Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Time & Mileage
Oregon boasts 363 miles of coastline, all publicly accessible. Expect your adventure to
take at least one to two weeks, depending on stops.
Oregon Cascades Scenic Byway
This trip epitomizes Oregon's outdoors aesthetic. It's perfect for the road-tripper who
wants to hike for hours, find hidden waterfalls, swim in crystal-clear lakes, see endless
miles of forest - and, at the end of the day, strip down to soak in a natural hot spring.
Why Go
The Oregon Cascades are a nonstop parade of forests, lakes, mountains and waterfalls.
Start in Bend, the most outdoor-focused city in the state. Now head north to cute Sisters,
with its mild Wild West atmosphere.
You'll climb to Dee Wright Observatory, a unique viewpoint that looks over lava
fields and to mountain peaks. Not far away is pretty Proxy Falls, an easy 1.3-mile hike.
Further on, highly developed Belknap Hot Springs makes a great stop to soak away road
sores.
McKenzie Bridge is a magnet for fishers, but there's great hiking and white-water raft-
ing too. Just south lies scenic Terwilliger Hot Springs, a much more rustic alternative to
Belknap. To the south is Oakridge, Oregon's mountain-biking mecca, with hundreds of
miles of glorious single-track trails. Beyond is another soaker, McCredie Hot Springs,
along with Salt Creek Falls, Oregon's second-highest waterfall (after Multnomah Falls)
at 286ft.
Now come the lakes - Waldo, Odell, Crescent, Davis, Lava, Elk, Sparks - and reser-
voirs like Wickiup and Crane Prairie. If you like to fish, swim, boat and camp, this re-
gion is your paradise. Finally, loop back to Bend and back to civilization.
When to Go
Go June through September for the best weather and to avoid seasonal road closures.
The Route
From Bend you'll head north to Sisters, then climb up Hwy 242 through the Cascades to-
ward McKenzie Bridge and Oakridge. The loop then heads southeast via various lakes
and reservoirs toward Mt Bachelor, then back to Bend.
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