Central Oregon is a world-renowned mecca for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers, with year round access to mountains, rivers, hiking and mountain biking trails, champion golf courses and more. Living less then 30 minutes away from any one of these activities, Redmond residents enjoy a true life-work balance that gets them outside every day.
Rock Climbing
Redmond has one of the world’s best rock-climbing destinations right in our own backyard – Smith Rock State Park. With more than 1,800 climbing routes, Smith is legendary in the climbing world and is a premier rock climbing destination.
Hiking
Whether hiking locally or venturing into the Cascade Mountains (Three Sisters, Broken Top, Mt. Bachelor, Three-Finger Jack, Mt. Washington and Mt. Jefferson) only 60 miles away, trail lovers have a lifetime of exploration in the region. Redmond locals particularly love discovering Smith Rock State Park’s 651 acres. Situated on the banks of the Crooked River, Smith Rock boasts unique geological formations, wildlife, breathtaking vistas, and miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Watching world-class climbers scale the dramatic fins of rock is also a favorite past time.
Fishing
Anglers have endless opportunities in the rivers, lakes and streams only 30-60 minutes from downtown Redmond. The Deschutes River and the Crooked River offer tremendous trout fishing, as does Lake Billy Chinook where there is a confluence of three major rivers: Metolius, the Crooked and the Deschutes. Lake Billy Chinook also offers an abundance of water sports including waterskiing, wakeboarding, and multi-day houseboat rentals.
Dry Canyon Park
Our very own “Central Park,” Redmond's Dry Canyon and Dry Canyon Trail successfully melds geological features and naturally preserved high desert landscapes with modern recreational amenities to create a city park unlike any other in Central Oregon. The Dry Canyon cuts for more than three miles through the Center of Redmond, throughout the way offering recreational amenities as well as traditional park services for picnicking, including a pavilion, benches, picnic tables, and water fountains. The Dry Canyon is also home to Sam Johnson Park, a family friendly park which features “Hope Playground” a fully accessible kid’s park offering an experience unlike anywhere else. Features include a fully padded ground floor, two kid’s zip-lines, a custom climbing wall modeled after “Smith Rock”, a merry-go-round and several other climbing and riding experiences.
Camping
Locally, you can find camping at the Smith Rock State Park bivouac area as well as many other spots all within 30 minutes of downtown. Deschutes National Forest and the Cascade Mountains are less than an hour away.
Golfing
Local favorites include Eagle Crest’s three distinctive courses and Juniper Golf Course. Golfers can also explore over 30 spectacular world class courses within an hour of Redmond.
Mountain Biking
Central Oregon is known internationally for its mountain biking trails and active biking community. From Redmond, biking enthusiasts head to Smith Rock, Gray Butte, and Cline Butte (Maston) for intermediate to advanced trails woven throughout the high desert volcanic landscape. The scenic views from these areas are truly spectacular, and some of the best spots in Central Oregon. The newest trail system Radlands, on the North side of Redmond is within the Redmond city limits.
Skiing/Snowboarding
Redmond skiers and snowboarders can choose from several mountains for their winter adventures. Mt. Bachelor is only 35 miles south of Redmond, and features downhill skiing, snowboarding, telemark and cross country skiing, skate skiing, snowshoeing, tubing and more. HooDoo, located at the top of Santiam Pass, is just 40 minutes west of Redmond and offers more than 800 acres of terrain, five chair lifts, 34 runs, and night skiing. To the north, Mt. Hood boasts 6 ski resorts and diverse terrain from beginner to expert.