Summer

A bridge too crowded?

Some say the popular Deschutes put-in at Harper Bridge is an accident waiting to happen

August 3, 2012 4:00 am

Hot summer days bring crowds to Harper Bridge, just south of Sunriver on the Deschutes River, looking to cool off. Parking along Spring River Road, river users grab their flotation devices and haul....MORE

Sky watch

Use a planisphere to improve your night viewing

June 14, 2012 4:00 am

One of my favorite activities is viewing the night sky with the naked eye. It's cheap, fun for whole family, no need to travel too far, and no telescope or binoculars are needed. All you need is a....MORE

Day-use fees to be waived

May 31, 2012 4:00 am

Day-use fees will be waived at National Forest recreation sites Saturday and June 9. The fee waiver days are part of National Trails Day on June 2, and National Get Outdoors Day on June 9. National....MORE

The place to be

• Breitenbush retreat offers hikes, springs, wellness classes

May 24, 2012 4:00 am

In less than a two-hour drive from Bend, there's an otherworldly, enchanted forest where you can hike through big trees, eat delicious health food and soak in natural geothermal hot springs. The woods ....MORE

Drivers and putters of a different shape

• Disc golf at Pine Nursery in Bend is a leisurely excuse to enjoy some sunshine

May 17, 2012 4:00 am

Often when I write Outings, I have trouble deciding whether to label an outing easy, moderate or difficult. Some are easier than others depending on one's level of conditioning, essential supplies,....MORE

Outing

Dry place to play

Rails-to-trails conversion near Warm Springs is spacious, pretty route to enjoy the Deschutes River

March 29, 2012 4:00 am

It still amazes me how incredibly varied conditions can be in Central Oregon. Just last week, I wanted to take advantage of what looked to be the sole sunny day in the forecast to do some outdoor....MORE

Outing

Breathtaking trek

Cove Palisades State Park's Tam-a-lau Trail at Lake Billy Chinook is pretty, steep

February 2, 2012 4:00 am

On Saturday morning, when I stopped at my friend Jeremy Dickman's Bend home to pick him up for a hike on Tam-a-lau Trail at the Cove Palisades State Park, his preschool-aged stepson took one look at....MORE

Lessons in nature

Geology, geography together on the loop trail in Mountain Lakes Wilderness

September 8, 2011 4:00 am

Mountain Lakes Wilderness was one of Oregon's first wilderness areas, and at 36 square miles, remains one of the smallest. But its true claim to fame is being the only wilderness area in the U. S.....MORE

A stand-up adventure

Longer outings on lakes add another dimension to the growing sport of stand-up paddleboarding

August 26, 2011 4:00 am

ELK LAKE —Standing atop his board, Rick Guenther paddled slowly and quietly as the sun reflected brightly off the crystal-clear water. His young children laughed and splashed behind in their....MORE

Outing

Devil of a hike

‘Peakbagger' takes on 5 summits at Sky Lakes Traverse

August 11, 2011 4:00 am

I'll admit it. I'm a peakbagger. I like to collect summits like some people collect stamps or baseball cards. So when I learned about the Sky Lakes Traverse — an enchainment of five summits....MORE

Summer sports series

Kayaking

With rivers and lakes, Central Oregon is a great place to pick up the sport

July 5, 2011 4:00 am

Reporter's prelude: This past winter, I had so much fun trying out and writing about Central Oregon's popular snow sports that The Bulletin decided to bring back a similar series for this summer.....MORE

Ride the River shuttle starts June 17

June 2, 2011 4:00 am

The Ride the River shuttle, the popular transportation service for river floaters, will begin running June 17. The shuttle service will continue to run its seasonal route through Sept. 5, with more....MORE

Reminder: Permit required for paddle craft

May 27, 2011 4:00 am

Non-motorized boaters — including paddlers with canoes, kayaks or drift boats 10 feet or longer — now have to purchase a permit to support anti-invasive species programs. The Aquatic....MORE

A twenty-what?

Twenty-niners: What is it they’re good for?

May 27, 2011 4:00 am

In the lexicon of mountain bikers, terms like singlespeed, dual suspension, hardtail, fully rigid and travel (as in, “I have five inches of rear-suspension travel”) are common these days.....MORE

Safety on the Deschutes River

What to consider before you go

May 27, 2011 4:00 am

....MORE

Mountain bike trail guide

Smith Rock/ Gray Butte

More than a rock-climbing mecca, the area offers some unique riding trails — and more are on the way

May 27, 2011 4:00 am

Editor's note: Mountain Bike Trail Guide, by Bulletin outdoor writer Mark Morical, features various trails in Central Oregon and beyond. The trail guide appears in Adventure Sports on alternating....MORE

Mountain bike trail guide

McKenzie River

Riding the length of the scenic trail can be demanding, but it provides glimpses of old-growth forest, waterfalls

July 30, 2010 4:00 am

As I get older, I find riding my mountain bike for longer than three or four hours at a time is just not as enjoyable as it once was. I know, I know. All you hard-core off-road bikers will scoff at....MORE

Safety on the Deschutes River

What to consider before you go

June 19, 2010 4:00 am

....MORE

Ride the River Shuttle to begin June 18

June 16, 2010 4:00 am

A shuttle service that transports Deschutes river users will begin operating on June 18, according to a news release from the city of Bend. The shuttle, which primarily will transport floaters back....MORE

Bend Elks 2012 season preview

Baseball is back

• The Elks summer collegiate team returns to Bend for its 13th season, with plenty of talent on the roster

June 8, 2012 4:00 am

Now in its 13th year of existence, the Bend Elks have produced more than their fair share of highlights over the years. The club has cultivated major league players (Jacoby Ellsbury, Eric Sogard and....MORE

A bounty awaits

• Farmers markets return to Central Oregon

May 23, 2012 4:00 am

Juicy berries, crisp carrots, tangy tomatoes — the season of abundance is right around the corner. Fresh, luscious produce will soon be available at farmers markets across the region. Most....MORE

Birding can be pretty, easy

• Observe behavior of feathered friends at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve near Sisters

April 12, 2012 4:00 am

The bluebirds were by far my favorite. Perhaps that's because my birding skills are pretty rudimentary, and beginners are more likely to relate to birds by their color. To sharpen my skills, I joined....MORE

Hidden, but not far

April 5, 2012 4:00 am

Saturday morning, my wife and I shoved the essentials — kids, coats, hats, gloves, flashlights, headlamps, a bevy of batteries, tuna fish sandwiches, granola bars and guidebooks — into....MORE

OUTING

Sharp collectors

• Glass Buttes offers rockhounds an opportunity to collect obsidian

February 23, 2012 4:00 am

About 10 years ago, a friend and colleague who used to work at The Bulletin told me this hilarious, true story. She and her husband had visited Newberry National Volcanic Monument, home to Paulina....MORE

From the rim

• Get away from crowds at Newberry Crater's little-used rim trail at Newberry National Volcanic Monument

October 6, 2011 4:00 am

My criteria: an invigorating hike with quintessential Central Oregon views, and to be home before my kid's school day ends. My destination: The Cinder Hill viewpoint on the Newberry Crater Rim Trail.....MORE

Outing

Canoeing calmer waters

Paddling a more peaceful side of the Deschutes

September 1, 2011 4:00 am

Last week, I had a hankering to get back in the canoe — just the second time out this fleeting summer — so I enlisted the help of my music writing colleague, Ben Salmon. He was busy with....MORE

Outing

Procrastination vacation

Experience the biggest, wettest 90 seconds of your life at Deschutes River's Big Eddy

August 18, 2011 4:00 am

For her birthday late last month, my wife and I tried to rent a place in or near Newport, but our procrastination (OK, OK, my procrastination) and exacting criteria — enough rooms for five,....MORE

Plenty of color in Black Canyon

Wilderness area belies its name, sporting mild hiking, wildflowers

July 21, 2011 4:00 am

Sometimes names can be deceiving. When I read about a hike in the Black Canyon Wilderness, I envisioned a deep gorge with steep cliffs towering above, casting a rugged trail into an eerie darkness.....MORE

Summer sports series

Swimming

There are plenty of places to get wet on the High Desert

June 28, 2011 4:00 am

Reporter's prelude: This past winter, I had so much fun trying out and writing about Central Oregon's popular snow sports that The Bulletin decided to bring back a similar series for this summer.....MORE

River safety

Interactive feature: Avoiding hazards

May 27, 2011 4:00 am

This map is intended as a guide for swimmers, floaters and novice recreational boaters. They should not attempt to navigate features labeled as hazards. Some hazards may be appropriate for skilled....MORE

Mountain bike trail guide

Peterson Ridge

New trails make the network near Sisters a destination for mountain bikers of all levels

May 27, 2011 4:00 am

Editor’s note: Mountain Bike Trail Guide, by Bulletin outdoor writer Mark Morical, features various trails in Central Oregon and beyond. The trail guide appears in Adventure Sports on....MORE

Mountain bike trail guide

Horse Ridge

Spring is here, but this winter riding destination is a perfect way to start the season for Central Oregonians

May 27, 2011 4:00 am

Editor’s note: Mountain Bike Trail Guide, by Bulletin outdoor writer Mark Morical, features various trails in Central Oregon and beyond. The trail guide appears on alternating Fridays....MORE

Horse Butte

Trails southeast of Bend offer great spring riding and a glimpse at lava caves

May 27, 2011 4:00 am

Editor's note: Mountain Bike Trail Guide, by Bulletin outdoor writer Mark Morical, features various trails in Central Oregon and beyond. The trail guide appears in Adventure Sports on alternating....MORE

Time to leash dogs along the Deschutes

May 16, 2011 4:00 am

Summer leash laws for dogs along the Deschutes River are now in effect, according to a news release from the U. S. Forest Service. On hiking, biking and equestrian trails from Meadow Camp south to....MORE

Be waterproof

June 23, 2010 4:00 am

For many, summer in Central Oregon is all about getting out onto some water, be it river or lake. Whether you're getting ready to take a kayak out onto whitewater on the Deschutes River, loading up....MORE

River safety

Avoiding hazards

June 19, 2010 4:00 am

This map is intended as a guide for swimmers, floaters and novice recreational boaters. They should not attempt to navigate features labeled as hazards. Some hazards may be appropriate for skilled....MORE

Outing

Hello, wondrous forest; Hello, serene lake; Goodbye, worries

August 20, 2009 4:00 am

There’s a certain sense of permanence to the trees in a forest. Most of them have probably been there since before you were born, and most will be there after you die. Lean up against one and it’s as ....MORE