Looking to experience the best trail running Bend Oregon has to offer? Lace up your shoes and let’s hit these epic Bend trail runs.
The dry and sunny climate of the high desert combine with easy access to nearby outdoor areas to make central Oregon a trail running heaven.
Whether you’re pushing miles in the backcountry or cruising to pick up your morning coffee, there are a variety of trails for running in Bend that suit your style.
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.
We’ll also cover the most popular Bend Oregon trail races if you enjoy the benefits of organized events.
Let’s gear up and 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 running trail near Bend mentioned in this article. We’ll go into more detail on each option in the following sections.
| Trail / Location | Distance From Downtown | Summary |
| Deschutes River Trail | Variable | A series of individual sections of trail along the Deschutes River. Almost always flat. Mostly natural but some urban sections in town. |
| Shevlin Park | 5 miles | Flat, forested, and creek-side trails in a beautiful park close to Bend. |
| Riley Ranch Nature Reserve | 5 miles | Fairly flat gravel trails great for running. Up to 7 miles one way. A few loop options. |
| Green Lakes | 25 miles | A moderate slope to beautiful alpine lakes with mountain views. 9 miles out and back. |
| Smith Rock State Park | 26 miles | Epic rock formations. Beautiful landscape views. Tons of running trail options. |
| Six Lakes Trail | 34 miles | A relatively flat trail connecting a string of mountain lakes. Mostly forested. Great for a hot summer day. |
| Paulina Lake Loop Trail | 39 miles | A mostly flat, 7-mile loop around Paulina Lake. Great views of Paulina Peak. |
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
Looking for something close to town? We’ve got you covered.
Deschutes River Trail – Accessible and Beautiful
The Deschutes River Trail follows the iconic Deschutes River and is made up of several independent sections within Bend and outside of the town.
The most urban section is the Old Mill Reach, which starts in the Old Mill District.
This part of the Deschutes River Trail is a great way to see some unique Bend spots such as people floating the Deschutes River and surfing the river wave.
For a more natural experience, there are sections of the Deschutes River Trail upstream (southwest) of Bend and downstream (north) of Bend.
To the southwest, check out trailheads like the Meadow Day Use Area, Lava Island trailhead, Big Eddy Trailhead, and more. There is a continuous trail that connects all of these trailheads.
To the north, check out Tumalo State Park and Riley Ranch Nature Reserve, two great places to access natural sections of the Deschutes River Trail.
Learn more in our full guide to the Deschutes River Trail.
Shevlin Park – Forested Running Trails Near Bend
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.
Local tip: Shevlin Park is one of the best places to see the leaves turning colors during fall in Bend.
Riley Ranch Nature Reserve – Flat and Open Trails
Riley Ranch Nature Reserve is a 184-acre protected natural area just north of Bend. There are a variety of trails suitable for running.
The trails are wide, flat, and ideal for trail running in Bend Oregon. 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
If you are able to commit to a bit further drive, you have tons of great options for trail running near Bend Oregon.
Green Lakes Trail – Alpine Lakes with Mountain Views
Green Lakes Trail is moderately difficult and very beautiful out-and-back hike near Bend with up-close mountain views of South Sister and Broken Top.
The trail is about 9 miles total and has 1,200 feet of elevation gain. It’s about 4.5 miles uphill and the same distance downhill. There are a few steeper parts.
Starting at the Green Lakes/Soda Creek Trailhead (located about 35 minutes from Bend) and ending at the scenic Green Lakes, this trail follows Fall Creek most of the way and also has some small waterfalls.
Overall, this is a solid moderate hike near Bend that provides a great mix of creek-side trail, alpine lakes, and mountain views.
There is typically no or little snow on this trail between July and October. You do need to get a Central Oregon Cascades Permit.
Local tip: To make this a 12.5-mile loop, take the Broken Top Trail to the Soda Creek Trail to the parking lot. Here’s the route on All Trails.
Smith Rock State Park – Stunning Rock Formations
Smith Rock State Park is simply astounding. The impressive rock formations, incredible landscape views, and excellent running trails make us keep coming back.
Though Smith Rock is primarily known as a rock-climbing destination, there are so many great hiking and running trails to take advantage of.
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 Burma Road loop, which is the longest loop around the park.
This trail has steep sections but is mostly fairly gradual 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 – Flat and Forested Trail with Lakes
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!
The table below shows the approximate distances of each lake from the Six Lakes Trailhead.
| Lake | Distance from Trailhead |
| Blow Lake | 1 Mile |
| Doris Lake | 2.5 Miles |
| Senoj Lake (a bit off trail) | 4 Miles |
| Cliff Lake | 7 miles |
| Porky Lake | 8 MIles |
| Mink Lake | 9 Miles |
Also, you do not need a day use permit, which is required at some nearby trails.
Overall, the mellow grade, pleasant forest, and pretty lakes makes this one of the best places for trail running near Bend.
Keep in mind: Like most areas near lakes in central Oregon, mosquitos can be bad here, especially in late spring and early summer.
Paulina Lake Loop Trail – Flat Trail Around a Large 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).
Park at Paulina Falls or at Little Crater Day Use Site for your run.
Local tip: Don’t pass up an easy 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.
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, it’s 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 | More info |
| Bend Marathon | Marathon, Half, 10k, 5k | Learn More |
| Salmon Run | Half, 10k, 5k | Learn More |
| Happy Girls Bend | Half, 10k, 5k | Learn More |
| Conquer the Canyon | Half, 10k, 5k | Learn More |
| Haulin Aspen | Marathon, Half, 6.5 mile | Learn More |
| Kids Races | 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 trail running.
Trail running in 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 visiting Bend, you might be interested in the best things to do in Bend.
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!
Also, subscribe to our YouTube and follow us on Instagram for more inspiration for exploring the PNW. Happy roaming!
