As springtime approaches, here’s a question I’m seeing a lot: What is March like in Bend? Allow me to share how you might experience it from the comfort of your home.

Go preheat your oven. Then open your freezer and stick your head inside. Get yourself nice and chilled, then head for the oven and crawl inside. Hang out ‘til you’re nice and toasty, then return to the freezer and—

Okay, um. Maybe don’t do that. And I promise the real thing is 187653% better, for the record.

March in Bend is a wild ride of snowshoeing and SUPing, of hiking with microspikes or maybe skiing in short sleeves under bluebird skies. Maybe you’ll mountain bike or ice skate or kayak or snowboard. Why not do all four in one day? 

You kinda never know what you’ll get with March in Bend. One one thing that’s certain? There’s tons to do when March marches in with her zany weather and so much to see, do, and experience.

Prepare for Winter PrideFest

Around the globe, most folks celebrate Pride Month in June, but we do things differently in Bend. Don’t get me wrong––we still do regular June Pride celebrations, but March is for Winter PrideFest. This celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community is sponsored by OUT Central Oregon and combines a love of the outdoors with a celebration of inclusivity.

The 2025 PrideFest event is slated for March 6-9 and includes a huge host of events like dance parties, comedy night, a Wigs skating party, group ski rides, nighttime snowshoeing, and SO. MANY. PARTIES.

To scope out the schedule, find lodging deals, and book your trip, go here.

Who’s ready for spring break?

This is my first official year as an empty nester, and even sans kids, I’m keeping close tabs on spring break dates. Why? Because it’s worth knowing when families flock to Bend, making it trickier to score restaurant reservations, uncrowded trails, and cheap deals.

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.

It can take some legwork and patience to book during peak times like spring break. Take it from this tired mom who used to forget all the time, then got saved by someone else’s eleventh-hour cancellation. Be persistent, be patient, and be really freakin’ excited when you finally do find the perfect Bend spring break spot.

Now prepare for the best spring vacation EVAH. Check this post for more info on why you should spend spring break in Bend.

We promise you’ll never get bored

What I love best about spring in Bend is the humongous array of options for outdoor adventure. The hardest part? Deciding which Bend itinerary to try first.

Spend your morning shredding slopes at Mt. Bachelor, then head downhill for a winter hike, followed by a mountain bike ride in the desert east of town.

Go wild in one of Bachelor’s Woodward Mountain progressive terrain parks for the first few hours of the day, then take a twirl on a Bend ice skating rink before setting out for a moonlight snowshoe adventure with Wanderlust Tours.

How about a sled dog ride at Mt. Bachelor, then regular ol’ inner tube sledding at Wanoga, then a sunset hike up Pilot Butte?

Or what about a morning of cross country skiing from the Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center, some snowy fat bike riding with CogWild in the afternoon, and then a sunset round of disc golf?

If the smaller size of Hoodoo Ski Area is more your speed, they’ve got a few options not on the docket at Mt. Bachelor. Hit the Autobahn Tubing Park for a few spins down the slope, then do a little Nordic skiing on their trails. Cap it off with a bit of night skiing to squeeze the most from your day.

For the brave souls seeking something different, start with snowboarding for the first half of your day. Then hit the Bend Whitewater Park (brr!) to surf some waves before visiting a local skatepark for the ultimate three-sport adventure.

Hoof it around town

I love walking more than just about anything (though sometimes I call it “hiking” just to sound fit). Near the tail end of winter, I start to get grumpy about donning twelve layers to walk my dog or needing microspikes for icy trails. Then March shows up with her milder weather and sunnier skies and I get jazzed all over again for walking my way around Bend.

Hoof it between breweries on the Bend Ale Trail this March and earn prizes for each territory you check off. 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. 

To skip the beer scene while scoring scenic in-town strolling, explore Bend’s endless urban trail system. That link will show you tons of trails requiring minimal drive time to reach, and many are paved and ADA-friendly. 

Try the Old Mill stretch of the river trail for river views, tons of wildlife, and a chance to cap off your hike with lunch 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 or enjoy 184-dog-free acres with a walk at Riley Ranch Nature Reserve. There’s also a great length of trail ambling alongside the river from Tumalo State Park to the edge of Riley Ranch. That trail is dog friendly if your pup’s on a leash, but keep in mind you’ll need to halt right at the Riley Ranch entrance, since dogs aren’t allowed in the Nature Reserve.

If getting out of town feels more your speed, most of the hikes in this post make great picks for March. Just remember that despite warmer temps and that extra spring in your step, high-elevation trails off the Cascade Lakes Highway won’t be snow-free and accessible for another month or two. Also remember to stay safe by telling someone where you’re going, and packing the 10 essentials anytime you set out for a hike.

Look for birds and blooms

Before you start dreaming of bright, luscious blooms, let me set your expectations for wildflowers in Bend: They look a lot different and show up much later than you might be used to. 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 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 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. 

Swing by the Bend Visitor Center to grab maps and a free birdwatching guide, including the Deschutes River Corridor Birding Checklist. Then train your eagle eye on the skies, trees, and riverbanks to spot some sweet local wildlife.

Time to get ready for summer

If you’ve vacationed in Bend in May, June, July, August, or September, you know it’s a much different place than it is the rest of the year. 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.

Now get out there and enjoy springtime in Bend!