Sunriver Trails

Recreation Nature’s Aquatic Adventures Await

Grab your paddle board, kayak, fly fishing rod and canoe and venture to one of the many lakes and rivers near Sunriver.

If you are new to the area, start at the Sunriver Resort’s commercial Marina for a canoe, kayak, paddle board or raft float. Pack a few snacks, drinks, lifejackets and suntan lotion for the six-mile float, ending at a takeout before the Benham Falls Day Use Area. A shuttle will bring you back to the Marina. The public and Resort guests must rent equipment from the Marina to utilize the shuttle service.

The Sunriver Owners Association (SROA) owns a private launch and parking area next to the Marina. Access to this facility is restricted to Sunriver owners and their guests. Only those with updated Member Preference and Recreation Plus access cards issued by SROA can use this facility.

Starting at Harper Bridge and ending at the Marina is another popular option for guests and residents in Sunriver. Other public launching sites include La Pine State Park, Big River and Besson Day Use Area. Please note that there are no public access points within Sunriver proper.

If you need to rent river and lake-floating equipment, visit Sunriver Sports, 4 Seasons Recreational Outfitters and Sunriver Toy House Rentals. All three places have knowledgeable staff members who can provide you with where to go and take out, float times and shuttle information.

A thrilling whitewater rafting adventure awaits you on the Upper Deschutes, McKenzie, North Umpqua or Lower Deschutes river. Contact Sun Country Raft Tours to arrange your whitewater rafting trip that varies from half-day to all-day and high desert scenery to mossy forests. They generally offer trips May through September and encourage people to make reservation early.

Elk Lake, Devils Lake, Sparks Lake, Hosmer Lake, Lava Lake and Todd Lake are a few of the nearby Cascade Mountain lakes that offer incredible views of Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top and South Sister.

Access to these lakes and others is along the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway, a 66-mile historic highway. Highway 40 from Sunriver takes you to the Byway either directly or by turning off at Highway 45.

Wanderlust Tours offers interpreted, guided canoe and kayak tours of the Cascade Lakes. Day, evening and moonlight tours are available as well as transportation starting in Sunriver for families or a large group.

Located in the caldera in Newberry National Volcanic Monument, East Lake and Paulina Lake offer a dramatic setting for a paddling adventure. Paulina Lake is also popular for fishing and pleasure boating, and you’ll find Paulina Lodge on its shores. To get to the monument and the two lakes, follow Highway 97 south from Sunriver and turn east on Road 21 just before you get to La Pine.

The Paulina Plunge downhill mountain bike ride and waterfall tour is another favorite for locals and visitors. Participants ride downhill for six miles on forest trails, while stopping at various points to descend into the Paulina Creek canyon to splash and play in natural waterslides and plunge pools.

For any river or lake adventure in the Sunriver area, remember that water temperatures can be cold even in August. A quick dunk may feel good for a few moments, but hypothermia is a real concern for anyone who can’t get out of the water. Life vests, safe boating practices, appropriate clothing, food and drinking water, sunscreen and knowing in advance the distance and float times are all an important part of fun on the water. sunriverstyle.com/riveradventures bendpaddletrailalliance.org

WHERE TO RENT

4 Seasons Recreational Outfitters 541-593-2255 www.4sro.com Good2Go 541-593-0339 floatationnation.com Sunriver Sports 541-593-8369 www.sunriversports.com Sunriver Marina Opens in May each year 541-593-3492 Sunriver Toy House Rentals 541-647-4433 www.sunrivertoyhousetoys.com Village Bike & Ski 541-593-2453 www.villagebikeandski.com

Hiking Trails

Deciding what hiking trail to take is the greatest challenge faced by hikers visiting and living in Central Oregon.

Sunriver is an incredible jump off place to explore nearby trails and those a short drive away. Alpine lakes, majestic Ponderosa pines, breathtaking waterfalls, volcanic vistas and incredible mountain views await beginning to advanced hikers.

HIKING CHECKLIST

Before you venture to a hiking trail, 1. Check the weather. It can be sunny in Sunriver, and snowing ten miles up the road. Weather can be unpredictable in Central Oregon so it’s important to always be prepared before heading out. 2. Pack a backpack with snacks, water, First Aid kit, extra clothes and socks and a flashlight. 3. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. 4. Pick up a season or day pass. Before you head to a hiking trail, make sure you have a recreational pass. Visit recreation.gov/pass for passes to Oregon’s central Cascade Mountains. The U.S. Forest Service will require permits starting May 28 for some of the most popular trails in the Mount Jefferson, Three Sisters and Mount Washington wilderness areas. 5. Talk to the locals. Stop by any of the recreational stores in The Village to ask questions about hiking trails. The Sunriver Hiking Club explores Central Oregon Trails and can be reached at sunriverhikingclub@gmail.com.

EASY SUNRIVER HIKES

With more than 34 miles of paved paths, a hike in Sunriver will take you alongside the Deschutes River, past golf greens and among towering pine trees. Stroll across the Cardinal Landing Bridge, near Circle 5, to the new Sunriver Trails. While designed for mountain biking, the trails are open to hikers and trail runners. You’ll find a variety of terrain that leads to dramatic viewpoints while surrounded by a magnificent Ponderosa Pine forest. (See the map of the Sunriver Trails on pages 28-29.)

The Sun-Lava Trail, a 5.5-mile paved bike path, connects the Sunriver Resort with the Lava Lands Visitor Center. The trailhead is near Circle 7 at the north end of Sunriver. Nearby is the trailhead for the Deschutes River Trail, a dirt trail that meanders through the woods for a couple miles before coming out on the banks of the Deschutes River. Keep going and this trail can take you all the way to Bend, passing Benham, Dillon and Lava Island waterfalls along the way.

HIKES NEAR SUNRIVER

The Newberry National Volcanic Monument in the Deschutes National Forest, with its diversity of geologic features, offers a variety of nearby walking and hiking opportunities. The area is the epicenter of the cataclysmic eruption that formed many of the Bend area’s notable geologic features. Today, the Newberry Caldera remains a hotbed of geothermal activity as evidenced by the multiple hot springs found around the area.

Starting at Lava Lands Visitors Center, you can enjoy interpretive walks through the Monument’s massive ancient lava flow, then take a short and vigorous hike up Lava Butte. At the Newberry Caldera, located southeast of Sunriver, there are even more trails ready to be explored, from short interpretive walks to the 21-mile Crater Rim Trail to an easy pathway out to Paulina Falls.

Other moderate day hikes a short drive from Sunriver include the Tumalo Falls Loop, Soda Creek Trail, Todd Lake, and Fall River Falls.

Sunriver also provides convenient access to the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway. Starting in Sunriver and ending in Bend, the scenic drive offers beautiful scenery as it circles Mt. Bachelor. Along the way, hikers can take a walk around one of the many mountain lakes. You’ll also find rustic resorts equipped with convenience stores and/or restaurants as well as overnight cabins for rent.

Serious hikers can leave their cars at trailheads along the highway and enjoy a more rugged backcountry experience in the nearby Three Sisters Wilderness Area. If the mountains are calling your name, try the South Sister Trail, Broken Top, Green Lakes, Moraine Lakes, South Sister and Crater Ditch Trails.

Hiking in the Wilderness requires filling out a Wilderness permit before entry and remember group sizes are limited to 12 people. The Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway is closed during the winter and usually does not open until Memorial Day weekend.

To learn more about all of the local trails in the Deschutes National Forest, go to fs.usda.gov/main/Deschutes.