Bend - the Old Mill District

This 1.7 mile walk goes along both sides of the Deschutes River. It starts at Bend's Old Mill District and goes north to Columbia Park, returning on the opposite of the river to the starting point. This walk is in the urban area of the City of Bend, but also includes some natural areas, and the scenic beauty of the river shines throughout. The walk is on level terrain. This walk is part of a longer 6-mile walk along the river described very well here.

This walk begins at the Old Mill District. There is plenty of parking available in the shopping center. This upscale commercial district was, as you can probably guess from the name, once a paper mill. Actually, originally two paper mills - the Shevlin-Hixon Mill and the Brooks-Scanlon Mill. Activity began on this site in 1916, soon after the Great Northern Railroad reached town and Bend began its boom years processing pine logs from the once abundant forests in the vicinity. By 1983 the mills were closed, and after a decade of decay the site was reclaimed for its current use. The three large smokestacks of the most prominent of the old mill buildings now adorn an REI store. No better symbol of Bend's transformation from mill town to outdoor recreation hub can be found.

Go to the riverfront walkway to the left of the shopping areas. The rest of the walk follows the banks of the Deschutes River, with a few detours onto paralleling streets. If the weather is decent there is a good chance you will see canoers, kayakers, rafters, inner tube floaters, and others enjoying the cold waters.

Continue north on the trail. You will see this warning sign indicating that you are entering private property and that permission to entry can be revoked at any time. Some lawyer was undoubtedly paid a lot of money to advise the landowner to put up these signs, ensuring that the public did not ever acquire what is known as a "prescriptive easement" to use the pathway. But clearly the landowner has no thoughts of actually cutting off access - it is undoubtedly good for business - or would be very bad for business, if the property owner became known around Bend as the person who cut the riverfront trail in two!

Continuing on the riverfront trail, you will come to the Colorado Street Bridge over the Deschutes, and, immediately downstream, Colorado Dam. Unless the river is high you can actually go under the Colorado Street bridge adjacent to the river - otherwise go up to the street crossing to the right. Colorado Dam was constructed in 1915 to create a pool for the Shevlin-Hixon and Brooks-Scanlon mills upstream, and is actually owned by the owner of the Old Mill Shopping Center.

Once beyond the dam continue north along the river. As you near the entrance to Miller's Landing park you will see this osprey nest along the river.

Continue through Miller's Landing Park, which was recently acquired for use as a riverfront recreation area. At the north end of the park, where the trail ends, continue straight ahead on Riverfront Street. To your right at the north end of the park is this very shabby and very interesting old garage-like structure.

Go one block north on Riverfront Street until you see this pathway to the left. Going between houses on either side, you will come to a pedestrian bridge over the Deschutes River.

The bridge goes to Columbia Park on the west bank. The views from the bridge, both upstream and downstream, are bucolic and inviting.

After crossing the river follow the trail up the hill to Columbia Park, which includes a nice children's play area. Whenever there is as fork in the trail, go to the left. You will cross the park and exit on its south side onto Allen Road. Go left on Allen.

Walk for two blocks along Allen Road. At that point you will see a trail to the left leading back to the river. Take the trail, and you will come to this stairway, with a great view of the river and the opposite bank.

Go down the stairway and walk through the park. For part of the walk you can either use the sidewalk on Shevlin Hixon Drive or walk on the grass along the river. If you've brought a dog and a ball along (and your dog is a good swimmer) you have some fun like these folks.

Continue along McKay Park. Soon you will be viewing the Colorado Dam again from the opposite shore. The dam is currently being retrofitted for easier passage by both recreational users (who must portage around it now) and fish. The project, which sounds quite complex, is described in more detail here.

After viewing Colorado Dam head along the path away from the river back to Shevlin-Hixon Drive and turn left. go under the Colorado Avenue overpass and continue on the sidewalk. At Simpson Avenue keep left and continue on Shevlin-Hixon. Soon on your left you will see the Les Schwab Amphitheater. This ten-year old venue features summer outdoor concerts and other events, in a great setting along the Deschutes.

With the amphitheater on your left you will eventually get to this left turn onto a pathway along the back side of the concert venue. Follow the path, which will take you back to the Deschutes River. Where the path meets the river turn right and continue along the Deschutes.

When you come to the pedestrian bridge turn left and head over the bridge back to the Old Mill District shopping area. This bridge is part of the extensive redevelopment of this area from its previous use as a lumber mill, which also required extensive remediation of "brownfields," lands polluted by prior industrial activity. The flags along this bridge add a splash of color and a suitable end to this scenic walk.