Accessible adventure in Bend

The best part of Bend’s outdoors? People of different abilities can enjoy rivers, trails, and bike paths thanks to adaptive gear, exciting programs, and improved access to stunning adventures. Whether you’re hiking along the Deschutes River, gliding down Mt. Bachelor with Oregon Adaptive Sports, or joining a guided outing with Wanderlust Tours, you can connect with nature in safe, inclusive, and empowering ways. Use this guide to jumpstart your next adventure.

Hiking

Accessible trails around Bend unlock some of the area’s most stunning scenery. In town, Alpenglow Park has 2.2 miles of ADA-friendly paved paths winding through high desert landscape. At Riley Ranch, gravel paths lead to overlooks of the Deschutes River canyon. And sections of the Deschutes River Trail serve up smooth stretches right along the water. Just outside of town, Lava Lands Visitor Center offers paved paths through ancient lava flows. And at Sparks Lake, the Ray Atkeson Trail provides a short paved route through alpine forest and lava fields, leading to sweeping views of South Sister and Broken Top.

AdvenChair & Wanderlust Tours

The AdvenChair, designed in Bend, is a lightweight, off-road wheelchair built for terrain most wheelchairs can’t navigate. Wanderlust Tours brings the AdvenChair to life with their AdvenTours series, leading guided outings to places like the Deschutes River Trail, Smith Rock State Park, and Fort Rock for stargazing. Their naturalist guides mix in stories about local geology, plants, and wildlife, turning each trip into a shared adventure that is both fun and welcoming. With Wanderlust and the AdvenChair, some of Central Oregon’s most iconic landscapes are open to more explorers than ever.

River + lake access

Slide into Bend’s rivers and lakes. At Miller’s Landing Park, new ramps and launches make it easier for everyone to get on the water, including a “zero-access” ramp that brings wheelchair users right to water level, plus a roller launch for easy boat transfers. Riverbend and Farewell Bend Parks add paved paths and river put-ins designed for smoother access. Shevlin Park offers a fishing dock with level decking and railing cutouts, so casting from shore works for all abilities. And just up the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, Sparks Lake pairs paved trails and picnic areas with unbeatable views of South Sister and Broken Top.

Adaptive trails + bikes

From riverside paths to singletrack for adaptive bikes, Bend’s trail system dishes up plenty of ways to roll. Favorites include the Deschutes River Trail, Larkspur Trail, and Shevlin Park, with a mix of paved, gravel, and hard-packed surfaces. For those after more technical terrain, Phil’s Trailhead and Big Sky Bike Park deliver classic Central Oregon singletrack. Oregon Adaptive Sports (OAS) helps riders with regular events and a fleet of adaptive bikes built for dirt, gravel, and pavement. Central Oregon Trail Alliance now builds every trail with adaptive riders in mind, making Bend’s system more welcoming each season.

Adaptive skiing

Mt. Bachelor keeps the winter stoke alive for all abilities. Oregon Adaptive Sports (OAS) brings the mountain within reach with sit-skis, sliders, adaptive snowboards, and Nordic gear. Experienced instructors and a robust team of dedicated volunteers make the mountain accessible to all. Whether it’s your very first run or your fiftieth, OAS programs are built to boost confidence and independence on snow. Off the slopes you’ll find  accessible parking, restrooms, and lodge spaces.

Oregon Adaptive Sports

Oregon Adaptive Sports began in 1996, when a group of Bend locals set out to open the slopes to more people. What started with a few ski lessons at Mt. Bachelor has grown into a year-round nonprofit offering everything from winter skiing, snowboarding, and Nordic to summer cycling, mountain biking, and golf.

Programs are tailored to each participant. For some, that means linking those first ski turns; for others, it’s tackling singletrack on an adaptive bike or taking a swing under bluebird skies. With adaptive gear, personal instruction, and a crew of dedicated volunteers, OAS is about building confidence, independence, and joy in the outdoors.

OAS also believes cost should never be a barrier. The group offers scholarships and financial assistance for lessons and equipment. Every year, hundreds of athletes of all ages get outside through OAS, gaining skills, boosting confidence, and building a sense of community that lasts long after the adventure ends.