CENTRAL OREGON RECREATION
Golf | Skiing & Snowboarding | Hiking & Biking | ATV, Motocross & Off Road Vehicle Trails | Snowmobiling | Lakes & Rivers | Rock Climbing | Spelunking | Horseback Riding

You're probably well aware that Central Oregon is the outdoor paradise of the Pacific Northwest. We're sure you've heard all of the hype, so we'll just list of the highlights of this phenomenal area. Our not-so-typical Northwest weather is what brings many of our visitors from the damper areas of the Pacific Northwest like Eugene, Portland and Seattle. The Bend Oregon area has over 300 days of sunshine, which makes it very possible to enjoy the vast amount of outdoor recreation we have been blessed with. For instance, you can choose to ski down a powdery slope in the morning, then head to your favorite golf course for nine holes, and finally, end your day at the Metolious River for a world-class fly fishing experience.

We've compiled a list of some of the most popular activities available in Central Oregon. Try them all, then go on to try some others. This is the Central Oregon.

Golf
Often referred to as the Palm Springs of the North, Central Oregon provides access to over 25 golf courses and golf resorts all within a short drive of one another. According to Golf Digest, Bend and Sunriver Oregon were named #8 as one of the top-golf home markets in the Western region of the United States with 264 playable days. "The National Association of Realtors estimates Americans bought more than one million vacation homes in 2005, a record for the 2nd year in a row, and golf was a deciding factor in nearly a third of these purchases." Whether you ae looking to buy a golf course home or you just want to play golf, Central Oregon is your golfing paradise.

There is big news here in Sunriver, as the beautiful Crosswater Golf Course will begin playing host to the The Jeld-Wen Tradition (the final major of the Champions Tour) beginning August 12-19, 2007. The Jeld-Wen Tradition will bring television coverage to Sunriver from The Golf Channel on the weekdays and NBC Sports on the weekends of the tournament over the next 4 years. Accommodations will fill up during this national event which attracts such golf pros like Tom Watson and Loren Roberts, so you'll want to make your Sunriver resort vacation rental reservations early.

“We are committed to keeping world-class golf in Oregon, and we strongly believe that the changes are in the best interests of sponsors, players and fans.” Said Gina Monterossi, sports marketing manager for Jeld-Wen. “Expanded TV coverage and the move to Crosswater go hand-in-hand with elevating the tournament during it’s next four years of growth.  Central Oregon has grown up with golf, and to host the event at one of the country’s premier destination resorts played an important part in our decision.” The economic impact of the tournament is estimated at $9 million annually, according to a 2004 study by the University of Oregon’s Warsaw School of Sports marketing. Make your reservations now to attend the Jeld-Wen Tradition Major Championship Golf Tournament. And, don't forget to book your Sunriver accommodations early so you can stay close to the action!

Skiing & Snowboarding
Welcome to mountain country. If you are a serious skier or snowboarder, then you will love Central Oregon. The largest ski resort in Oregon and one of the largest in the North America is the world-renowned Mt. Bachelor, right here in our backyard. With a base elevation of over 6,000 feet and 3,683 skiable terrain, this makes Mt. Bachelor the biggest ski resort in the Northwest. We could go on and on, but we think you may just want to visit the Mt. Bachelor website to find out all of the details for yourself. Thinking that a mountain this cool will mean large crowds? Not at Mt. Bachelor. With seven express quads plus three triple chairs, you'll be getting up the mountain faster than you can say "Four Terrain Parks and an Olympic Size Super Pipe." Opening day is usually sometime in mid-November and extends until the end of May. If you are coming for a visit to Central Oregon, you'll want to stay in one of RE/MAX Sunset Realty's 240 Sunriver vacation homes for your 2 Mt. Bachelor lift tickets for $25 —save $87! Visit our Sunriver vacation rental website at www.SunriverLodging.com for more information on our "Pay for 3 nights & get 2 lift tickets for $25 deal.

The three Sisters mountains provide the ideal spot for backcountry skiing or snowboarding. Easy access to thousands of acres of National Forest land lend itself to all sorts of winter adventures like snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Untouched powder awaits you!

Hiking & Biking
Sunriver's greatest appeal to visitors is the paved bike and walking paths that meander on for over 30 miles throughout the Sunriver resort. Chances are you'll see the plethora of wildlife we have living here in Sunriver from deer, chipmunks, and ground squirrels to the occasional coyote, river otter or mink. Deer are so prevalent in fact that we've had a visitor ask "What time do they let the deer out?" In addition to the paved biking paths, there is access to unlimited trails suitable for mountain biking. From Sunriver, you can ride for a mere 3 miles to spectacular site, Benham Falls. More mountain bike trails can be found in Bend or across the highway from Sunriver.

Hiking is another favorite past time for visitors and residents alike. With tons of hikes ranging from the extremely intense like the "Misery Ridge Trail" at Smith Rock State Park (hence its name) to the easy post-work or when you have a spare hour hike at Pilot Butte State Park, you'll have a ball discovering new sights and bonding with good 'ol mother nature. Here is a list of some of the most popular hikes in Central Oregon brought to you by the Central Oregon Visitors Association.

ATV, Motocross & Off Road Vehicle Trails
We are down right spoiled with Off Road Vehicle Trails throughout Central Oregon. Motocross and ATV riding is accessible in nearly all areas of Central Oregon, depending on the terrain you would like to ride on. The more arid areas provide a more sandy terrain. Probably the most popular areas include China Hat area, East Fort Rock area, Cline Butte outside of Redmond, and anywhere in the National Forest areas south of Bend, south and west of Sisters.

Many OHV riders come over from the west side of the Cascades (the wet side of the mountains) to ride in our dry climate. Winter is the best time to ride in Central Oregon because the summers can get very dusty on the trails due to our lack of rain over here. However, if you'll have to avoid some of the higher elevations due to snow pack. Look for the Prineville Adventure Park opening soon which will have a motocross track, an adult 50s tracks, and a peewee track for the kids. There will be an outdoor track for ATV riding, mountain bike riding and of course dirt bikes.

Snowmobiling
Central Oregon offers some of the best snowmobile trails in all of Oregon, not to mention the most trails along with the driest powder in the Northwest. Some of the popular snow parks include Wanoga Snow Park and Dutchman Flats near Mt. Bachelor Oregon. A popular snowmobile adventure is the ride from Sunriver resort area to Elk Lake Resort. The Resort is only accessible by snowmobile in the winter months because of the Cascade Lakes Highway being closed for the winter. You can set off on a day long trip and end it with dinner at Elk Lake Resort's restaurant.

Looking for a place to stay with your sled? Sunriver offers vacation homes with garages and large driveways to accommodate your snowmobile trailer. Plus, Sunset Realty has a few vacation homes that sit outside of Sunriver where you can just jump on your snowmobile and hit the trails right from your driveway. To find out more information, please visit our Sunriver rental website at www.sunriverlodging.com or call us at (800) 541-1756.

Lakes and Rivers
Belive it or not, but the high desert is home to hundreds of lakes and rivers that offer some of the best recreation areas and fishing in the northwest. Depending on what you like to do, you can always find the perfect lake for your style of recreation. The Cascade Lakes Highway which offers a 100 mile loop that starts in the Sunriver Oregon area and ends in Bend Oregon. The Cascade Lakes Highway has a variety of lakes for canoeing and kayaking, boating and recreational watercraft, hike in only access, and fishing.

Rock Climbing
Smith Rock State Park is a world-renowned climbing mecca which attracts some of the of best climbers from around the world. Famous for its pre-bolted routes that vary from they very basic beginning climbing area to some of the most difficult routes ever completed. You can't beat the views of the Crooked River below the towering rock cliffs—it is incredible. Located in Terrebonne, which is located about 5 miles north of Redmond, Oregon, you 'll have to make Smith Rock a must-see stop even if you don't climb rocks. Make sure to stop by the icecream shop on your way out of the park for some home-made huckleberry icecream.

Spelunking
Spelunking or more simply put "Caving" is all the rage in the Central Oregon region. With all of the volcanic activity that happened thousands of years of ago, Central Oregon was left with all sorts of lava rock, lava beds and underground lava tubes that are ideal for exploring. You can brave the caves on your own or opt for a guided tour to some of the lesser known caves with Wanderlust Tours. We've attached a handy guide for getting to the caves. Some are well-marked and others are not. We recommend dressing warm because the caves are cool with a year-round temperature of 40 degrees. And, bring extra batteries for your head lamps and flash lights. Have fun exploring, but please observe the signs and respect the resident bats. Some caves have hibernating bats during the winter months and they cannot be disturbed, or they will die.

Horseback Riding
Horseback riding is part of the Central Oregon heritage and still remains a popular activity among locals and vacationers alike. The most popular riding areas include the vast terrain of trails that make up the BLM areas of Central Oregon and the Deschutes National Forest. If you don't own your own horse or you are visiting, you can ride horses at the following resort areas throughout the Central Oregon community: Sunriver Stables at Sunriver Resort, Eagle Crest Resort, Brasada Ranch resort, and the Seventh Mountain Resort. , and Rock Springs Guest Ranch in Bend.