Bend is a fast-growing, outdoor mecca of a city in Central Oregon. Runners will love the varied geography and terrain, all within close proximity: from paths along the Deschutes River, which flows down from the Cascade Mountains to wind through the forests of Ponderosa Pine, to the rocks and sagebrush of the nearby high desert. Our guide to running in Bend incorporates a combination of road routes and some trail running highlights.
In central Bend, the parks and paths along the Deschutes River are the running highlight, as are the proximal Old Mill and Northwest Crossing neighborhoods. Shevlin Park is Bend’s largest park and features a 6-mile loop around a canyon. Our other favorite places to run in Bend are the options at the Lava Lands, only 20 minutes away, and some easy trail running at Smith Rock State Park. Phil’s Trail, Green Lakes, and Larkspur are a trail runner’s dream. This TRAIL MAP is a good overview of some of the running options in Bend.
Runners also love Bend for its year-round sunny weather. For transport. the Cascades East Transit bus system has ten routes around town, as well as a bus to Mt. Bachelor in the winter and a “Ride the River” shuttle in summer. Bend is also very bike and pedestrian friendly.