Bend, Oregon Daycations: Day Trips for Curious Families

Give the high desert a fair chance to work its magic, and it surely will. The desert is one of the last best Oregon surprises for many people. Even those who are sure there’s nothing out there but sagebrush and sand often find themselves abashed by the experience of a desert journey. I’ve seen it happen many times. The wide-open skies, expansive vistas and clarifying austerity dig their way into your psyche. A great place to immerse yourself in the whole Oregon desert experience is Summer Lake. It’s just a couple of hours south of Bend, off of Highway 31 in a region known as Oregon’s Outback. This trip will reveal petroglyphs, hot springs, dive bars and more before it’s through. I suggest stocking up on road food, water and the like before you leave town. It’s pretty remote out here, which is why it’s wonderful but also makes it unpredictable in terms of services. I also recommend packing an overnight bag—this day trip is a whole lot better if you make it a two-day trip. And don’t forget your swimsuit! Travel south out of Bend on Highway 97. South of LaPine, Highway 31 tracks southeast into the desert. Immediately about now, the remoteness of the journey you are embarking on becomes apparent. The road travels through miles of pine forest before emerging into the sagebrush covered high desert, punctuated with rimrock and the occasional ranch homestead. You’ll pass Fort Rock and zoom through the small town of Silver Lake, noting the small rural town basics as you pass them: store, church, bar, restaurant, cemetery. Soon enough you’ll climb over Picture Rock Pass, the high point between the Silver Lake and Summer Lake valleys, on the north end of Winter Rim. Make your first day trip stop here at the top of the pass for an awesome cultural find. On the south side of the highway right at the flat top of the summit are petroglyphs carved into the rocks.