Tumalo State Park
Tumalo State Park is a wonderful recreation area only 4 miles NW of Bend. Here you can camp, swim, fish, and hike. Don't confuse this with the hike called Tumalo Falls, which is in a totally different place, but also near Bend.
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Tumalo State Park is right on the Deschutes River which is lined with reeds and beautiful red bushes, as well as large Ponderosa Pines.
There is only one trail that goes up and down the river, so you can't miss it. The main parking is by the designated recreation area, across the road from the campground. The trail that goes down river starts at the campground and the trail that goes up river starts at the recreation area. Hiking down river is a very dusty and open trail that goes for about two miles. There is little shade here, but on this side you have better access to slow river water where you could easily take a swim in the summer. |
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(gorgeous dried flowers lined the trail)
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The trail that goes upstream is very beautiful and a little more rugged. This particular section of the trail goes into a canyon with high bluffs on either side of the river. Because of the rocky nature of this portion of the trail, the lower part of the trail is much more traveled.
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The river here is about 15-25 feet wide, and in the summer, especially during low snow years, it can get pretty low. The big rocks and bushes at the river's edge allows for excellent fishing here!
The different layers and textures of foliage in this area are so beautiful. The river is very blue-green, the bushes right at the river's edge are very red in the winter time, and then some bare silver trees with huge red pines behind, along with the rocks just create the most beautiful pictures. If you are wanting to do some nature photography and are taking a tripod and therefor cannot hike very far, this is the place to go.
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The trail is mostly very easy, until about 1.5 miles in it disappears into a large area of boulders. This is difficult if you are not used to bouldering, or have the right shoes. Be careful here, and do not do this part with small children. There are large gaps between some of the boulders that you could fall into as a small person, or your leg could easily get caught if you're not careful.
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The trail continues for another .75 miles after the rock area and then it dead ends in some large bushes. Tumalo State Park got the OK from landowners to continue the trail a few miles further and have it end at a place where you can park, so you can eventually hike the whole thing. This will hopefully happen within the next few years.
This area is very dry and even in winter the trail was dusty. Along the river's edge in the winter, there are really neat ice formations hanging onto the bushes above the water. With the sun shining on them, they looked like crystal baubles. It is breathtaking!
This area is very dry and even in winter the trail was dusty. Along the river's edge in the winter, there are really neat ice formations hanging onto the bushes above the water. With the sun shining on them, they looked like crystal baubles. It is breathtaking!
If you are wanting to do a short but beautiful hike, do some nature photography or do some river swimming in the summer time, Tumalo State Park is the place to go. This State Park is small, but totally worth going to especially during the off season when there aren't as many people, but it's just as beautiful. The 4 mile hike along the Deschutes river, is easy and for every age and experience level (this means stopping at the boulders). I highly recommend this park and the hike.
Directions: From the heart of Bend drive 6.5 miles on McKenzie-Bend Hwy 20 towards Sisters until you see the sign for Tumalo State Park. Here you will turn left onto Old Bend Redmond Hwy and take an almost immediate right onto O.B. Riley Rd. This road winds for about a mile until you see the campground on your left and across the bridge you'll see the recreation area on your right.
You will need your Annual Northwest Forest Pass, or pay $5 for parking if you don't have one.
You will need your Annual Northwest Forest Pass, or pay $5 for parking if you don't have one.
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*All pictures are taken by Franziska Weinheimer
*Disclaimer: the trail descriptions, mileage, GPS tracks and difficulty ratings depicted on this website are never 100% accurate. Always hike at your own risk, using your own knowledge, equipment and common sense.
Franziska Weinheimer/Hike Oregon are not responsible if you or anyone in your party gets injured or lost while attempting one of these or any other hikes.
Franziska Weinheimer/Hike Oregon are not responsible if you or anyone in your party gets injured or lost while attempting one of these or any other hikes.