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Set on a high juniper plateau with the Cascade peaks lined up on the western horizon, Redmond is the gateway to some of Central Oregon's most dramatic rock country. The town grew up after 1910 around irrigation canals and the railroad, and today it is one of the fastest-growing communities east of the mountains, home to the region's main airport at Roberts Field.
The headline sight sits just north of town: Smith Rock State Park, whose orange cliffs above the Crooked River helped launch American sport climbing. Closer in, the Dry Canyon Trail runs straight through the middle of Redmond, and the Redmond Caves let you scramble into lava tubes a few minutes from the terminal. Downtown, Centennial Park hosts summer concerts and markets, and each August the Deschutes County Fair fills the Expo Center.
Short drives lead to the Crooked River Gorge at Peter Skene Ogden viewpoint, the waterfalls of the Deschutes at Cline Falls and Steelhead Falls, and the quirky Petersen Rock Garden. Bend, Sisters and the high Cascades are all within half an hour.
About half an hour north of Redmond, Lake Billy Chinook fills three deep canyons where the Crooked, Deschutes and Metolius rivers meet, ringed by layered basalt cliffs. The park has a marina with houseboat and boat rentals, swimming areas, campgrounds and the Tam-a-lau Trail up to a rim viewpoint. Summer weekends get busy.
A small day-use park on the Deschutes River west of Redmond, with shady lawns, picnic tables and a river access spot below a series of low falls and rapids. Anglers try for trout along the banks. It is a quick, free stop on the way to Sisters and works well for a lunch break.
A small downtown square with a lawn, splash fountain and covered stage that hosts summer concerts, festivals and farmers markets. Cafes, brewpubs and local shops line the surrounding blocks of Sixth Street. Kids love the fountain on warm days, and it is a central meeting point for downtown events.
A cluster of lava tube caves on public land beside the airport, formed when molten basalt drained out from under a cooled crust. Short paths lead to several entrances you can walk or crawl into. Bring a headlamp, sturdy shoes and a jacket, since it stays cool inside even when the desert is hot.
A short trail near Crooked River Ranch drops through juniper and rimrock to a wide waterfall on the Deschutes River framed by canyon walls. Swimmers use the pool below on hot days. The access road is gravel, the hike back up is steep in places, and the site is busiest on summer afternoons.
A paved path follows a long basalt canyon that cuts through the heart of Redmond, linking Sam Johnson Park, playgrounds, a dog park and picnic spots. Walls of rimrock shade the trail in the morning. It is easy for strollers and bikes and makes a pleasant evening walk close to the shops of downtown.
Public land west of Redmond with a large network of trails among old junipers and volcanic buttes, used by hikers, mountain bikers and horse riders. The trails at Maston on the Deschutes rim give wide Cascade views. Signs mark which routes are for which users, and there is little shade in summer.
A rest stop on US 97 north of Terrebonne overlooking the sheer Crooked River Gorge, spanned side by side by a highway bridge, an old arch bridge now open to walkers and a railroad bridge. Step out onto the old bridge for the dizzying view straight down. Keep pets leashed near the rim.
A folk-art garden built from the 1930s by farmer Rasmus Petersen, who covered several acres with miniature castles, bridges and buildings made of local agate, obsidian and petrified wood. Ponds and strutting peacocks add to the odd charm. Call ahead or check hours before driving out, as they vary by season.
The large fairgrounds on Redmond's south side host the Deschutes County Fair and Rodeo each summer, with livestock barns, carnival rides, concerts and rodeo nights. Year-round it holds horse shows, home shows and other gatherings. Buy fair tickets online in advance and use the shuttle parking on busy evenings.
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