Best things to do in Bend

See indoor and outdoor exhibits of wildlife, culture, and the spirit of North America's high desert country at High Desert Museum. Take a guided tour of The West, past dioramas of historical settlements, through a fort, and into a mine. Learn about Native American cultures, get close-up with the animals of the region, and see a collection of 18,500 objects, from artifacts to vintage cars. There's a cafe with indoor and outdoor seating on site that offers sandwiches, burgers, wraps, salads, and soups.

Home to a 168 m (550 ft) tall volcanic rock formation featuring nearly 2,000 climbing routes, Smith Rock State Park is one of the world's capitals of rock climbing. Set on 259 ha (641 acres) of semi-forested, high-desert landscape, the park is also home to plateaus and the winding Crooked River. Hike along its network of trails through the canyons. Keep your eyes open for a glimpse of local wildlife, such as golden eagles and otters. If you're a climber, indulge in this world-class opportunity to clamber up the sheer cliff face. From a higher vantage point, you'll be rewarded with views of Deschutes County and the distant Cascade Mountains.

Newberry National Volcanic Monument was designated on November 5, 1990, to protect the area around the Newberry Volcano in the U.S. state of Oregon. The monument was created within the boundaries of the Deschutes National Forest, which is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, and includes 54,822 acres (86 sq mi; 222 km2) of lakes, lava flows, and geologic features in central Oregon.

The volcano was used for training Apollo astronauts 1964–1966.

Set on the northern face of a popular peak, Mt. Bachelor Ski Area is Oregon' s largest ski resort and the sixth largest resort in the nation, spanning more than 400 hectares (1,000 acres). Its slopes are home to an array of ski runs and a renowned terrain park. Traverse the trails or try out tricks on the super pipe, rails, boxes, and jibs. Those who prefer skiing or snowboarding on dry powder will feel right at home here; those used to wetter snow may have to make some small adjustments to their technique. After hitting the slopes, refuel with some Italian, Mexican, or American cuisine at the resort's restaurants. You can sample some local brew at The Cirque restaurant, featuring over 20 Oregon draft beers on tap.

Tumalo Falls is a 97ft waterfall on Tumalo Creek, in the Cascade Range west of Bend in the U.S. state of Oregon. Additional waterfalls are upstream along Tumalo Creek and a tributary, Bridge Creek and its Bridge Creek Falls. All of these falls are within the Deschutes National Forest.
The United States Forest Service manages the Tumalo Falls Day Use Area about 14mi from Bend by forest roads. In addition to waterfall views, the day-use area has picnic sites and a toilet and offers access to trails for hiking and mountain biking. Using the site requires a Northwest Forest Pass or payment of a fee.
Tumalo Falls Trail leads from the picnic area to a viewing platform above Tumalo Falls, about 0.25mi upstream. The trail continues beyond the falls. About 1.25mi further upstream, it reaches a second waterfall, Middle Tumalo Falls, a two-tiered cascade totaling 65ft in height.

The Lava River Cave near Bend, Oregon, is part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, which is managed by the United States Forest Service. At 5,211 feet (1,588 m) in length, the northwest section of the cave is the longest continuous lava tube in Oregon. While the cave's discovery in 1889 was officially credited to a pioneer hunter, the presence of obsidian flakes near the cave has led archaeologists to conclude that Native Americans knew about the cave long before settlers arrived in central Oregon.

Deschutes Brewery is a craft brewery in the northwest United States, located in Bend, Oregon. Founded in 1988 as a brew pub, it is known for such products as Black Butte Porter and Mirror Pond Pale Ale. In 2008, the brewery opened a second pub in the Pearl District of Portland, Oregon. Deschutes Brewery ships beer to 28 states, the District of Columbia, and around the world from its main brewing facility. The brewery is named after the Deschutes River, which runs through Oregon. As of 2016, Deschutes was the eighth-largest craft brewery and fifteenth-largest overall brewery in the U.S., producing 250,000 US beer barrels (290,000 hL) in 2012.