October hits Bend like a parade for your senses. Trees toss confetti of bright orange and gold on a breeze laced with spice and frost-crisped grass. Mother Nature can tease us with temps in the seventies, then dash away laughing in a swirl of fresh snow.

As summer fades in our rearview mirror, October curls by the fire wearing wool socks with colorful fleece and sipping a chocolatey porter. Sounds cozy, right? It is and it’s glorious! Here are some of the best things to do, see, eat, and drink in Bend this October.

Mother Nature’s gone nuts

Have you ever watched a dog get the zoomies and go careening from place to place in a blur of barking glee, then collapse in a tail-wagging heap?

That’s October weather in Bend. 

The tenth month of the year brings a mixed bag of Bend temps. Some years, we’ll see 80-degree temps in those first couple weeks. Other years, we’ll get snow. Depending on where you roam, you might get both in one day if you’re bopping between higher elevations and activities in town.

Sticking to lower elevations means you can still spend October SUPing or kayaking on the Deschutes River, even if the high Cascade Lakes start seeing early snow flurries. 

If you’re visiting Bend in October, it pays to prepare for anything. Shorts and flip-flops? That might be just right. Sweaters and snow pants? You could need those, too. It’s common in October to find myself running both the heater and the air conditioning on the same day.

The key to navigating Bend’s October weather is packing plenty of layers and keeping a close eye on the weather report. If you’re venturing into the great outdoors, it’s more important than ever to pack the 10 essentials and let someone know where you’re going.

The upside to all this wonky weather? You get the best of both worlds with a little warmth, a little fall chill, and a whole ‘lotta scenic beauty.

Cheers to fall beers!

Just when I think Bend beer can’t get better than the start of fresh hop season in September, October elbows in and says, “hold my beer.”

There’s still fresh hop on tap at most breweries, with a mix of blink-and-you-miss-them specials and fresh hop versions of flagship beers. For some added fun, swing by the Bend Visitor Center for a Fresh Hop Bingo card that lets you earn a cool prize for sipping your way through the season. The cards are free and can guide you to the season’s best spots.

Bevel Brewing typically has some of my favorite fresh hop brews, with their Green Flag strata juicy IPA topping my list this year. It’s bright and hoppy and packed with fall freshness, or try State of Excitement, which is bursting with simcoe hops and available in four-packs. Another standout this season is Bend Brewing Company, which had a whopping FIVE fresh hop beers on their menu when I hit them at the tail end of September. My personal fave was their Fresh Hop Dream Team, which is a hoppy hazy overflowing with tropical flavors. 

Also worth a visit is Crux Fermentation Project, which always boasts some of Bend’s best fresh hop fare. Cheap Entertainment 2 features fresh mittelfruh hops and a light-bodied vibe for a fresh hop beer, or sample Straight Outta Harvest for an explosion of amarillo hops packed with pineapple, tangerine, and citrus. 

Pumpkin beer marks another seasonal milestone, and while it’s too soon to see everyone’s taplists, 10 Barrel always has one or two brews featuring your favorite gourd.

If beer-centric festivals are your jam, don’t miss Fresh Hops on the Pond happening at Bend Brewery from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on October 4. You’ll sample beers from more than 20 breweries while live music floats over Mirror Pond. 

Moving onward from fresh hops, don’t miss the third annual Smoked Beer Festival happening at Unofficial Logging Co. on October 26. This epic rauchbier fest features a wide range of brews made with smoked malts or other smoky ingredients. The event takes place from 1-5 p.m. and proceeds benefit the Oregon Volunteer Firefighters Association. 

If you’re sober curious or taking a break from boozy suds, tons of local breweries make non-alcoholic beers, including Bridge 99, Worthy, Sunriver Brewing, 10 Barrel, Deschutes Brewing, and Crux Fermentation project (currently cranking out No Mo Feeling Fresh—a fresh hop version of their popular n/a brew, No Mo).

Other taprooms will have similar seasonal treats as they roll out their fall offerings, so keep your eyes on the social media pages for all your favorite Bend Ale Trail breweries. Bonus: With your passport in hand or the free app added to your phone, you’ll be ready to roll when Bend Ale Trail Month arrives in November!

Get out your calendar

While I don’t generally advise planning your Bend vacation around special events, October’s a good month for making exceptions.

For starters, Bend Wine Month gives you great reasons to sip and swirl your way between Bend’s wine tasting rooms. Participating tasting rooms offer special pour prices and a chance to collect stamps for a prize. Grab maps at all participating wineries, then turn in your completed one for a Bend Wine Month Go-Vino and a chance to win a gift basket.

Another quintessential autumn event is the BendFilm Festival. This celebration of independent cinema always falls (pun intended) the second weekend in October and features exclusive screenings, discussions with directors, and plenty of parties. Get your tickets early and prepare for an incredible time enjoying what MovieMaker named “one of the 25 coolest film festivals in the world.”

For the granddaddy of fall festivals, head for Downtown Bend October 4-6 for Bend Fall Festival. This ultimate celebration of autumn includes arts and crafts, tons of great food, live music, family-friendly entertainment, and a new event called The Great Bark Bash. It takes everyone’s favorite Fall Festival tradition—Wiener dog races—and adds in more pup-centric competitions like the Running of the Bulldogs and the adorable Corgi Crush. There’s a race for every pooch and a prize for every snoot.

Seeking a sexier way to ring in the spooky season? Get thee to Seksé, Bend’s unique studio offering classes in dance, sculpt fitness, and (*scandalized gasp*) pole dancing. Most classes are beginner-friendly and a fun way to feel sexy, strong, and unstoppable. For a frisky fall treat, hit their Halloween Social and Showcase on October 26 from 6-9 p.m. The event includes member performances, a costume contest, pole and dance off, prizes, dancing, and drinks. It’s free for folks 21+ and a great option for a friends’ weekend or bachelorette party.

For more ideas on October events happening in Bend, check out our Event Calendar and start planning now!

Get ghosted in a good way

There’s no need to wait for October to head out with Bend Ghost Tours, but it feels extra spooky this time of year. Join them for a walking tour of Downtown Bend and hear tons of spooktacular stories torn from Bend’s history books. Even ghost skeptics will enjoy the chance to kick through fall leaves while you walk among Bend’s historic buildings hearing stories I swear make your neck start to tingle.

If you’re a fan of the annual ghost tours offered though the Deschutes Historical Museum for the past 14 years, I’ve got good news and bad. The bad news first: The 15th year will be the final one for the Historical Haunts of Downtown Bend walking tour. After this, they’re hanging up their bedsheets. But the good news? It’s happening October 11-12, 2024 for two special nights! Join the Deschutes Historical Society for a unique walking tour where local history meets paranormal mystery. Slots sell fast, so book ahead to be sure you nab a spot. 

Maybe ghosts aren’t your jam, but how about serial killers? Embrace your ax murdering alter ego at Unofficial Logging Company, where you’ll get personalized coaching to help you hurl hatchets at the bullseye until you’ve mastered the skill. With food and a full taplist, they’ll set you up for a sweet afternoon of bonding with friends as you hum the theme from your favorite Halloween slasher flick. Please note: Actual ax murderers or anyone feeling especially murdery, please steer clear.

Look at those leaves!

Between high altitude and our love of evergreens, Bend experiences fall a little differently than they do on the rainy side of Oregon. The dates to see the season’s brightest fall colors can swing wildly between September and October, but you’ll still catch some sort of show when visiting Bend in early-to-mid-October.

Take a drive through older neighborhoods in Northeast Bend or off Mt. Washington Drive where big leafy oaks and aspens explode in bright hues of gold and orange. You’ll see lots of bright colors on a basic stroll around Downtown Bend, but riverfront sweet spots are where the real action happens. Stroll Drake Park or Pioneer Park for explosions of orange and red at every turn in the trail, or head for Shevlin Park at the end of the season. That’s when you’ll see Shevlin’s trademark aspens and tamarack trees turning bright gold against the backdrop of evergreen beauty.

And there’s no time like now for enjoying the journey on a road trip to Bend. Keep your eyes peeled over Santiam Pass for pops of orange and yellow against stark black lava rock. If there’s time in your travel day, stop at Clear Lake for one of my favorite fall hikes. Speaking of which…

Fall hiking in Bend and beyond

As you’ve gathered by now, fall weather can vary when you’re visiting Bend in October. I’ve lived here since 1997, so I’ve seen everything from snow on October 1, to 90-degree SUPing days mid-month.

All that to say, take the following tips with a big grain of salt and a glance at a weather report.

If snow stays at bay, early October makes a fine time to trek trails off the Cascade Lakes Highway. It’s a great chance for a lap around Todd Lake, Sparks Lake, or Lucky Lake. October’s also awesome for nabbing a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit, and you won’t fight crowds on trails like Green Lakes or No Name this time of year. You could also wait until October 15 when the permit requirement drops, though there’s a gamble in that if the snow comes early. The bonus (for Fido, anyway) is that leash requirements drop in many Wilderness areas after Oct. 15.

I always squeeze in one last loop around Suttle Lake before the snow starts flying, and some of my favorite laps have been in October. I’m also obsessed with the loop around Paulina Lake this time of year, though keep in mind it’s on the longer side—a little over 8 miles. And I already mentioned Clear Lake, which is stunning this time of year with bright leaves and perfect, turquoise water.

For more ideas on great hiking in October, try this post on 10 fall loop hikes or this one on 12 short but sweet fall hikes.

Get ready for seasonal closures

Wonky fall weather makes it tough to predict when high-elevation attractions start shutting their gates for the season. But let’s talk in general here, knowing October’s when snow starts thwarting your plans at some upper elevations. 

The snow gate just past Mt. Bachelor on the Cascade Lakes Highway typically shuts for the season in the latter part of October (though in low snow years, it can hold out ‘til November). 

Same holds true for the seasonal gate closure on Paulina Lake Road starting at 10 Mile SnoPark. This one cuts off driving access to Newberry Caldera until spring, so you definitely want to squeeze in your last visit before snow flies. 

To keep tabs on the timing of these road closures and several others, follow the Deschutes National Forest on Facebook or X (formerly Twitter). If you don’t do social media, the Oregon Department of Transportation’s TripCheck site is another great resource for road closure info.

Winter weather also brings closures to some of our in-town attractions, including the ever-popular Pilot Butte summit road. You can still hike to the top any day of the year, but if you’re looking to drive it, you’d best fit it in before the end of October. November 1 is when it typically closes to cars, though that date can come earlier if we get a big dump of snow.

October’s also when Bend’s irrigation canals shut down for the season. I know some folks see these as glorified irrigation ditches, but if you’re fond of wandering beside one in northeast or southwest Bend, it’s worth working in a few final walks before your water feature goes to sleep for the season.

Feeling ready for fall? Let’s bust out our sweaters and cozy boots, friends. Welcome to October in Bend!