Central Oregon

Central Oregon sits east of the Cascade Range in the dry rain shadow of the mountains, a high-desert plateau between 3,000 and 4,000 feet broken by volcanic peaks, lava fields, and the Deschutes River. The Three Sisters, Mount Bachelor, and Newberry Volcano define the western horizon; the rolling juniper and sage country stretches east toward the High Desert and the John Day country beyond. The region falls within Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties, with Bend as the main hub and smaller anchors at Sisters, Redmond, Madras, Prineville, and Sunriver. Newberry National Volcanic Monument covers the Newberry caldera and Lava Lands south of Bend; Smith Rock State Park draws climbers and hikers from across the country; Deschutes National Forest handles much of the public-land recreation. Trips here lean outdoor across the seasons. Mount Bachelor takes the winter ski traffic; the Cascade Lakes Highway opens late spring through fall for mountain hiking and paddling; the Deschutes River carries floaters through Bend itself in summer. Bend’s brewery scene and food culture have grown into the regional draw — a small mountain town that now anchors most multi-day visits.