Ride Here: Bend
We can’t stay away from this mountain playground with epic trails and plenty to eat/drink/do.
Groads like these! Photo: Lance Polloreno
By Julia Polloreno
@juliapolloreno
I’ve made at least a half-dozen trips to this Central Oregon town, and every time I’m amazed how one place can check so many boxes. Quick, easy access to epic alpine trails, check. Mild high-desert weather and lots of sunshine, yep. A lively downtown with lots of cool spots to eat and window shop, yes that too. If you’re a beer drinker, you will think Bend is true Nirvana, as it’s home to a ton of craft breweries. Coffee lovers will rejoice, too—the café culture is strong here. All this, plus a population of outdoorsy people happy to point you in the right direction for whatever adventure you seek. Pretty perfect sounding, right? Here’s my shortlist of Bend “musts” for when you make it there to see for yourself (when safe and travel is deemed advisable by local health officials).
Ride
The Cascades Gravel Scenic Bikeway
Choose from six different routes, ranging from shorter and flatter to more technical and longer gravel and mixed-surface rides. Visit Bend has partnered with Dirty Freehub, the experts on gravel riding in the region, to provide maps, cue sheets, and ride descriptions. If you also bring a mountain bike, definitely check out Phil’s Trail complex. If you want to really experience the glory of riding a gravel bike in the Cascades, check out the local Gravel Grinder race series. I’ve done both the 3-day Cascade Gravel Grinder and the 5-day Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder and could gush all day about the race organization, course design and support, and overall experience on and off the bike.
Eat
900 Wall
We always make a point to hit up this excellent restaurant for the Oregon board (local charcuterie and cheese), tasty stone oven-cooked pizzas and craft cocktails. They also serve up some of the best PNW-sourced oysters you will ever taste. I’m not a big meat eater, but the 900 Wall burger is heavily hyped.
Jackson’s Corner
This charming neighborhood cafe (Westside location) is a great spot for a casual brunch or to pick up a gourmet sandwich with made-in-house bread. The menu is filled with ingredients from local farmers and ranchers. There’s also a great selection of natural wines on their list.
Spork
“Ecclective” is the right word to describe the menu at this funky-cool spot in Bend’s Westside neighborhood. You’ll find wholesome, tasty dishes inspired by Asian, Mexican and other cuisines. The atmosphere is lively and warm, and there is truly something to satisfy any palate.
Drink
Boss Rambler Beer Club
The beer is delicious (my favorite is the Hazy IPA), but what really captured our initial attention was the inviting space to sit and sip, and the idea behind the name Boss Rambler (defined as “an adventurer or seeker, always on the the quest for a good time, typically involving good friends, good laughs and good drink.” Cheers to that.
Thump Coffee
There are multiple Thump locations around Bend, making it easy to find this delicious craft coffee. The downtown location (in an old brick building) is my favorite, but there are a lot of pre/post-ride possibilities. Be sure to also pick up a fresh-baked pastry from The Sparrow Bakery (and check out their very quaint cafe).
Crux Fermentation Project
You can watch the brewing process right from your seat in the industrial-cool tasting room, but I also love the sprawling outdoor space. There are 20+ beers on tap, and the food is elevated pub fare. If you want the full beer experience in Bend (pace yourself), check out the famous Ale Trail.
Stay
There are some great Airbnb options in Bend, but if you want to stay in a hotel, I recommend the Springhill Suites by Marriott located near The Mill District and Deschutes River. It’s affordable, clean, comfortable and in a great location. It is surrounded by some great microbreweries and food trucks, so you can leave the car parked. Check out locals’ haunt The Brown Owl right across the street for a lively bar scene and live tunes.
Explore
Head to Smith Rock State Park (about a 40-minute drive from Bend) to hike through some incredible Oregon high desert terrain. On your way back to town, DO NOT pass Crescent Moon Ranch without stopping to feed the alpacas. This is very important.
