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Family-Friendly Hikes near Bend

11 routes near Bend qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 3.0 km and 66 m (217 ft) of ascent.

That is 65 percent of the 17 routes we map near Bend. They are shorter than the local average, 3.0 km against 10.6 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 66 m (217 ft) against 234 m (768 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Family routes here are short, gently graded and interesting enough to keep younger legs moving. Every one is under seven kilometres with limited climbing. Most of these are on the gentler end, which makes the list a good starting point if you are new to the area.

Trails

Easy

High Desert Trail

Oregon · United States

Distance
4.0 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
89 m
Typical duration
58 min
  • Desert
Easy

Alpine Trail

Oregon · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
46 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Alpine meadow
Easy

Castle Trail

Oregon · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
40 m
Typical duration
26 min
  • Castle and ruins
Easy

Ancient Juniper Trail

Oregon · United States

Distance
3.1 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
68 m
Typical duration
45 min
Easy

Basalt Trail

Oregon · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
21 m
Typical duration
14 min
Easy

Base Trail

Oregon · United States

Distance
3.6 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
80 m
Typical duration
52 min
Easy

Homestead Trail

Oregon · United States

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
76 m
Typical duration
50 min
Easy

Reynolds Pond Trail

Oregon · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
24 m
Typical duration
16 min
Easy

Sand Trail

Oregon · United States

Distance
4.6 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
102 m
Typical duration
1 hr 7 min
Easy

Tumalo Creek Trail

Oregon · United States

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.1 mi
Elevation gain
73 m
Typical duration
48 min
  • River
Easy

Coyote Loop Tech

Oregon · United States

Distance
5.0 km
/ 3.1 mi
Elevation gain
109 m
Typical duration
1 hr 12 min

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
High Desert TrailOregon4.0 km89 m58 minEasyApril to October
Alpine TrailOregon2.1 km46 m30 minEasyApril to October
Castle TrailOregon1.8 km40 m26 minEasyApril to October
Ancient Juniper TrailOregon3.1 km68 m45 minEasyApril to October
Basalt TrailOregon0.9 km21 m14 minEasyApril to October
Base TrailOregon3.6 km80 m52 minEasyApril to October
Homestead TrailOregon3.5 km76 m50 minEasyApril to October
Reynolds Pond TrailOregon1.1 km24 m16 minEasyApril to October
Sand TrailOregon4.6 km102 m1 hr 7 minEasyApril to October
Tumalo Creek TrailOregon3.3 km73 m48 minEasyApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Alpine Trail, High Desert Trail, Castle Trail. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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