Trail running Bend Oregon is as enjoyable as it is accessible. From the sunny weather to the numerous parks and natural areas, Central Oregon is great for getting outside.
There are just so many options for trail running in Bend Oregon, including several parks in town, natural areas within a short drive, and stunning backcountry beyond.
In this article, we’ll jog through the best running trails in Bend and beyond and give you our local tips so you can decide which ones to check out yourself.
So lace up your shoes, and let’s learn everything you need to know about trail running Bend Oregon!
Trail Running Bend Oregon: Overview
Central Oregon is perfect for trail running (and hiking too). The sunny climate, favorable temperatures, and accessible trails make this region a hub for runners.
Bend in particular has a ton of parks with lots of trails you can access without even leaving town! Shoutout to Bend Park and Rec for doing a great job maintaining these parks.
In addition, there are numerous natural areas within a short drive of town that offer excellent trail running opportunities. A bit further out of town lies incredible backcountry trails.
Let’s start with the best trails for running in Bend, then we’ll cover the top trails outside of town. We’ll also cover races and running events like the half marathon, 10k, and 5k later in this article.
Summary of Trail Running Bend Oregon
This table summarizes each trail/location mentioned in this article. We’ll go into more detail on each option in the following sections.
| Trail / Location | Distance From Downtown | Summary | Where to Park |
| Deschutes River Trail: Old Mill Reach | < 2 miles | Paved and unpaved riverside trail. | Riverbend Park or Farewell Bend Park |
| Shevlin Park | 5 miles | Paved and unpaved trail through forested park paralleling Tumalo Creek. | Shevlin Park |
| Deschutes River Trail: NW Bend Reach | < 1 mile | Unpaved trail. Lots of sun. Great for cooler temps. | Pioneer Park |
| Riley Ranch Nature Reserve | 5 miles | Unpaved riverside trails that are flat and long. Up to 7 miles one way. No loop option. | Riley Ranch Nature Preserve or Tumalo State Park |
| Deschutes River Trail: Upper Reach | 6 miles or more | Seemingly endless trail along the Deschutes River upstream of town. Plenty of trailheads to access. | Meadow Day Use Area or other options |
| Smith Rock State Park | 26 miles | Epic rock formations. Beautiful landscape views. One of the 7 wonders of Oregon. | Smith Rock State Park |
| Six Lakes Trail | 34 miles | String of mountain lakes. Relatively flat trail. Mostly forested. Great for a hot summer day. Swim to cool off. | Six Lakes Trailhead |
| Paulina Lake | 39 miles | Lakeside trails. Pretty waterfall. Great for a hot day! | Paulina Falls or Little Crater Day Use Site |
Trail Running Bend Oregon Map
Use the interactive map below to see the Bend running trails mentioned in this article. Feel free to expand the map to open it in a separate window.
Best Trail Runs Bend Oregon: Within 5 Miles of Downtown
Deschutes River Trail: Old Mill Reach
The Old Mill Reach Deschutes River Trail is a section of the larger Deschutes River Trail that runs through the Old Mill area and southwest Bend. There are paved parts around Riverbend Park and Farewell Bend Park that turn to unpaved trails as you go upriver.
We recommend parking at Riverbend Park (which has much more parking than Farewell Bend across the river). From there, you have two main options: go west for unpaved trails or go east for paved trails. Or connect both options for a longer run! See the map.
We recommend the unpaved section for a more natural trail, while the paved section lets you see more of town, such as the Old Mill and Bend Whitewater Park (where people surf the river wave.
Shevlin Park
Shevlin Park, just 5 miles from downtown Bend, is a true gem for trail running, hiking, and picnicking. This forested section of Tumalo Creek is just special.
The old growth Ponderosa Pine Forest and one of the largest Aspen groves in Bend make this one of our favorite places for trail running in Bend Oregon.
We have an entire article about Shevlin Park because we love it so much. There are a variety of loop options, but the trails never stray far from Tumalo Creek and are relatively flat as a result.
There is also a paved trail that is great for those who like a more table running surface. Several footbridges allow you to cross the river in different places, and make loops of different sizes.
There are lots of signage and trails maps you can look at when you get there, and the junctions are well marked throughout the park. In addition, you can extend your run beyond Shevlin Park to a connected network of trails through endless natural areas to the west.
Deschutes River Trail: NW Bend Reach
First Street Rapids is what we call the lower section of the Deschutes River Trail. That is, the part that is downstream of downtown Bend. Park at Pioneer Park and go downstream (north) until you cross the footbridge to get to the west side of the river.
Follow the river until you reach River’s Edge Golf Course, through which the trail continues. You might be briefly on the road or pass through a neighborhood, but you will be able to find the trail after that. In total, you can go about 4 miles one way before returning on the same route.
Eventually, you’ll find the river again before leaving it once more. Overall, this trail is pretty flat and gets a lot of sun, which makes it great for colder months.
Riley Ranch Nature Reserve
Riley Ranch Nature Reserve is 184 acres of rugged terrain with the Deschutes River Trail running through it. Visitors will see rocky cliffs, Juniper trees, meadows, lava flows, and some views of the Cascades.
There are a few shorter loops near the parking lot and a longer trail that continues along the Deschutes River to Tumalo State Park.
The well-marked trails, variety of loop options, relatively flat grade, beautiful viewpoints, and information signage make this a great place for running of any intensity.
There is little shade, however, so be aware on a hot day it can get toasty! You can also park at Tumalo State Park, though there is a day use fee there.
Best Trail Runs Bend Oregon: More Than 5 Miles from Downtown
Deschutes River Trail: Upper Reach
The Upper Reach of the Deschutes River Trail is the section southwest of town. That is, the section upstream of Bend. There are lots of trailheads that all access one big long trail that follows the river.
We recommend parking at Meadow Day Use Area, just 6 miles from Bend, and running upstream. However, you can also park at Lava Island Trailhead, Big Eddy Day Use Area, or any of the other trailheads nearby. See the map above for context.
We love that there are seemingly endless miles of trails as you go upstream. Seriously, you can run all the way to Sunriver via only trails, but we never make it that far!
Smith Rock State Park
Smith Rock State Park is simply astounding. The impressive rock formations, incredible landscape views, and excellent running trails make us keep coming back.
Smith Rock is one of the premier rock climbing destinations in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. On any given day you will probably see people scaling the vertical walls of rock like monkeys.
There is a large trail network with tons of different route options. The infamous Misery Ridge trail is great for hiking (and you should totally do it!) but it is quite steep and not ideal for trail running.
If you’re up for some miles we recommend taking the longest loop around the park, which is more gradual (most of the way) and presents the best views of the park. Otherwise, take a look at the trail map and see what suits you!
Learn more in our full article about Smith Rock State Park.
Six Lakes Trail
Six Lakes Trail is one of the many trails along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway. There are several reasons why we love it for trail running, even though it is a bit of a drive (34 miles).
The trail is quite flat, there are several mountain lakes (great for swimming), and the trail is mostly forested (great for hot days).
Six Lakes Trail is perfect for a trail run of any length, especially on a hot day when you’re protected by the shade and can swim in any beautiful lake you choose! Also, you do not need a day use permit, which is required at some nearby trails.
Paulina Lake
Paulina Lake is one of two beautiful lakes in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. There are lots of trails at Paulina Lake that each offer different things!
We love the lakeside loop around Paulina Lake. It is about 7 miles but pretty much totally flat and presents amazing views! It even passes by a hot spring (perfect for a mid run soak).
Also, don’t pass up a view of Paulina Falls on your way in. Just turn off the main road right before the lake and walk a short distance to see the falls. Park at Paulina Falls or at Little Crater Day Use Site for your run.
Read our full article about the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. It really is a great place for all things exploring: camping, hiking, fishing, hot springs, etc.!
Bend Oregon Running Races
With all the amazing Bend running trails, its not surprising that so many people in Central Oregon race casually and competitively. These are some Bend Oregon running races that are put on in 2024, including marathon, half marathon, 10k, and 5k distances.
| Race | Distances | Date | More info |
| Bend Marathon | Marathon, Half, 10k, 5k | April 14, 2024 | Learn More |
| Salmon Run | Half, 10k, 5k | April 20, 2024 | Learn More |
| Happy Girls Bend | Half, 10k, 5k | May 11, 2024 | Learn More |
| Conquer the Canyon | Half, 10k, 5k | June 8, 2024 | Learn More |
| Haulin Aspen | Marathon, Half, 6.5 mile | August 10, 2024 | Learn More |
| Kids Races | Variable | Variable | Learn More |
Shoutout to Bend Races for putting on so many amazing races and getting the Central Oregon running community together so often each year!
Conclusion
We hope you found this information helpful about all the great running trails in and near Bend. Trail running Bend Oregon has a special place in the hearts of residents and visitors alike, and will always be a favorite way to get outside and engage with the natural areas of this region.
If you’re into other outdoor activities, we have tons of other articles about Central Oregon, including guides for hiking, backpacking, skiing, snowshoeing, and more!
You might also be interested in the best things to do in Bend. Looking at a vacation in Bend? Don’t pass up these amazing places to stay. If you are visiting, welcome! We hope to see you around. Happy trails!
