7 Oregon adventures I’ll do to make 2026 unforgettable
February 2, 2026
5 minute readAs springtime approaches, here’s a question that’s asked a lot: What is March like in Bend?
It can be a bit of a wild ride, but in the best way. Feel like snowshoeing and SUPing on the same day? Or how about taking a hike up Pilot Butte State Park in a T-shirt, followed by an evening glide at the ice rink. Maybe you’ll mountain bike, fly fish, or snowboard. Why not just do it all?
You kinda never know what you’ll get with March in Bend. But one thing that’s certain, there’s tons to do when March rolls in with its shifting weather and so much to see, do, and experience.
5 must-dos in Bend in March
- Laugh your tail off at Winter PrideFest Comedy Night. Snag a seat at the Tower Theatre and prepare for seriously funny, can’t-believe-they-just-said-that comedy.
- Take it back a decade (or three). Bowl a few frames at Lava Lanes, rent a movie at Blockbuster, and hit up Pac-Man at Vector Volcano Classic Arcade.
- Go for a hike in the Oregon Badlands Wilderness and keep an eye out for the first wildflowers of spring.
- Spend St. Patrick’s Day with an “Irish Rambling House.” The Tower Theatre will host Grammy-winning music, fast-footed Irish dance, and plenty of toe-tapping.
- Chase winter one more time at the Subaru WinterFest, March 27–29. Mt. Bachelor’s West Village Lodge will have live music, free swag, snacks, and dog-friendly fun. Then catch the free evening concerts—Shakey Graves!—at Deschutes Brewery Tasting Room.
Prepare for Winter PrideFest
Around the globe, Pride Month takes place in June, but here in Bend, we add another season and reason to celebrate. March 5-8, 2026, is Winter PrideFest, where love of the outdoors and inclusivity show up big and bold all weekend long.
OUT Central Oregon sponsors this celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community and includes a huge host of events like dance parties with DJs, a comedy night at the Tower Theater, drag shows, group ski rides at Mt. Bachelor, and SO. MANY. PARTIES!
To scope out the schedule, find lodging deals, and book your trip, check out the Winter PrideFest website.
Who’s ready for spring break?
If March in Bend had a slogan, it might be something like the choose-all-the-adventures month. And with a lighter snowpack this year, it’s the perfect time to mix what you can squeeze out of winter with those early hits of spring.
Grab the kids, and start the day on the slopes at Mt. Bachelor with a ski lesson or sled dog tour, then trade in snow boots for sneakers for a dry hiking trail at Shevlin Park. Or skip the snow and soak up some sunshine (or more snow, because spring sometimes can’t make up its mind) with playgrounds, river walks, and GoKarts.
When you need an indoor break, Bend’s got you covered. Jump for joy while bouncing off the walls at Trampoline Zone, or right next door, race each other on the indoor GoKart track at K1 Speed Bend. If you want to wear the kids out under one roof, head to Sun Mountain Fun Center for laser tag, mini golf, bumper cars, or a round of bowling. If that doesn’t do it, I’m not sure what will.
For a nostalgia detour that the parents might like the best, head to the last remaining Blockbuster on the planet. You can still rent DVDs or just grab that iconic blue-and-yellow t-shirt to prove you were there.
For fun that just happens to teach you something, explore wildlife exhibits and hands-on history at the High Desert Museum. It’s a solid half-day plan that works for toddlers, teens, and grown-ups who secretly love otters. Check out the interactive volcanoes exhibit set to a nostalgic ‘80s vibe
When the sun makes an appearance, pack a picnic from Wild Petals Provisions or Newport Market and head to Columbia Park. There’s a pirate ship playground, horseshoe pits, and room to spread out along the Deschutes River.
Or rent bikes from Wheel Fun Rentals and cruise along the Deschutes River Trail for an everyone-can-keep-up ride. Pedal past river views, through the Old Mill District and downtown, then be sure to reward yourselves with a post-ride scoop (or two) from Bonta Gelato. Roasted strawberry? Peanut butter and fudge? No wrong answers here.
Spring break hotel rooms in Bend can be tough to come by during the second-to-last week of March, but don’t panic if you haven’t made plans. Early March is a good time to watch for cancellations and last-minute openings at your favorite Bend hotel or vacation rental. Scope out our lodging pages for ideas on Bend’s best spring break lodging.
Now prepare for the best spring vacation ever. Check this post for more info on why you should spend spring break in Bend.
How to spend your Bend spring break savings
Despite Bend’s spring break popularity, March in general remains one of the more affordable times to visit. Hotel rooms on average cost $118 a night versus more than $210 come summer. Here’s what you could do with $184 in savings on a two-night stay in March instead of July.
- Stay a third night and take everyone to lunch at Stacks Deli for giant sandwiches after wandering the shops at the Old Mill District.
- Take the whole family to the High Desert Museum to see a new, whimsical, interactive volcanoes exhibit, stay for lunch at the cafe, then buy 15 pounds of gelato at Bonta.
- Book a tour through the Rhode Island–size lava lands of Newberry National Volcanic Monument with Wanderlust Tours.
- Order a hot honey pepperoni pizza every day for 8 days from Pizza Kitchen Window.
- Pay for all of your gas, round trip, on a trip from Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Boise, and anywhere in between, with plenty of money left over for snacks.
Go Green for St. Patrick’s Day
If your spring break lines up with St. Patrick’s Day weekend, congratulations, you just picked a festive time to be in Bend this March.
Earn that green beer at the St. Patrick’s Day Dash on March 14. Runners and walkers might show up in head-to-toe green, shamrocks, tutus, and the occasional leprechaun hat, then take off along the Deschutes River for a 5K, 10K, or a 1.5 mile family-friendly run. Even if you’re not lacing up, there’s a live string band, Irish dancers, face painting, food, and of course, Irish beers at the finish line. Be sure to register online in advance.
Nothing pairs better with St. Patrick’s Day than comfort food and a proper pint. At Emerald Loop Irish Pub, order the shepherd’s pie, or if your celebrations are starting early, a corned beef benedict on Irish soda bread. And because it’s 5:30 somewhere, pair it with a Guinness or Jameson.
In downtown Bend, head to McMenamins Old St. Francis School, which typically rolls out traditional corned beef and cabbage alongside house-brewed ales. Deschutes Brewery Public House is a great stop for fish and chips with a dark and delicious Black Butte Porter. And The Cellar pours out cask-conditioned pints that go oh so well with their handmade meat pies, like the cottage or chicken curry pie.
If green is your color, then wear it proudly at the Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl, which takes place on March 14 from 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. at over six venues, including UPP Liquids, Silver Moon, and Bend Brewing Co. There are prizes, drink specials and a DJ-fueled after party. It’s festive, it’s boisterous, and it’s committed to the color green. Grab your tickets online in advance.
Hoof it around town
To score some scenic in-town strolling, explore Bend’s endless urban trail system. There are miles of trails requiring minimal drive time to reach, and many are paved and ADA-friendly.
Try the in-town stretch of the Deschutes River Trail for river views, birds, and a chance to cap off your walk with lunch at Pho 88 or Stacks Dinner and Delicatessen in the Old Mill District. To enjoy a quieter stretch of the Deschutes, hit the trail from Pioneer Park to Sawyer Park, which ambles along the west side of the river and passes the picturesque First Street Rapids.
Pine Nursery’s wide, paved pathways provide room for families to spread out with strollers and bikes. If your dog is along for the vacation, they’ll love the massive off-leash dog park where they can run, fetch, and pee on everything. Or if you’re just not that into Fido, enjoy 184 dog-free acres with a walk at Riley Ranch Nature Reserve. There’s also a delightful length of trail following alongside the river from Tumalo State Park to the edge of Riley Ranch.
If all that fresh air and trail time leaves you thirsty, the Bend Ale Trail is your next move. Spend March hopping between breweries, checking off stops on your passport as you go. Try something new, revisit an old favorite, argue (politely) over hazy IPA versus a clear West Coast IPA. When your passport’s looking nicely filled in, swing by the Bend Visitor Center to claim your well-earned prizes. Consider it a trophy for your dedicated beer “research.” If you’re on a budget or not much of a beer fan, don’t worry! There’s no purchase required, plus tons of Bend breweries now offer non-alcoholic beer.
Look for birds and blooms
Before you start dreaming of bright, luscious blooms, let’s set the expectations for wildflowers in Bend: They look a lot different and show up much later than you might think. But there’s magic in the tiny desert wildflowers sprouting through soft sand and lava rock near the end of each March.
Whether you’re hoofing it up Pilot Butte or roaming the Oregon Badlands Wilderness, keep an eye out for little colorful blooms like bitterroot blossom, sand lilies, and dime-sized goldfields, which are often the first blooms of the season. This post from our friends at Deschutes Land Trust offers a lovely glimpse of what local wildflowers look like and how to spot them.
March also makes for great birdwatching around Central Oregon. We’ve got nine established birding trails like the Deschutes River Trail, Shevlin Park, and Hatfield Lakes, with more than 500 species of feathered friends. From bald eagles to yellow-headed blackbirds to the western meadowlark (Oregon’s state bird), there’s a menagerie of chirpy entertainment right outside your Bend hotel or vacation rental.
Time to get ready for summer
If you’ve vacationed in Bend anytime from May to September, you know it’s a much different place. Peak season’s popular for a reason, and if you want to see Bend in the summer, it pays to plan ahead.
First, reserve your Bend lodging pronto. Lots of spots book up a year or more in advance. Now’s the best time to get a jump on your Bend summer vacation.
Even some activities like whitewater rafting and Cascade Lakes canoe tours can fill up early for peak holiday periods, so it pays to plan ahead. And don’t forget to scan the Bend concert calendar and snap up tickets for shows at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater.
Frequently asked questions about Bend in March
Variable. You might get sunshine and 60 degrees one day, snow flurries the next. Pack layers, maybe some sunscreen and check road conditions on Tripcheck.
Typically, yes. March sees snow up high at Mt. Bachelor, cold in the mornings, with softer spring conditions by afternoon. In fact, as spring matures, the skiing at Bachelor gets better and better. Think sunny slopes and awesome corn snow, that silky, soft layer of forgiving, carvable snow that forms atop a hard frozen layer—the next best thing after bottomless powder!
Bend has unique desert soils that go through a freeze-thaw cycle in the spring. Riding them while wet and muddy causes long-term damage that is very difficult to repair. If you encounter mud, turn around and find a different place to ride (or go out for lunch, instead). That said, not all places are equally affected. Try Horse Ridge, Maston, and the new network at Cline Buttes and Cascade View. Check conditions at Bend Trails before you ride.
The High Desert Museum has unveiled its newest exhibit, Under Pressure, a whimsical look at the volcanoes and forces that have shaped our region, all set to a playful ‘80s vibe. You can also watch raptors take flight with an indoor “Sky Hunters” birds-of-prey demonstration, giggle at the playful river otters, and head outside to play on a new playscape structure that includes a giant pinecone.
Yes, while the road directly to the falls is closed for the season, you can still reach it on a 5-mile round-trip ski, snowshoe, or hike, depending on conditions. The gate typically reopens in mid-May. Good news is, March means fewer crowds at the falls.
Not fully. The road seasonally closes for the winter beyond Mt. Bachelor and typically reopens in late May, depending on the snowpack.
