible decision and affords the pet comfort most of all.  Phone: 541.848.3773

Sometimes planning ahead and knowing what your plan of action will be is also a good idea. Much as with children, we cannot always foresee what our pets will get into or what will happen.  The old saying is true – an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Knowing where you will be able to seek help is a good idea and I like to think having the information at hand will help me save time and get help for my pet if needed.

We all hate to think of needing emergency vet care, but sometimes it just happens. These vet clinics though are experts at emergency care and understanding what needs to be done and also what can be done.

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Local Attractions In Central Oregon: See A Volcano – Visit Newberry National Volcanic Monument

Local Attractions In Central Oregon: See A Volcano - Visit Newberry National Volcanic Monument

See a Volcano: Visit Newberry National Volcanic Monument

If you want to see a live volcano, come visit the Newberry National Volcanic Monument located in the Deschutes National Forest in the heart of Central Oregon. While the volcano is currently dormant, it is very much alive and is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the United States.

These 55,500 acres of incredible topography are located in the Deschutes National Forest and are some of the most remarkable in the state of Oregon if not the entire country. There are also another 10,300 acres which are under special management and are not accessible.

Visitors come from all over the world in the form of students, teachers, geologists, and even astronauts to get a glimpse of this volcanic paradise. The areas are easily accessible and there is so much to see that you might want to take at least several days to see it all.

For more information:

Lava Lands Visitor Center (541) 593-2421
(Open late April through early October)

Newberry Crater Information Station
(Open Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend)

See all 28 photos
Public domain photo

Newberry National Volcanic Monument

The varied landscapes were created by volcanic eruptions spanning at least the last half million years. Within the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, you will find some of the most unique occurrences anywhere on the globe – like cinder cones, lava flows, obsidian flows, lava cast forest, lava caves, and magnificent lakes, streams and waterfalls.

Let’s take a look at this spectacular monument, which can most easily be summed up into these 10 most specific areas of interest (in alphabetical order):

Benham Falls
Big Obsidian Flow
East Lake
Lava Butte
Lava River Cave
Newberry Caldera
Newberry Volcano
Northwest Rift Zone
Paulina Lake
Paulina Peak

See all 28 photos
By Smithers 7
See all 28 photos
Public domain photo
See all 28 photos
Public domain photo
See all 28 photos
Map legend

Benham Falls

Benham Falls are rapids on the Deschutes River which runs between Sunriver and Bend. It’s located south of Bend and 4 miles from Lava Lands.

These falls are rated as a Class 6, which are unpassable for watercraft.

An eruption of Lava Butte estimated about 6000 years ago created the falls when the lava flow effectively dammed the Deschutes River with over 100 feet of lava, forming a lake which was called Lake Benham. This lake eventually drained, flowing over the dam, thus creating Benham Falls.

The falls were discovered in 1885 when J.R. Benham tried to file a claim for land near the falls but failed.  However, the falls were later named for him.

Benham Falls are the largest falls on the Deschutes River.

You can reach Benham Falls by a series of paths from Sunriver Resort and you can also get there from Lava Butte and the Lava River Cave by taking forest roads.

This is a favorite path for hikers and bicyclers as there are many great lookouts over the gorge.  The area is also full of wildlife and flowers. There is a lovely old footbridge connecting one of the forest roads to the trail near the river and waterfall.

You can continue on the trail towards Bend and will also pass Dillon Falls and Lava Island Falls. Benham Falls though is easier in many ways to see and photograph because it is surrounded by forest and not lava flow.

Benham Falls has been considered for a dam site for power generation or irrigation. Proposals date back to 1905 and continued into the 1980s.

In 1939, the Wickiup Basin was cleared for the Wickiup Reservoir project and timber in the amount of 26,000,000 board feet was floated down the Deschutes to Benham Falls. it was then loaded on railroad cars and sent to the mills in Bend.

For recreational sites, check out Benham Falls Recreation Site and Benham Falls West Recreation Site.

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Obsidian flow Newberry Volcanic Monument – Public domain photo
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Public domain photo – piece of obsidian
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Public domain photo
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Newberry Obsidian pile

Big Obsidian Flow

The Big Obsidian Flow of Newberry National Volcanic Monument is the youngest volcanic activity known within the caldera.

The Big Obsidian Flow was created from a vent in the caldera that experienced continual eruptions producing pumice that began to cover the southern part of the caldera and the eastern flank of the volcano.

These pumice eruptions were followed by ash eruptions followed by a final event where there was a slight collapse of the caldera in about a half mile area. This vent then allowed the flow of all these volcanic materials (lava) known as the Big Obsidian Flow. It is thought to have occurred 1300 years ago. This makes the Big Obsidian Flow the youngest dated volcanic feature in Central Oregon.

This particular lava flow moved slowly and is in total about 6000 feet long and thicker in places than 65 feet. It is estimated that the flow was 45% pumice (which went into the air) and 55% became the lava flow.

The estimate is that the amount of pumice that was vented was at least 416,000,000 cubic yards.

Surgical blades can be made of obsidian that are sharper than those of steel. There are also arrowheads that have been found made of obsidian. Indians used the obsidian to make many sharp instruments and traded them as far away as California.

Walking the trail at the Big Obsidian Flow, you need to be careful not to fall on the rocks or lean against them because at certain points, they are razor sharp.

Astronaut R. Walter Cunningham tested moon suit mobility on the Big Obsidian Flow on August 27, 1964.

NASA tested the chemistry of rock found at the Big Obsidian Flow from not 1 but 70 sites and the chemistry at all 70 sites was identical.

There is a wonderful trail at the Big Obsidian Flow with entry from a well-paved road. Hiking to the top, you can see out over the Big Obsidian Flow and can see the magnitude of this eruption.

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Public domain photo – East Lake is the lake on the right
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East Lake

East Lake

East Lake is one of two lakes that were formed within the Newberry Crater. 

These two lakes were formed in a similar fashion to Crater Lake when Mount Mazama erupted and the top collapsed, forming a caldera.  In the same manner, Newberry Volcano collapsed thus forming the Newberry Caldera and forming the twin lakes – East Lake and Paulina Lake.

East Lake is likewise located in the Deschutes National Forest and is part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument.  The caldera was formed some 500,000 years ago as a result of the volcano’s eruptions. 

Water for East Lake comes from snow melt, rainfall, and hot springs.  There is no surface outlet to East Lake and likewise, no inlet such as streams or rivers.  Thus you can measure rainfall and get a feel for the climate.  The East Lake water levels have fluctuated over a range of some 16 feet – from 6366 feet elevation to 6382.5 feet elevation.

East Lake has 2 main campgrounds along the lake shore and also has the East Lake Resort. 

At the resort, you can rent cabins and boats and there is also a general store. 

East Lake is famous for its record-sized brown trout and rainbow trout.  The lake is also stocked with sockeye salmon (Kokanee) and Atlantic salmon.  The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife first stocked Atlantic salmon in East Lake in 1990.

A small bath house was built at East Lake Hot Springs in 1915.  The first overnight resort was built in 1918, later burned down, then was rebuilt in 1924.  It again burnt down in 1941.  East Lake was a flourishing business because of its hot springs and people came from all over the country to take in the springs (120 degrees).

The East Lake Hot Springs are now drowned hot springs and are found in the cold water of East Lake.  The highest temperature has been 175 degrees and there are gas bubbles much like at Yellowstone that smell like rotten eggs.

There is a bald eagle pair with a nesting site at East Lake making this the highest elevation bald eagle nest site in Oregon.

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Public domain photo – Lava Butte
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Public domain photo – Lava Butte aerial view
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Public domain photo – view from Lava Butte of lava flow
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Public domain photo – cinder composition
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Public domain photo – cinder cone diagram

Lava Butte

Lava Butte is a cinder cone located just west of Highway 97 between Bend and Sunriver. It is 500 feet high and the crater is 180 feet deep measured from the highest point on the rim.

This cinder cone is part of a series on the northwest flank of Newberry Volcano, which is a huge shield volcano. The cinder cone is capped by a crater extending about 60 feet deep under its south rim and 160 feet deep from the summit on its north side. Lava Butte is part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument.

It is believed that Lava Butte only experienced a single eruption perhaps 7000 years ago. A river of basalt lava flowed from the base of the small volcano to the west.  If you visit the Visitors Center, you can look down and see is completely devoid of vegetation.

The lava flow reached the Deschutes River about 2-1/2 miles west dumping over 100 feet of lava and damming the river creating Lake Benham. This river eventually overflowed creating Benham Falls.

In September 1914, Lava Butte had a simulated eruption put on by the Chamber of Commerce and later, geologists such as Harold Stearns studied the Newberry area and discovered the fissure system which extends from Lava Butte to East Lake within the Newberry Caldera.

Some of the cinder cone has been used for commercial purposes – such as using it to pave highways or shipped to other cities for construction materials.

There is a fire lookout tower on Lava Butte that was built in 1931 and reconstructed. There is a road that winds up to the top of Lava Butte and a visitor center and museum.

In 1966, twenty-two astronauts trained at sites such as Lava Butte, Lava River Cave and Newberry Crater for upcoming moon landings.

The volume of rock in the Lava Butte Lava Flow is estimated to be 380,000,000 cubic yards. It is estimated that there is enough rock to pave 160,000 miles of road – which is equivalent to circling the world 6-1/2 times.

The lava flow from Lava Butte is 30-100 feet thick and it covers an area of over 9 square miles.

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Public domain photo
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Public domain photo – Mouth of Lava River Cave
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Public domain photo – Low Bridge area
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Public domain photo – Lava tube
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Public domain photo – Echo Hall

Lava River Cave

The Lava River Cave is located 12 miles south of Bend on Highway 97.  It is located on the east side of the highway and is part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. 

There is a forest surrounding the cave entrance consisting of many indiginous trees and bushes to Central Oregon.  You can find your fill of sagebrush and ponderosa pine trees as well as manzanita. 

However, once you enter the cave, it is a different world.  There are all kinds of species of spiders, worms, etc. that inhabit the caves.  There are also mice and bats that dwell in the cave year round.  Bats usually remain in hibernation until July so they are rarely spotted.

The discovery of the Lava River Cave is credited to a local settler by the name of Leander Dillman who stumbled upon it during a hunting trip in 1889.  It is thought, however, that Native Americans knew about the Lava River Cave long before as there have been obsidian particles found near the cave. 

The cave was later mapped on a geology study by Ira A. Williams in 1923.

This unique lava tube/cave runs in two directions from the entrance.  The main portion runs gradually downhill towards the northwest and passes under highway 97.This part of the cave is the longest known uncollapsed lava tube in Oregon.

The other part of the cave extends southeast from the entrance.  It runs towards the source of the flow and has a slight uphill grade.  This part of the cave is not open to the public due to loose rocks in the ceiling.

The mouth of the cave is at 4500 feet elevation and at its deepest point, the cave is at 4350 feet. 

In order to enter the cave, you descend 126 steps with guardrails for assistance because you are descending through the Collapsed Corridor – a part of the cave where water has frozen on rocks creating a freeze-thaw-freeze cycle which in turn has caused them to loosen and fall.  The freezing temperatures only occur at the mouth of the cave, however. 

After you enter the cave and go for a short ways, the ceiling reaches a height of 58 feet.  The width of the cave at this point is about 50 feet.  This portion of the river cave is called Echo Hall.  You can observe the ancient lava flow which molded the tunnel walls.  You then go through another area where it narrows to the Low Bridge Lane where the ceiling drops to less than 6 feet.  It then narrows further down to the end of the lava tube.

You are provided with a lantern to walk through the Lava River Cave and it is a very unique experience.  To imagine a lava tube creating this huge cave is extraordinary.  It also gets quite chilly underground so always bring a light jacket since there are 3 different climates within the cave and environs – warm dry climate at the entrance, warm moist microclimate at the entrance, and the moist, dark environment in the cave itself.

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Public domain photo – Newberry Caldera
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Newberry Caldera in winter

Newberry Caldera

The Newberry Caldera or Newberry Crater as some have called it is what now exists after the eruption of Newberry Volcano. In actuality, there have been several eruptions and probably several calderas.

The last major eruption occurred somewhere around 200,000 years ago. As a result, the caldera is filled with ash, pumice and lava from eruptions on the floor of the caldera.

It is believed from geological and geophysical information that molten rock is probably 2-3 miles below the floor of the Newberry Caldera. There are studies underway currently regarding harnessing the geothermal power of this caldera to generate power as the potential could be enormous.

Newberry Crater was named for John Strong Newberry who was a physician and a naturalist who was present in the area in 1855 working with the Topographic Corps Expedition as they mapped railroad routes. It was suggested to name the caldera Mount Newberry but instead it became the Newberry Crater or Caldera.

It is hypothesized that the next major volcanic eruption in this area will come from Newberry Crater or the nearby South Sister.

In the past, the caldera is thought to have contained a single lake instead of 2 lakes and that this single lake was as much as 1600 feet and as deep as Crater Lake. There are instead 2 lakes, Paulina and East Lake.

Native American traces are found in the Newberry Caldera as far back as 10,000 years.

In the early 1900s, there were no fish in the lakes but crayfish were able to crawl up nearly vertical rocks to reach the lakes.

A road was constructed in 1913 from La Pine to East Lake and in 1933, a new road to Paulina Lake was built from the west. It was rebuilt in 1952 and again improved and rebuilt in the early 1990s.

The US Geological Surveyors drilled an exploratory well to the east of the Big Obsidian Flow in 1981. This well reached a depth of 3058 feet and had a temperature of 509 degrees at the bottom.  The thought is that the Newberry Caldera would be an excellent source for geothermal energy and studies are ongoing.

Some 60,000 fisherman visit Newberry Caldera per year even though these lakes do not open until spring because of heavy snows. The fishing is said to be some of the best in the west because of the enormous fish that come out of the lakes of the caldera.

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Public domain photo – Newberry Volcano

Most Dangerous Volcanoes in the United States

Akutan Volcano: A stratovolcano in Alaska – Last eruption in 1992.

Augustine Volcano: A lava dome in Alaska – Current
activity/unrest.

Makushin Volcano: A stratovolcano in Alaska – Last eruption in 1995.

Redoubt Volcano: A stratovolcano in Alaska – Last eruption in 1990.

Spurr Volcano: A stratovolcano in Alaska – Last eruption in 1992.

Lassen Peak: A stratovolcano in California – Last eruption in 1917.

Long Valley: A caldera in California – Last eruption during the Pleistocene.

Mount Shasta: A stratovolcano in California – Last eruption in 1786.

Kilauea Volcano: A shield volcano in Hawaii – Current
activity/unrest.

Mauna Loa Volcano: A shield volcano in Hawaii – Last eruption in
1984.

Crater Lake: A caldera in Oregon – Last eruption about 2290 BC +/- 300 years.

Mount Hood: A stratovolcano in Oregon – Last eruption in
1866.

Newberry Volcano: A shield volcano in Oregon – Last eruption about 620 AD.

South Sister: A stratovolcano in Oregon – Last eruption about 50 BC
(?).

Mount Baker Volcano: A stratovolcano in Washington – Last eruption in 1880.

Glacier Peak: A stratovolcano in Washington – Last eruption
about 1700.

Mount Rainier: A stratovolcano in Washington – Last eruption
in 1825.

Mount St. Helens: A stratovolcano in Washington – Current
activity/unrest.

See map below for locations

Newberry Volcano

The Newberry Volcano is a large and potentially active shield volcano that is located 40 miles east of the Cascades and 20 miles southeast of Bend. It is atypical as a shield volcano because in addition to basalt lava flows, it also has erupted andesitic and rhyolitic lava flows.

Newberry Volcano is one of the quaternary volcanoes which designates a particular geological type of volcano. It is one of the largest in the continental United States and covers an area in excess of 500 square miles. It is 25 miles in diameter at least. The lava flows extend northward many miles.

At the summit of Newberry Volcano lies the Newberry Caldera, which was created after the multiple eruptions of the volcano.

It is believed that the eruptions from Newberry Volcano can be both explosive (ash and pumice) and passive (lava flow).

The age of the volcanic deposits is estimated to be 700,000 to 1300 years old – the latest and youngest at 1300 years being the Big Obsidian Flow.

Average elevation at the base of Newberry Volcano is 4400. The highest point (Paulina Peak) is 7984 feet.

The slopes of Newberry are covered with about 400 cinder cones. Mokst Butte and Lava Butte are examples of this phenomenon.

Many geological conferences have been held at Newberry National Volcanic Monument since 1965 as scientists attempt to study this rare and yet active volcano.

Climbing the Newberry Volcano

From the top of Paulina Peak, it’s possible to see the
entirety of Newberry Crater, south and west flanks of Newberry Volcano, the
Cascades and most of Central Oregon.

From the junction with road 21 within the Newberry Crater, Paulina Peak
Road is a little over 4 miles long. It
is a steep and dusty road but cars and vans can be driven up it – though be
aware that it is narrow, rough and precipitously steep in some places.

Elevation of Paulina Peak is 7984 – about 4000 feet higher
than the surrounding terrain.

Located 20 miles southeast of Bend – covering an area in
excess of 500 square miles.

You can even see parts of Washington and California and can
view almost the entire high Cascade range in Oregon.

Things you can see:

Three sisters and Cascade Range
South and west flanks of Newberry Volcano
Many cinder cones (bumps) on flank of Newberry Volcano
Oregon’s High Desert to the southeast
Rim of Newberry Crater
Main road (road 21) through Newberry Crater
Paulina Lake
East Lake
Big Obsidian Flow
Central Pumice Cone

Northwest Rift Zone

The Northwest Rift Zone is a set of plates that shifted and opened it is estimated about 7000 years ago, thus causing molten lava to rise to the surface which in turn created lava flows and cinder cones such as the Lava Butte, Mokst Butte and the Lava Cast Forest Flow.

This Rift Zone is a deep gash that occurred in the northern caldera wall and is often called just “The Fissure”. It is the end of a 29-mile long series of fractures.

Volume of rock in these lava flows of the Northwest Rift Zone is roughly about 850,000,000 cubic yards. If you made this rock into a paved road, that would make enough rock to circle the world 14-1/2 times.

The Northwest Rift Zone is an area much like the fault plates that can shift and cause eruptions in the future. These shiftings are linked to the so-called fissure eruptions, a theory that was introduced in the late 1930s.

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Public domain image – Paulina Lake
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Public domain image – Paulina Lake Dock
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Public domain image – Paulina Creek Falls

Paulina Lake

Paulina is the other of the twin lakes inside the Newberry Caldera (the other being East Lake). It is located 6350 feet above sea level and is part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument within the Deschutes National Forest.

Mainly the lake receives its water supply from snow melt, hot springs and seepage from East Lake. It outflows to the Paulina Creek.

Average depth of Paulina Lake is about 163 feet while at its deepest, it can reach 250 feet. This lake is larger than East Lake and covers some 1531 acres.

Paulina Lake is about 50 feet lower than East Lake and to the west of the twin lake.

Paulina is known for its great number of Kokanee salmon and brown trout.

The Paulina Lake Resort was built in the late 1920s when people flocked to the park to partake of the hot springs.

The Paulina Lake Guard Station is on the National Register of Historic Places – built in the 1930s, it is now the home of the Paulina Visitor Center.

There is also a phenomenon unique to only a few lakes in North America called ‘turning over’ which Paulina Lake does. The water from the bottom of the lake comes up to the surface, and this creates changes in oxygenation and fish feeding patterns.

The Paulina Creek also gives way to the Paulina Creek Falls which have changed over the years due to falling rock. It is thought that thousands of years in the future, the falls will be at the level of Paulina Lake which would mean a drop of about 20 or so feet.

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What you can see from Paulina Peak

Paulina Peak

Paulina Peak was named after an Indian chief, Chief Paulina who was of the Paiute tribe. He was famous for killing off many miners, trappers and settlers between the 1850s and 1860s. Finally he was pursued by ranchers in the John Day country and shot by Howard Maupin (who the town of Maupin is named after).

The highest point of the Newberry Volcano is Paulina Peak which is 7897 feet. It is about 4000 feet higher than the rest of the terrain surrounding the volcano. At the summit of the Newberry Volcano is the Newberry Caldera which is a 4-5 mile wide caldera containing Paulina Lake and East Lake.

You can hike to Paulina Peak and the rumor is that the toilet on Paulina Peak is the highest public toilet in Oregon.

Climbing Paulina Peak, you can see the Cascade Mountains from Mt. Adams in Washington to Mt. Shasta in California and you can see parts of 3 different states.

In 1915, a fire lookout was built on Paulina Peak which was later rebuilt in 1931 and 1964. The last one was destroyed in 1968.

See a Volcano: Visit Newberry National Volcanic Monument

If you’re looking for a great place to visit, Newberry National Volcanic Monument has much to offer and it’s guaranteed you won’t be bored.

Along with all the geological wonders and history that you can absorb in this beautiful part of the Deschutes National Forest, there are recreational opportunities year round that are incredible.

The Newberry National Volcanic Monument and the Deschutes National Forest are both recreation havens for thousands of visitors every year. From fishing for trophy-size brown and rainbow trout to hiking, boating and horseback riding to white water rafting – to hunting to wildlife viewing to Christmas tree cutting to cross-country skiing and snowmobiling – this is a vacation paradise.

There are many resources of information on-line and at the Lava Lands Visitor Center as well as the Newberry Crater Information Station.

There are many campgrounds in and around La Pine as well as within the park itself. There is also the Paulina Lake Lodge for lodging or meals – it is a delightful place for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

The community of Sunriver is just a few minutes north of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument and offers every amenity.

From RV camping to tent camping to staying at an inn or renting a private home – this part of Central Oregon is a vacation mecca from which to see the splendor that volcanic Oregon has to offer. Just about anything you can imagine doing on vacation is right here at the Newberry National Volcanic Monument.

Wishing you a happy journey seeing all that it has to offer!

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Newberry Caldera –
Paulina Peak, Sisters-Millican, OR, USA
[get directions]

Newberry National Volcanic Monument –
Newberry National Volcanic Monument, La Pine, OR 97739, USA
[get directions]

Lava Butte –
Lava Butte, Sisters-Millican, OR 97702, USA
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Benham Falls –
Benham Falls, Sisters-Millican, OR, USA
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East Lake –
East Lake, Sisters-Millican, OR 97739, USA
[get directions]

Paulina Lake –
Paulina Lake, Sisters-Millican, OR 97739, USA
[get directions]

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Paulina Falls

Newberry Crater

Skiing at Paulina Peak

Most Dangerous Volcanoes in the US – Part 1

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Akutan Volcano –
Akutan, Aleutians East, AK 99553, USA
[get directions]

Augustine Volcano –
Augustine Volcano, Kenai-Cook Inlet, AK, USA
[get directions]

Makushin Volcano –
Makushin Volcano, Aleutians West, AK, USA
[get directions]

Redoubt Volcano –
Mt Redoubt, Kenai-Cook Inlet, AK, USA
[get directions]

Spurr Volcano –
Spurr, Kenai-Cook Inlet, AK, USA
[get directions]

Lassen Volcano Ca –
Lassen Volcanic Center, Central Shasta, CA 96088, USA
[get directions]

Long Valley Volcano –
Long Valley, Mono South, CA 93546, USA
[get directions]

Mount Shasta –
Mt Shasta, CA 96067, USA
[get directions]

Kilauea Volcano –
Kilauea, Kau, HI 96778, USA
[get directions]

Mauna Loa Volcano –
Mauna Loa, Kau, HI 96737, USA
[get directions]

{“lat”:43.898087,”lng”:-142.900558,”zoom”:2,”mapType”:”ROADMAP”,”markers”:[{“id”:”5648″,”lat”:54.133999,”lng”:-165.985992,”name”:”Akutan Volcano”,”address”:”Akutan, Aleutians East, AK 99553, USA”,”description”:””},{“id”:”5649″,”lat”:59.363056,”lng”:-153.430557,”name”:”Augustine Volcano”,”address”:”Augustine Volcano, Kenai-Cook Inlet, AK, USA”,”description”:””},{“id”:”5650″,”lat”:53.886391,”lng”:-166.931107,”name”:”Makushin Volcano”,”address”:”Makushin Volcano, Aleutians West, AK, USA”,”description”:””},{“id”:”5651″,”lat”:60.485279,”lng”:-152.743057,”name”:”Redoubt Volcano”,”address”:”Mt Redoubt, Kenai-Cook Inlet, AK, USA”,”description”:””},{“id”:”5653″,”lat”:61.299,”lng”:-152.251007,”name”:”Spurr Volcano”,”address”:”Spurr, Kenai-Cook Inlet, AK, USA”,”description”:””},{“id”:”5654″,”lat”:40.492001,”lng”:-121.508003,”name”:”Lassen Volcano Ca”,”address”:”Lassen Volcanic Center, Central Shasta, CA 96088, USA”,”description”:””},{“id”:”5655″,”lat”:37.700001,”lng”:-118.870003,”name”:”Long Valley Volcano”,”address”:”Long Valley, Mono South, CA 93546, USA”,”description”:””},{“id”:”5656″,”lat”:41.309875,”lng”:-122.31057,”name”:”Mount Shasta”,”address”:”Mt Shasta, CA 96067, USA”,”description”:””},{“id”:”5657″,”lat”:19.421,”lng”:-155.287003,”name”:”Kilauea Volcano”,”address”:”Kilauea, Kau, HI 96778, USA”,”description”:””},{“id”:”5658″,”lat”:19.475,”lng”:-155.608002,”name”:”Mauna Loa Volcano”,”address”:”Mauna Loa, Kau, HI 96737, USA”,”description”:””}]}

Most Dangerous Volcanoes in the US – Part 2

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Crater Lake –
Crater Lake, Crescent Lake, OR, USA
[get directions]

Mount Hood –
Mt Hood, OR 97041, USA
[get directions]

Newberry Volcano –
Paulina Peak, Sisters-Millican, OR, USA
[get directions]

South Sister Volcano –
South Sister, Sisters-Millican, OR 97413, USA
[get directions]

Mount Baker –
Mt Baker
[get directions]

Glacier Peak –
Glacier Peak, Leavenworth, WA 98826, USA
[get directions]

Mount Rainier –
Mt Rainier National Park, Packwood, WA 98361, USA
[get directions]

Mount St. Helens –
Mt St Helens, Gifford Pinchot, WA, USA
[get directions]

{“lat”:45.986057,”lng”:-121.654198,”zoom”:5,”mapType”:”ROADMAP”,”markers”:[{“id”:”5664″,”lat”:42.933949,”lng”:-122.102966,”name”:”Crater Lake”,”address”:”Crater Lake, Crescent Lake, OR, USA”,”description”:””},{“id”:”5665″,”lat”:45.538059,”lng”:-121.567223,”name”:”Mount Hood”,”address”:”Mt Hood, OR 97041, USA”,”description”:””},{“id”:”5666″,”lat”:43.689289,”lng”:-121.254745,”name”:”Newberry Volcano”,”address”:”Paulina Peak, Sisters-Millican, OR, USA”,”description”:””},{“id”:”5667″,”lat”:44.103001,”lng”:-121.767998,”name”:”South Sister Volcano”,”address”:”South Sister, Sisters-Millican, OR 97413, USA”,”description”:””},{“id”:”5668″,”lat”:48.878716,”lng”:-121.971863,”name”:”Mount Baker”,”address”:”Mt Baker”,”description”:””},{“id”:”5669″,”lat”:48.111225,”lng”:-121.113991,”name”:”Glacier Peak”,”address”:”Glacier Peak, Leavenworth, WA 98826, USA”,”description”:””},{“id”:”5670″,”lat”:46.899673,”lng”:-121.697388,”name”:”Mount Rainier”,”address”:”Mt Rainier National Park, Packwood, WA 98361, USA”,”description”:””},{“id”:”5671″,”lat”:46.1912,”lng”:-122.194397,”name”:”Mount St. Helens”,”address”:”Mt St Helens, Gifford Pinchot, WA, USA”,”description”:””}]}

Photo Credits

Photo of Benham Falls

Photo of Newberry Obsidian Pile

Photo of East Lake

Photo of Newberry Caldera

Photo of View from Paulina Peak

A Complete Guide to Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
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95 Virtual Hikes of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and the Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
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Great Parks Of The West and Trains, too
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Mt Saint Helens Volcanic Monument, Washington – US48 JWI0878 – Jamie & Judy Wild – Adult T-Shirt Small
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Craters Of The Moon National Monument – Volcanic Bombs – 8×8 Iron On Heat Transfer For White Material
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View Thru Newberry Volcanic National Monument Bend Oregon Window Graphic
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Craters Of The Moon National Monument – Volcanic Bombs – White Infant Lap-Shoulder Tee (12M)
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Sandy Mertens Idaho – Craters Of The Moon National Monument – Arch of Volcanic Rock – Mouse Pads
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The Year Without Summer: 1816 and the Volcano That Darkened the World and Changed History
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Gates of Hell
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Volcanoes in Human History: The Far-Reaching Effects of Major Eruptions
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Nature Tech – Volcanoes (History Channel)
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Volcanoes! (National Geographic Readers)
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(24×36) The History of the Volcano Educational Chart Poster
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Cosmos Global Documentaries SICILY -Treasure Trove Of History
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A Postcard From The Volcano
Amazon Price: $19.95
Nature Parks HAWAI’I VOLCANOES PARK
Amazon Price: $2.99
Visitando Volcanes con una Cientifica/ Visiting Volcanoes with a Scientist (I Like Science! Bilingual) (Spanish Edition)
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Visiting Volcanoes with a Scientist (I Like Science!)
Amazon Price: $21.26
Yellowstone – America’s Great Wildlife Park
Amazon Price: $3.49
Frommer’s Costa Rica 2010 (Frommer’s Color Complete)
Amazon Price: $15.04
List Price: $21.99
Passport to Paradise [Download]
Amazon Price: $7.99
Visitando Volcanes con una Cientifica/ Visiting Volcanoes with a Scientist (I Like Science! Bilingual) (Spanish Edition)
Amazon Price: $59.98
Leveled Readers (Red Level), Grade 4: Audiotext CD – Hawaii, Visiting a Volcano
Amazon Price: $3.89

Natural And Organic Stores In Bend Oregon

Natural And Organic Stores In Bend Oregon

Best Natural and Organic Grocery Stores in Central Oregon (Bend)

The best natural and organic grocery stores in Central Oregon are all located in Bend, which is the heart of Central Oregon. This being said, it is not that far for most of us to make the trek a half hour to an hour into Bend to shop because we have become accustomed to these grocery stores delivering consistently high quality natural and organic food.

It may be a tad inconvenient sometimes, (like when the snow flies) but most of us would rather shop at these stores steeped in nutrition rather than shop at some of the other retail stores available closer. At least in my case, I buy a lot of my foods at these grocery stores and buy staple and fill-in items at our regular markets.

See all 5 photos
Public domain photos

What is Natural and Organic Food?

There are many all encompassing phrases that come to mind when discussing natural and organic products – such as hormone-free, antibiotic-free; no artificial flavoring or coloring, grain-fed, range-free; no preservatives and no genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

In my book, the above paragraph says it all in terms of what I do not want in my food so the weekly or several time a month commute to Bend to buy groceries at these stores is well worth the effort. It just teaches you to plan ahead!

Come with me for a bit of a tour of Central Oregon’s best natural and organic grocery stores!

See all 5 photos
Photo by Audrey Kirchner
53 Varieties Survival Seed Emergency Bank Organic Food Non GMO Heirloom Garden
Current Bid: $24.99
NOW FOODS BETTER STEVIA CERTIFIED ORGANIC EXTRACT POWDER – 1 LB.
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Assorted LOT of 6 NEW Sealed Earth’s Best 8oz Organic Baby Cereal 48oz Total
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GARDEN OF LIFE PERFECT FOOD RAW ORGANIC GREEN SUPER FOOD 8.5 OUNCE NEW SEALED!
Current Bid: $21.90
Organic Green Power Spirulina Wheatgrass Barley Kelp alfalfa Super Food Blend
Current Bid: $27.95
Cauliflower Seed ? 20 Purple Vegetables Delicious Natural Organic Green Food
Current Bid: $.99

Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods as most of us know is the largest chain of
grocery stores specializing in natural and organic foods – and we were fortunate enough to get one in Central Oregon a few years ago.

Our Whole Foods Market was actually Wild Oats Market before and
that store was a wonderful place to go for the freshest organic produce
and butcher shop style meats such as grain-fed beef or free range chicken. However, since converting to Whole Foods Market, our neat
little organic market in Bend has only gotten better. To the shopper such as myself, things didn’t appear to have changed all that
much except that the products that I had been used to seeing in the Seattle
area or Portland area at other Whole Foods Markets started to show up here as
well. That is a great thing!

Not only will you find aisles and aisles of wonderful
natural and organic products but you will also find an in-store cafeteria/deli along
with a coffee section where you can also order up your favorite organic coffee lattes and a
dessert if you’d like, then grab yourself a
newspaper or your book and go have a seat in the inviting little dining area
and enjoy! There are slices of pizza to
enjoy (freshly made), salads, soups, a myriad of sandwiches, already made or
made to order, quiches, and even sushi ready and waiting for you! The dining part of Whole Foods here in Bend is on a much smaller scale than say Seattle or Portland as is the whole store – but we’ll take it hands down! (Check out the video for a look at a ‘regular sized’ Whole Foods Market – wow!)

Whole Foods is a top quality grocery store and has an extensive array of wines to suit anyone’s tastes – from inexpensive new wines to high end. The same holds true for beers. They have a great selection of most products
in fact – my husband dreads me going in because it usually takes me forever to shop as I’m so busy looking at
everything.

Whole Foods Market also sells an extensive line of household products, pet
products, and at least one aisle is devoted to books on nutrition, another to health
products such as vitamins, aroma therapy oils, organic soaps and skin products, etc. You can find anything you want in this store nutritionally wise – and for all ages.

There is even a kitchen section for great little gadgets for the cooking
minded person such as myself – like Asian vegetable steamers, teapots, and kitchen gadgets – and more handy books on healthy cooking techniques.

The produce department is a cook’s paradise. As we are located in Central Oregon, it’s sometimes
difficult to find something you really, really need for a recipe such as fresh
basil or saffron let’s say – in the dead of winter. However, I
can almost bet that if I’ve exhausted every other source, I can find it at
Whole Foods. From such unique offerings as yellow beets to yellow asparagus – everything
in their produce department is like it just came out of the garden. I have never made a bad purchase at Whole
Foods. All their produce has been of topnotch quality and superior in flavor and freshness.

Even though Whole Foods Market is a large chain (having almost 300 stores in North America and also the United Kingdom), they seem to truly care about the tenets of healthy eating, preserving the planet, and encouraging the principles that foster natural and organic methods of farming and food preparation – going back to the way it was.

The first Whole Foods Market opened in 1980 in Austin, Texas and they have been going ever since. They claim to care about great tasting food and like to
share it with the world – I believe that is 100% true!

Just some of the ideals that I admire about Whole Foods Market:

They evaluate every product they sell
Foods are free of artificial coloring, artificial flavors
and artificial sweeteners
Their foods are also free of preservatives and hydrogenated fats
Whole
Foods believes in offering customers food that is fresh and food that is safe in every
way possible
Organically
grown foods are their passion and their products are nutritionally sound
They advocate eating less refined products and nutrient-high foods and encourage increased consumption of fruits and vegetables
Whole Foods sponsors salad bars in schools and thus far has sponsored 350!

Check out
their organic baby products such as chlorine-free diapers and organic baby
foods or browse their pet aisle for great products. Their household cleaning products are also environmentally kind.

Don’t miss their coupons on-line!

On-line you can check on search for items or information under Health and Nutrition, make grocery lists, check out their recipes for healthy eating and find out about culinary education classes such as Eat Right America and The Engine 2 Diet (both 28-day programs).

Whole
Foods in Bend is located on the east side of Bend on Highway 20 in the same
shopping area as Costco.

Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. 7 days per week.

Phone: 541-389-0151

See all 5 photos
Photo by Audrey Kirchner

Newport Avenue Market

The
Newport Avenue Market has been a part of Bend for almost 20 years. Located on the west side of town, Newport
Market has always been a favorite spot of mine to shop.

I first
discovered it on vacation more than 10 years ago and this was my ‘go to’ store
for quality meats, produce, wine and anything else I could think of to throw
into my cart – before we had Whole Foods or I discovered Wild Oats.

Shopping
at Newport Market is like shopping in a gourmet supermarket because everything
looks wonderful, is of the highest quality in terms of freshness and it just
has that ‘gourmet’ feel to it.

Recently
when I couldn’t find veal shanks for osso buco, I stopped in at Newport Market
and sure enough, they were there in the freezer case.  They must have known I was coming!

They have an extensive selection of wine and
beer also. There is a video on youtube showing someone videotaping it and going on and on about how many beers.  (Of course, there are a lot of beers here in Bend).  They often have wine tasting in the store so be sure and check the website for times.

Along with their wonderful selection of wine and beer, they also have an extensive offering of different cheeses. Newport Avenue Market is said to be one of the best grocery stores in all of Oregon for their selection of cheeses – to include several from local well known organic producers such as Tumalo Farms and Juniper Grove Farm.

They also have a terrific bakery and deli section where you can buy just about any kind of artisan bread or roll and a myriad of freshly made desserts. You can also indulge in their service called On-The-Go-Gourmet and they will make up anything from dinners to boxed lunches for you  – all of the healthiest, freshest ingredients and saving you time when you most need it.

The produce section of Newport Avenue Market is also a wonderful place to pick up the freshest ingredients and herbs – some locally grown but all organic and as natural as humanly possible.

The meat and fish department boasts such wonderful things as organic chicken, grain-fed beef, New Zealand lamb and fresh wild caught fish – don’t miss out when it’s Copper River Salmon time!

If you are in the mood for flowers, check out their wonderful floral department where you can pick up anything from bouquets to flower baskets.

Ah, but they do not stop at mere food!
This is the part where my husband shakes his head and rolls his eyes.  They also have a huge selection of Le Creuset, All-Clad and Emille Henry pans and accessories. The gourmet portion of their store can trip you up for an hour! It is a great place to pick up gifts – for
yourself or someone else. It is also a
great place to browse for cookbooks and think about what you want to cook up
next.

All in
all, Newport Market is a spectacular place to shop if you are visiting or if
you live here – again those hard-to-find items you are looking for will most
likely be right there on the shelf or in the case waiting for you.

Check out the Foodie Feed RSS on line and don’t miss out on the Foode Flash Card – earn rewards for shopping at Newport Avenue Market.

They also have the Barket Report on line for store specials and offer recipes and nutrition sources on-line.

You can even get a flu shot at Newport Avenue Market!

Newport Avenue Market is open for your shopping convenience 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily.

Phone: 541.382.3940

See all 5 photos
Photo by Audrey Kirchner

Nature’s General Store

Nature’s
General Store is located in a strip mall in the northern end of town in Bend and has been
there forever it seems. They are easily
forgotten simply because I think their location keeps them out of your line of
vision. However, again, when I’ve gone
into Nature’s, I’ve always found things to be tiptop in terms of quality of food, availability of products and they seem to be very reasonably
priced.

Nature’s is a family owned store that has been a hallmark of Bend and Central Oregon since 1983. They have received the Best Health Food Store award (voting via the Source) in Bend for the 7th year in a row!

They have
a great selection of frozen meats and fish which are all natural and they also
have fresh baked breads from the Village Baker – one of my favorite bakeries in
town. For a small store, they have an
amazing array of products that are all natural and organic.

Check out the extensive selection of health and beauty products. They have a soap called Cowboy Soap that we can’t find anywhere else in Central Oregon and we keep coming back for more!

Nature’s has an on-line program called BuyClub – you go on line, order your products,
and then have them delivered to the Nature’s store for you to pick up. Orders must be in by 7:00 p.m. on Sundays and orders will be waiting for pick-up by 3:00 p.m. Tuesday. Minimum order is $50.

Specializing in organic products, Nature’s also tries to offer as many local products as possible. You can check them out on-line and you can also check out the monthly specials there. The website will alert you to new products that have arrived and you can find recipes for delicious things like Asian Salad or Homemade Granola Bars.

Nature’s believes in the principles of natural and organic products and offers customers 100% cotton produce and vegetable bags for $1. They also donate 10 cents from every bag to the Environmental Center and the Humane Society of Central Oregon. The owner also matches every dime in donations.

You can find all kinds of useful nutrition information – don’t forget to check out the vitamins and supplements.

If you’re looking for quality products and a friendly place to shop, check out Nature’s General Store.

Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Phone: 541-382-6732

See all 5 photos
Photo by Audrey Kirchner

Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s finally made it to Bend a year or so ago and everyone I know couldn’t be happier! I was used to Trader Joe’s from living in the Seattle environs for many years and was ecstatic when they finally opened a store here. Joe’s has 344 stores nationwide and is one of the best stores to shop for natural and organic foods. As a little bonus, you can’t beat their prices!

I confess that since its arrival, Trader Joe’s has fast become my favorite hang-out.
They have such a variety of things all the time that I end up spending
more time than I normally would in a grocery store just because I owe it to
myself to know what’s new, right?

One of my
favorite things to buy up every year are the fresh basil plants. For a mere $2.99, throughout the late spring
and summer, I buy huge fresh potted basil plants and then use the basil for all my dishes –
finally drying any that I can’t use in cooking before I buy a new
one and start over.  What a great addition to my kitchen. In fact, this summer we had 2 fresh basil plants growing in the window.  I
used it to make all my sauces and salads – not to mention using it on pizza!  The cost of one plant compared to buying a packet of fresh basil with a couple of wilted pieces at $5.99 – priceless!

The
products at Trader Joe’s are also outstanding in terms of being natural and organic – and in my mind, so economical that it
just makes sense to shop there. Their
products such as organic broth or organic beans for instance are far cheaper
than at the regular chain store.  Most grocery stores mark up anything that is organic or ‘natural’ – at Trader Joe’s I feel that it is being treated as the way things should be in the first place.

I buy ham slices there that have no
artificial ingredients and no nitrites or nitrates – same with any bacon we
might use.  Their meats and poultry are
absolutely wonderful and again, at a reasonable price – with no hormones, no artificial color.

Trader Joe’s dairy products are some of my favorites as are their cereals. Many of their
cereals are lower in sodium than any other brands and no artificial ingredients. We also stock up on nuts and trail mixes at Joe’s at a
super low price!  If you’re looking for real maple syrup, check out their price!

I buy some
of my produce at Joe’s. I probably would buy more but some of their produce is
pre-packaged and there is just simply too much for a family of 2. If I can use it, I buy it.  Luckily, some of their produce is sold separately  – we’ve had wonderful organic
peaches, pears and plums all summer long as well as melons and apples.

Another of my favorite products at Joe’s is the frozen seafood. I buy wild caught salmon and whole albacore tuna in the frozen section of the store. It’s extremely reasonably priced and if we want tuna sandwiches, I grill the tuna and flake it, then use as regular tuna.

They also have a tremendous
selection of cheeses, crackers, all different kinds of chips made from vegetables or organic corn, cleaning products
and beauty products as well as some of the best (so they tell me) dog biscuits
my dogs have ever had!

Don’t miss their wine and beer section either! They have all kinds of great bargains from 3
Buck Chuck to wines from Chile or Spain along with distinctive brews for the beer minded such as Newcastle,
which is one of my husband’s favorite beers.

You can find Joe’s helpful nutrition facts on-line and can find fantastic recipes like Breakfast Casserole or Rumble Cakes there too. They have the Fearless Flyer to let you know about new products and if you go directly to your local store’s spot on-line, you can find what new products are there just for your area.

You will also find a wine guide on-line to help you decide what wine goes with what dish. You will also find tips on fish preparation for example, coffee questions, olive oil differences and any products of concern – such as the egg crisis right now.

Joe’s products have no artificial color, no preservatives, and no added flavorings. They also are not genetically modified.

Why are Joe’s prices so low? They buy private label brands and accent the value of the food. They also buy direct from the growers and thus are able to sell to us at a reasonable price.

Trader Joe’s started in 1958 and the markets were called the Pronto Markets. In 1967, the Pasadena store became the first Trader Joe’s and it has been history since. Trader Joe’s also believes in each store supporting their own community and you can find their donations and contributions on-line in your particular area.

All in
all, again not sure what we did without Trader Joe’s before it arrived! Make sure you pop in and
check out their seasonal stuff as well because they pull out all the stops around the holidays or any major event or time of year. Every trip is a new adventure browsing the store for me.

Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Phone: 541.312.4198

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Newport Avenue Market –
1121 NW Newport Ave, Bend, OR 97701, USA
[get directions]

Whole Foods Market –
2610 NE Hwy 20, Bend, OR 97701, USA
[get directions]

Trader Joe’s –
63455 N Hwy 97, Bend, OR 97701, USA
[get directions]

Nature’s General Store –
1900 NE 3rd St #104, Bend, OR 97701, USA
[get directions]

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Natural and Organic Grocery Stores

Here in Central Oregon, we do have stores such as Safeway, Fred Meyer’s, Ray’s, Albertson’s and Erickson’s – in Prineville, we have only Erickson’s and Ray’s and have to drive at least a half hour to shop at any of the other stores. 

While their produce and food in general do hit the mark in some categories and we try and shop local as much as possible, we are sold on the above stores and usually weekly make a trip into Bend with our cooler and shop at these stores.  Why?  Because it is important to us to eat as healthy as possible and we do see a difference in the food that we buy at some of these chain stores as opposed to these natural and organic grocery stores.  Even though 2 of them are chain stores, there is a definite difference to our eye between organic produce at Safeway versus the produce at these stores.

We are fortunate to have quality stores that we are able to get to – and I daresay that we support all our stores quite admirably in one fashion or the other looking for the best bargains and the best quality of any product.  However, when it comes to nutritious food and quality food, I give these 4 stores 2 thumbs up and think you will too!

Look What You Can Find at Newport Market

Tour of a Larger Whole Foods Market

The Organic Dog Biscuit Cookbook: Over 100 “Tail Wagging” Recipes
Amazon Price: $99.60
List Price: $14.95
Super Natural Every Day: Well-Loved Recipes from My Natural Foods Kitchen
Amazon Price: $10.29
List Price: $23.00
Vogue Cuisine Vegetable Soup & Seasoning Base 12oz (Vegebase, Vege Base) – Low Sodium, Gluten Free, All Natural Ingredients
Amazon Price: $13.49
List Price: $15.99
The Working Class Foodies Cookbook: 100 Delicious Seasonal and Organic Recipes for Under $8 per Person
Amazon Price: $10.11
List Price: $20.00
If You Care Unbleached All Natural Waxed Paper, 75-Foot Roll (Pack of 12)
Amazon Price: $59.88
List Price: $61.42
Simply Organic: A Cookbook for Sustainable, Seasonal, and Local Ingredients
Amazon Price: $6.99
List Price: $24.95
Organic Baby & Toddler Cookbook (DK Organic)
Amazon Price: $0.01
List Price: $15.00
Fresh Baby So Easy Baby Food Kit
Amazon Price: $20.99
List Price: $37.95
Newman’s Own Organics Adult Dog Food Formula, 12.5-Pound Bag
Amazon Price: $26.50
List Price: $30.02
Pacific Natural Foods Organic Unsweetened Almond Beverage, Original, 32 Ounce Boxes (Pack of 12)
Amazon Price: $35.46
List Price: $37.28
Wellness Grain-Free Dry Dog Food for Adult Dogs, CORE Original, 26-Pound Bag
Amazon Price: $49.95
List Price: $62.99
Happy Tot Organic Baby Food, Stage 4, Spinach, Mango and Pear, 4.0-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 16)
Amazon Price: $8.99
List Price: $27.74
NOW Foods Sweet Almond Oil, Moisturizing Oil, 16 ounce
Amazon Price: $6.68
List Price: $10.99
Jobe’s 09026 Organic Vegetable & Tomato Granular Fertilizer 4-Pound Bag
Amazon Price: $6.55
List Price: $15.99
The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet: Know What Goes Into Every Bite with More Than 200 of the Most Deliciously Nutritious Homemade Baby Food … More Than 60 Purees Your Baby Will Love
Amazon Price: $11.36
List Price: $19.99
Natural Balance Organic Formula Dry Dog Food, 25-Pound Bag
Amazon Price: $47.19
List Price: $48.99

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Paulina Plunge Mountain Bike Tour Bend

Paulina Plunge Mountain Bike Tour Bend

Central Oregon Travel – Bend Oregon

If you are looking for a great vacation spot, Central Oregon and specifically Bend Oregon and Sunriver Oregon will give you memories you will never forget.

Central Oregon and in particular Bend Oregon and Sunriver Oregon have some of the most pristine travel destinations anywhere in the country but most specifically in the Northwest.

If you are an outdoors type person, Central Oregon and the Bend and Sunriver Oregon areas are the place to travel to spend a vacation as the opportunities for enjoyment are endless. From the lakes to the mountains, to the rivers and the meadows, hiking, camping, river rafting, rock climbing, boating, fishing, kayaking, horseback riding and many other sports abound.

However, one of the most memorable experiences of my many years vacationing in Central Oregon in Sunriver or Bend has been participating in the Paulina Plunge – a downhill waterfall mountain bike tour. It is something you cannot forget.

Public Domain Wikicommons

Bend Oregon/Central Oregon – The Paulina Plunge

Years ago on a summer vacation to Sunriver Oregon here in beautiful Central Oregon where I now reside, we had a family reunion. We spent most of our time in Sunriver but also time in the Bend Oregon region. We also got to know Central Oregon on that trip more than we had ever gotten to know it before.

One of the most enjoyable things we did that summer was to sign up for the Paulina Plunge. This is a recreation company out of Bend Oregon who sets up the day trip. For our group of people, we signed up for a bus leaving out of Sunriver Oregon because that is where we were staying. However, if you were staying in Bend Oregon instead of Sunriver, you could always sign up for a tour from there. 

The Paulina Plunge is a downhill mountain biking tour that covers between 4 and 6 waterfalls depending on the runoff. The company supplies the bus to trek you to the forest (which is part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument), the mountain bikes and helmets you will need, and they even supply a boxed lunch (fried chicken) if you request it for the tour.

You are picked up at the meeting place and then you ride the bus into the forest. This forest is part of the Deschutes National Forest – and part of the forest became a national monument in 1990. It is a geological wonder all by itself. The Newberry Crater actually is a 17 square mile caldera which is at the summit of a 500 square mile volcano (which is incidentally still active). The mountain bike tour takes place within the 50,000+ acres of the Newberry National Monument which is a beautiful combination of lakes, lava flows, forest and wildlife.

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The Mountain Bike Tour Itself

My first time, I was a little skeptical. I was concerned that perhaps the tour could be too strenuous but they advertise the tour as something that anyone from age 4 to 70 can do – if you are in halfway decent shape it should be mentioned!

You start at the highest waterfall and then you bike in roughly four 1-1/2 mile segments to each waterfall. Some of the time you will have a short hike in to the waterfall but others are right there after you finish your mountain biking run. The mountain biking is over rutted trails so it is a true mountain bike tour, but it never got so strenuous that it was in any way taxing. My legally blind son went on the tour as well – although he biffed once when he hit a sandy patch in the trail, he was completely unharmed and totally thrilled by the experience! (The tour – not the fall)

The days that we have gone it has been about 90-100 degrees and sunny. The climate of Central Oregon and Bend Oregon, Sunriver Oregon is termed steppe climate or high mountain desert. It is extremely dry and the summers are absolutely beautiful – no humidity and the bluest sky I have ever seen. By the time though that you have biked a few of the 1-1/2 mile parts of the trails and hiked in a few times, needless to say, you are getting warm.

We stopped by one of the waterfalls and we indulged in our prepared lunches. If you prefer, you can of course bring your own lunch – just remember to bring food if you have not ordered in advance because it is a rather long day. We left at 8:00 or 9:00 in the morning and came back about 4:00 or 4:30 in the afternoon. It was a very full and enchanting day!

There is much to see on the bike tour as you are going through ancient forests of the volcanic monument. The area is lush with vegetation up top but as you come lower in elevation, you experience the devastation of forest fire. Much of the forest and the volcanic moment is obviously made of volcanic rock – added to that the ash from the fire and at times, it felt like you were walking through layers and layers of silt.

Much of the fire damage that we saw was actually caused by a fire jumper in the 1990’s who was out of work and purposefully set the forest on fire trying to ‘stir up’ work. At the time the fire broke out, there was a mountain bike tour on the mountain and they had to be evacuated.

The guides are very knowledgeable and during the day, you learn much about the topography, the Native American heritage of the area, as well as so much fascinating geological information. All the while you are tooling through the forest from one beautiful waterfall to the next!

But….that is not the very best part!

The Waterfall Experience

The most magical thing about the Paulina Plunge Mountain Bike Tour is that you actually get to go into the waterfalls!

Again, I was a bit skeptical and thinking it could possibly be too dangerous. However, these particular falls were magnificent in beauty and tame in their presentation so as it turned out, it was one of the most wonderful experiences I had ever had. I did not come dressed for the day per se. I had on ‘wash and wear’ hiking shorts, a tube top and Teva sandals. I had not known about the swimming in the waterfalls part but on trekking around for hours and working up quite a sweat, I decided I would eventually dry off – and probably very quickly! (I did)

The thrill of actually swimming in a pool of fresh mountain runoff and then actually going UNDER a waterfall is spectacular! I only wish I had had a water camera so I could have taken a picture of it from behind the falls. Bob and I held hands and plunged under the falls only to come up behind the waterfall. I could have stayed there for a long, long time as it was just mesmerizing to be in a kind of cave behind all that force of the waterfall. It almost took your breath away it was so clean and so pure.

On exiting from under the waterfall, we held hands and as we went under the falls, we were caught in a bit of a riptide that shot us out from under the falls and we surfaced a little downstream in another pool. It was totally awesome!

But there’s more….because of the volcanic composition of this particular part of the Newberry Volcanic National Monument, there are 2 perfectly formed ‘natural’ water slides made from the volcanic rock that have been worn smooth by the continued waterfalls. It was hard to drag people away from the sheer delight of climbing up and sliding down the perfectly smooth water slides and to tell the truth, I have never seen adults act more like kids in my life! It was a delightful experience to coast down the natural water slides and plunge into the pool at the bottom.

After everyone was soaking wet and happily so, we finished up the tour and road the last little bit of the trails back to the bus. I don’t think I’ve been on a more enjoyable outdoor tour to be honest. It was just incredibly simple but breathtakingly beautiful. It was an experience that I will always remember and treasure. Our kids have been on it many more times than we have but they still go back as it is that impressive.

Summing It Up

If you’re looking for an adventure that is one-of-a-kind and something you’ll never forget, the Bend Oregon Paulina Plunge is your ticket.  It is a delightful way to spend family time together and enjoy nature, get exercise, and have a waterpark kind of experience! All as a gift from Mother Nature herself.

There is much to do and explore in this region I now call home – Central Oregon – but one of my all-time favorites will always be doing the Paulina Plunge. 

For other natural waterslides, visit this website.

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