Deschutes National Forest
~18 mi from BendOregon
Complete guide to Deschutes National Forest in central Oregon. Trail recommendations, campgrounds, permits, volcanic landscapes, and trip planning resources.
9 min read
OR · Pacific Northwest
National Forests Near Bend, OR
8 forest guides within driving distance
Planning a trip near Bend? Our curated guide has the top picks.
Read the guide →National Forests Near Bend
Willamette National Forest
~43 mi from BendOregon
Complete guide to Willamette National Forest in Oregon. Trail recommendations, campgrounds, permits, seasonal tips, and everything you need to plan your trip.
12 min read
Ochoco National Forest
~54 mi from BendOregon
845,000 acres of ponderosa pine plateau, painted hills country, and volcanic rimrock in central Oregon, one of the Pacific Northwest's least-visited national forests and most rewarding drives.
7 min read
Umpqua National Forest
~79 mi from BendOregon
Umpqua National Forest protects 983,000 acres of western Oregon Cascades, including the North Umpqua River corridor, Diamond Lake, and one of the state's most diverse waterfall collections.
6 min read
Fremont-Winema National Forest
~87 mi from BendOregon
Fremont-Winema National Forest covers 2.3 million acres of south-central Oregon's high desert plateau, volcanic rim country, and mixed conifer forest, bordering Crater Lake National Park and the Klamath Basin.
6 min read
Mount Hood National Forest
~93 mi from BendOregon
Complete guide to Mount Hood National Forest in Oregon. Trail recommendations, campgrounds, permits, seasonal tips, and everything you need to plan your trip.
11 min read
Winema National Forest
~117 mi from BendOregon
Winema National Forest covers the eastern Cascades slopes south of Crater Lake in Oregon, anchoring the Sky Lakes and Mountain Lakes Wilderness areas and the Klamath Basin's high-country forest.
5 min read
Malheur National Forest
~121 mi from BendOregon
Malheur National Forest covers 1.7 million acres of high desert plateaus, glacially carved mountains, and ponderosa pine forest in eastern Oregon, anchored by the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness.
6 min read
Trails Near Bend
easy-moderateout-and-back
Tumalo Falls Trail
7 mi600 ft gain
~13 mi from BendJune through October
Guide to the Tumalo Falls Trail near Bend, Oregon. A scenic 7-mile out-and-back hike past a 97-foot waterfall and along Tumalo Creek.
9 min read
easyout-and-back
Todd Lake Trail
1 mi200 ft gain
~19 mi from BendJuly through October
A short, easy hike to a quiet alpine lake beneath the north face of Broken Top, with direct views of South Sister and a gentler pace than the crowded trailheads nearby on the Cascade Lakes Highway.
7 min read
moderateout-and-back
Green Lakes Trail
9 mi1,100 ft gain
~21 mi from BendJuly through October
Guide to the Green Lakes Trail in the Three Sisters Wilderness. A 9-mile out-and-back hike to stunning alpine lakes beneath Broken Top and South Sister.
8 min read
easyout-and-back
Fall River Trail
4.4 mi50 ft gain
~21 mi from Bendyear-round
An easy 4.4-mile out-and-back along the spring-fed Fall River in Deschutes National Forest, Oregon, a crystal-clear, 48-degree stream through ponderosa and lodgepole forest south of Sunriver.
7 min read
strenuousout-and-back
South Sister Summit Trail
12 mi4,900 ft gain
~23 mi from BendJuly through September
Complete guide to summiting South Sister, Oregon's third-tallest peak at 10,358 feet. Route details, permit requirements, and tips for this strenuous 12-mile day hike.
8 min read
strenuousout-and-back
Black Crater Trail
7.8 mi2,500 ft gain
~24 mi from BendJuly through October
A strenuous 7.8-mile out-and-back to the 7,251-foot summit of Black Crater in Deschutes National Forest, Oregon, with views of the Three Sisters, Mount Washington, and the high desert that few Cascade trails can match.
6 min read
strenuousout-and-back
Paulina Peak Trail
4 mi1,500 ft gain
~24 mi from BendJune through October
A strenuous 4-mile out-and-back climb to the highest point in the Newberry Caldera at 7,985 feet, with 360-degree views of the Cascade volcanoes, two crater lakes, and obsidian flows on the caldera floor below.
7 min read
moderate-hardout-and-back
Obsidian Trail
12.2 mi2,000 ft gain
~31 mi from BendJuly through October
Guide to the Obsidian Trail in Willamette National Forest, Oregon. A 12.2-mile out-and-back through the Three Sisters Wilderness, crossing ancient lava flows and passing Obsidian Falls on the way to the glacier-draped base of North and Middle Sister.
6 min read
easyloop
Proxy Falls Loop
1.6 mi164 ft gain
~31 mi from BendLate May through October
Guide to the Proxy Falls Loop in Willamette National Forest, Oregon. A short 1.6-mile circuit through ancient lava fields and old-growth forest to two dramatic waterfalls on the west slope of McKenzie Pass.
6 min read
easyloop
Proxy Falls Loop
1.6 mi100 ft gain
~34 mi from BendJune through October
A short 1.6-mile loop in the Three Sisters Wilderness connecting two dramatically different waterfalls, including 226-foot Upper Proxy Falls and Lower Proxy Falls, which vanishes into a lava field with no stream outlet.
7 min read
moderatepoint-to-point
McKenzie River National Recreation Trail
26 mi800 ft gain
~40 mi from BendYear-round (lower sections accessible in winter)
Guide to the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail in Willamette National Forest, Oregon. A 26-mile point-to-point trail (or shorter segments) through old-growth forest, volcanic formations, and past the famous Blue Pool at Tamolitch Falls along one of Oregon's most scenic rivers.
6 min read
moderateout-and-back
Erma Bell Lakes Trail
5.3 mi807 ft gain
~42 mi from BendLate May through November
Guide to the Erma Bell Lakes Trail in Willamette National Forest, Oregon. A 5.3-mile out-and-back through lush Three Sisters Wilderness forest to three mountain lakes stocked with trout, with no permit required.
6 min read
moderate-hardout-and-back
Chucksney Mountain Trail
10.7 mi2,381 ft gain
~43 mi from BendJune through October
Guide to the Chucksney Mountain Trail in Willamette National Forest, Oregon. A demanding 10.7-mile out-and-back gaining 2,381 feet through forest and meadow to a summit with panoramic views of the Three Sisters and the South Fork McKenzie River drainage.
6 min read
moderate-hardout-and-back
Iron Mountain Trail
3.5 mi1,368 ft gain
~48 mi from BendJune through October
Guide to Iron Mountain in Willamette National Forest, Oregon. A 3.5-mile out-and-back to a summit observation platform surrounded by one of Oregon's richest wildflower displays, with over 300 species across eleven distinct habitats.
6 min read
moderateout-and-back
Steins Pillar Trail
4 mi700 ft gain
~52 mi from BendMay through October
A 4.0-mile out-and-back through old-growth ponderosa pine in Mill Creek Wilderness to the base of Steins Pillar, a 350-foot volcanic tuff column in Ochoco National Forest's most dramatic geological formation.
3 min read
moderateout-and-back
Ochoco Divide Trail
7.5 mi700 ft gain
~53 mi from BendJune through October
A 7.5-mile out-and-back along the main ridge of Ochoco National Forest, traversing open ponderosa pine plateau with views on both sides and access to the forest's best wildflower meadows in late June.
3 min read
moderateloop
Marion Lake Trail
5.2 mi935 ft gain
~53 mi from BendLate June through October
Guide to the Marion Lake Trail in Willamette National Forest, Oregon. A 5.2-mile loop through Mount Jefferson Wilderness, passing Lake Ann and arriving at one of the largest alpine lakes in the Oregon Cascades.
5 min read
moderateout-and-back
Mill Creek Wilderness Trail
6.5 mi600 ft gain
~54 mi from BendMay through October
A 6.5-mile out-and-back along Mill Creek through the 17,400-acre Mill Creek Wilderness in Ochoco National Forest, following a perennial canyon stream through old-growth ponderosa pine with good fishing.
3 min read
moderate-hardout-and-back
Twin Pillars Trail
9 mi1,400 ft gain
~54 mi from BendJune through October
A 9.0-mile out-and-back through deep Mill Creek Wilderness to the Twin Pillars, two basalt columns rising from the forest floor in a remote section of Ochoco National Forest rarely reached by casual visitors.
3 min read
easy-moderateout-and-back
Pamelia Lake Trail
4.4 mi800 ft gain
~55 mi from BendLate June through October
Guide to Pamelia Lake Trail in Willamette National Forest, Oregon. A 4.4-mile out-and-back through old-growth forest to the largest backcountry lake in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, framed by the glacier-clad flanks of Oregon's second-highest peak.
6 min read
moderate-hardout-and-back
Lookout Mountain Trail
9 mi2,200 ft gain
~58 mi from BendJune through October
A 9.0-mile out-and-back to the 6,926-foot summit of Lookout Mountain in the Ochoco Wilderness, the highest point in Ochoco National Forest, with views spanning the central Oregon plateau and Cascade peaks.
3 min read
easyloop
Walton Lake Loop
2 mi50 ft gain
~59 mi from BendMay through October
A 2.0-mile loop around Walton Lake in Ochoco National Forest, an easy family walk through ponderosa pine and fir at 5,000 feet with fishing access and a campground base.
3 min read
moderateout-and-back
Round Mountain Trail
5.5 mi1,100 ft gain
~62 mi from BendJune through October
A 5.5-mile out-and-back through old-growth ponderosa pine to the open summit of Round Mountain in Ochoco National Forest, with plateau views and a quieter alternative to the Lookout Mountain route.
3 min read
moderateout-and-back
Black Canyon Wilderness Trail
9.2 mi800 ft gain
~64 mi from BendApril through October
A 9.2-mile out-and-back through the remote Black Canyon Wilderness in Ochoco National Forest, following a perennial wilderness creek through old-growth ponderosa pine and juniper with genuine backcountry solitude.
3 min read