7 Days: High Desert Loop from Bend
This road trip threads together Central Oregon's raw geology and outdoor culture. You'll climb lava flows, swim in pristine lakes, and sleep in small towns where mountain culture still thrives—all within a day's drive of Bend.
What to expect
- Hike the rim trail at Crater Lake, the deepest freshwater lake in the US
- Drive the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway past cinder cones and lava tubes
- Explore the John Day Fossil Beds' painted canyon walls and petrified forests
- Camp at Wallowa Lake with views of the Wallowa Mountains, the 'Swiss Alps of Oregon'
- Stop in Pendleton to tour the Underground City and historic murals
Day by day
Leave Bend early on Highway 97 South, stop at Newberry Volcanic Monument to walk the obsidian flow.
Drive to Crater Lake National Park (2 hours total). Take the Rim Trail for views of the lake and Wizard Island.
Stay in Klamath Falls; dinner at Cravings Restaurant for farm-to-table fare.
Complete a section of the Crater Lake Rim Drive; stop at Discovery Point and Phantom Ship overlook.
Hike down to Cleetwood Cove (2.5 miles round trip) for the only lake access; water is 45°F but swimmable.
Return to Klamath Falls; relax at Running Y Ranch Resort or camp nearby.
Drive north to the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (2 hours); explore Painted Hills' layered rock formations.
Hike the Trail of Time through 40 million years of geology; visit the nearby Clarno Unit for fossils and formations.
Stay in John Day; dinner at Aquarius Tavern with local craft beer.
Drive northeast through the Blue Mountains on Highway 7, stopping at scenic pullouts above forested canyons.
Arrive at Wallowa Lake; rent a kayak or paddleboard on the glacial-fed water with mountain reflection.
Camp at Wallowa Lake State Park or stay in Joseph; explore the art galleries in this quirky mountain town.
Hike to Mirror Lake (6 miles round trip) from Wallowa Lake trailhead; pass through subalpine forest to crystal-clear lake.
Return and drive to Pendleton (1.5 hours west); tour the Pendleton Round-Up Hall of Fame and historic saloons.
Stay in Pendleton; dinner at Hamley's Steakhouse in the old general store building.
Drive south through Malheur National Forest on scenic byway; stop at Seneca Lake for a short walk.
Explore the ghost town of Sumpter; pan for gold or visit the Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge historic site.
Stay in Baker City; stroll Main Street for 1890s architecture and gold-rush history.
Drive west to Burnt River viewpoint, then south on Highway 395 past open rangeland and volcanic cones.
Stop at Strawberry Lake or Yellowjacket Lake for a final alpine swim and picnic.
Arrive back in Bend by early evening; farewell dinner at Jackalope Restaurant.
Palcation builds the whole plan in seconds: flights, stays, food and a day-by-day itinerary you can share and budget.
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