Adaptive adventures for every body

Bend, Oregon, is a place where diversity is always welcome, and the way you choose to experience it is as unique as you are. Whether you’re seeking hiking scenic trails in the Deschutes National Forest with a wheelchair or walker, biking our amazing trails on an adaptive bike, exploring the vibrant downtown with your registered service dog, or conquering the slopes of Mt. Bachelor on a mono-ski, we welcome you with open arms. Bend is working diligently to create an inclusive environment where everyone can enjoy its beauty, culture, and recreation. 

Accessible transportation options

When it comes to getting around Bend, there are a variety of options, from public transportation to ride-sharing services and accessible parking.

Bend’s public transit system, Cascade East Transit, provides barrier-free transportation along their fixed routes. All CET buses and vans are wheelchair and ADA-accessible, with features like lifts and a designated wheelchair securement area. Taxis and ride-sharing services may be able to offer accessible vehicle options upon request, depending on your needs.

When you’re out and about exploring downtown, there are 41 fully-accessible on-street parking spaces available, plus accessible sidewalks and crosswalks. In the Old Mill district, you’ll find accessible sidewalks and crosswalks, including curb cuts and crosswalk signals with audible and tactile features to help pedestrians with visual or hearing impairments.

Mobility-friendly lodging

Once you’re ready to unwind and rest, Bend has lodging options to suit your needs. The Oxford Hotel features accessible suites with roll-in showers, wide doors, lower key access, and many other convenient and essential features. The Riverhouse offers a few accessible guest rooms with lowered bed frames and shelves, visual strobe light alarms, and bathroom handrails. Last but certainly not least is the Campfire Hotel. They welcome service animals, provide affordable and fun accommodations, accessible paths and entrances, and even an available pool lift. Be sure to check with your hotel or Bend vacation rental in advance to ensure it meets your specific accessibility requirements.

Accessible things to do in Bend

Now that you’ve unpacked and successfully connected your phone to the hotel Wi-Fi, let’s explore the city and outdoor adventures.

If live music fuels your soul, head for the Hayden Homes Amphitheater for a magical outdoor summer concert experience. The front third of the amphitheater is flat concrete edged with ADA pathways between sections of synthetic turf. You’ll also find ADA seating in both reserved and general admission sections, and folks needing special assistance can contact concert hosts in advance of any show.

Across the river from the Hayden Homes Amphitheater is the Old Mill District. Here, you can enjoy a variety of activities, from shopping and dining to catching the latest blockbuster movie. The Old Mill’s smooth and wide sidewalks with curb cuts make it easier for everyone to get around. And if you’re seeking a touch of nature after all that urban fun, take a hike along the Deschutes River Trail right from the Old Mill. This section of the trail offers ADA accessibility, boasting smooth, paved, and level pathways. 

The best way to experience Central Oregon’s history, culture, and ecosystems is with a visit to the High Desert Museum. Encounter wildlife like river otters, birds of prey, and even porcupines. Engage in lively conversations with historical characters who regale you with tales of Oregon’s early homesteaders. And learn about the history of indigenous cultures of Central Oregon through art, stories, and interactive programs.

A Bend staple since 1982, the High Desert Museum opens its doors (ADA accessible ones, of course!) to guests of all abilities. Between wheelchair-accessible trails and ramps into outdoor exhibits, they make it easy to scope out art, natural history, and an abundance of wildlife exhibits. They even have Brain Break Bags containing items of different textures, coloring pages, communication cards, noise-canceling headphones, and other tools designed to reduce anxiety and overstimulation.

Adaptive hikes and outdoor adventures

Ready to explore the great outdoors? Excellent! Bend boasts more than 80 parks, and several include barrier-free trails, playgrounds, parking, and restrooms. Bend Parks & Recreation is on a mission to ensure that parks, trails, and facility amenities are not just safe, but also welcoming and accessible to everyone. Here are a few favorites.

Alpenglow Park has a wheelchair-accessible swing and more than two miles of ADA accessible trails. For a park filled with wide-open spaces, try Pine Nursery with its accessible parking, open-air picnic shelter, pickleball courts, an accessible fishing dock, and 2.6 miles of relatively flat asphalt and multi-use paths. There’s also Riley Ranch Reserve, where a hard-packed gravel trail offers breathtaking glimpses of open meadows, forests, and wildlife galore.

Outside of Bend, you can also explore the breathtaking landscapes and outdoor spaces with accessible hiking trails. 

Newberry Crater National Monument, just north of Bend, boasts a vast volcanic wonderland spanning over 54,000 acres. Explore volcanoes, ancient lava flows, stunning lakes, and underground caverns, as well as a few barrier-free trails.

Starting at the Lava Lands Visitor Center, the Trail of the Molten Land takes you on a 1-mile loop that winds through a basalt lava flow, starting and ending at the base of Lava Butte. One-third of the trail is newly reconstructed and universally accessible, with smooth surfaces and gentle grades. The remaining two-thirds of the trail may be challenging for some people due to steeper grades and uneven surfaces. You can also take a shuttle bus to the top of Lava Butte for sweeping views of the surrounding volcanic landscape. The shuttle runs every 20 minutes and is wheelchair accessible. 

Another option is the Trail of the Whispering Pines. This short, paved interpretive trail highlights the high desert ecosystem. The quarter-mile loop is easy to follow and suitable for all ages and abilities. Picnic tables dot the path, so pack your favorite treats and enjoy lunch with a view.

Along the Cascade Lakes highway just west of Bend, you can journey through lava flows and lodgepole pine forests with stunning views of Sparks Lake and the Cascade Mountains along the Ray Atkeson Memorial Trail. The first half mile of the trail is paved or has natural dirt, is at least 4 feet wide, and is mostly gentle, making that section navigable for most individuals who use wheelchairs. There are two paved designated van-accessible parking spaces and a wheelchair accessible bathroom at the trailhead. There are also benches along the route for resting. 

If sleeping under the stars sounds like a stellar experience, here are some campgrounds around Bend with accessible campsites. Tumalo State Park is just four miles from Bend and is nestled along the beautiful Deschutes River. Here, there are four campsites and one yurt accessible to campers with disabilities as well as other features like parking, bathrooms, and flat trails. LaPine State Park is south of Bend and features hiking, fishing, and a quiet, shady campground with a handful of campsites and cabins that are accessible. You’ll also find ADA restrooms and showers, parking, and barrier-free trails. 

Ready to experience Central Oregon’s outdoor adventures with specialized gear that takes your exploration to the next level?

The folks at Oregon Adaptive Sports provide life-changing outdoor experiences for individuals with disabilities. OAS offers custom, group, and community-based programs for individuals of all ages with various disabilities to experience sports such as adaptive skiing, cycling, paddling, and mountain biking. OAS maintains state-of-the-art adaptive sports equipment and access to highly trained staff and volunteers to make the wonders of the outdoors in Central Oregon accessible to all!

For an outdoor tour, Bend-based Wanderlust Tours works with AdvenChair to make adventures more accessible with their specialty off-road wheelchairs. From hiking to canoeing, Wanderlust is your partner in exploring the great Bend outdoors. Be sure to contact them ahead of time for more information on trips and scheduling.

Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, it’s time to eat! Many of Bend’s restaurants work to ensure that their facilities are open to all. Individuals with mobility issues will find that restaurants often have ramps or step-free entrances, spacious interiors with well-spaced tables, and accessible restroom facilities. Be sure to check with the brewery, cafe, or eatery of choice in advance to ensure that it meets your specific accessibility requirements.

We invite you to embrace diversity and experience Bend in a way that uniquely suits you. From exploring accessible trails to enjoying live music, dining, and cultural attractions, Bend welcomes everyone with open arms.