Bend, Oregon, on the eastern slopes of the Central Oregon Cascade mountain range, is home to a current estimate of more than 99,000 residents. A large percentage of those who move to Bend come for the year-round outdoor activities as well as the thriving beer and food scene. Professional triathletes like Linsey Corbin, Heather Jackson, Jesse Thomas, world class runners such as Max King and Mario Mendoza, and top cyclists and gravel riders Chris Horner, Matt Lieto and Carl Decker all live or train in Bend because of its attractive climate, natural beauty, abundant network of trails, and miles of open tarmac and gravel.
Whether a novice or professional, there are events for everyone in Bend. Starting in January, snow-sport enthusiasts can hit the slopes at and around Mt. Bachelor for snowboarding and alpine competitions, or snowshoe and nordic ski races. Only 20 minutes from town, Mt. Bachelor and the surrounding Deschutes National Forest and Three Sisters Wilderness offer year-round adventures for hikers, mountain bikers, skiers, snowshoers and backcountry skiers.
Bend plays host to a plethora of festivals and events throughout the year. The First Friday Art Walk takes place year-round in Downtown Bend. Each February, the Old Mill District hosts Oregon WinterFest, which features events ranging from ice sculpture carving to competitive snow sports. Open air markets pop up in several neighborhoods during the summer, and an impressive number of outdoor activities from trail runs, mountain bike races, gravel rides and rock climbing events fill out the months from Memorial Day through October.
Since 1976, the Pole Pedal Paddle has been a fixture in spring. The quintessential Bend event occurs May 18, 2024, and epitomizes what the area has to offer. Participants (teams, pairs, individuals) start at Mt. Bachelor and race down a slalom course on soft, spring snow followed by a quick transition to Nordic skis for an 8K course on the Mt. Bachelor trails. After the Nordic leg, participants hop onto bikes and pedal downhill 23 miles from Bachelor to Riverbend Park on the Deschutes River. Finally, a five-mile run along the river, followed by a paddle (stand-up, kayak, canoe) with and against the current on the river as it winds through the Old Mill, and a .25-mile sprint to the finish line in the Les Schwab Amphitheatre makes the beer from local breweries all the more refreshing at the end.
Trail running is immensely popular and the Horse Butte 10-Miler in April, the Footzone Dirty Half in June, the Haulin' Aspen Trail Run in August and Three Sisters Skyline in September are some favorite races off the pavement and through the woods.