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.

Downtown Bend

Bend, Oregon is an exciting place because it is the jumping off point for visiting the natural splendor of Central Oregon - hiking, skiing, river rafting, lake boating, camping, cycling, fishing - and much more. But the city itself has some interesting things to see and do as well. This short 1.4 mile walk will introduce you to the historic core of the community.

Downtown Bend is located to the west of Highway 97, along the east side of the Deschutes River. The old dreary route along State Route 97 north and south through town, or the new quick trip on the expressway that replaced it, do not show off the highlights of this great little city. From the expressway, follow the directional signs for downtown Bend to get to the start of this walk.




This walk starts at a juxtaposition of old and new. One on side of Wall Street is the Deschutes County Public Library, opened in 1998 as Bend was transforming from a small resource-industry community into the city we see today. A large "monumental" library building, especially one as attractive as this one is, shows a strong civic-mindedness regarding important cultural institutions. Take a walk around the library interior, especially the open and light-filled second floor.


In front of the library you'll find this playful sculpture illustrating one of the "natural resources" that is abundant in Central Oregon.

Across the street from the new public library on Wall Street are buildings from "Old Bend," the community that mushroomed from a tiny hamlet to a prosperous town with several large lumber mills. This occurred after the Great Northern and Union Pacific Railroads reached Bend in 1911, following the famous Deschutes River Railroad War. The building on the right is the Bend Amateur Athletic Club Building, completed in 1919, and operated by the Bend School District starting in 1923. While the indoor pool and bowling alley are gone, the building was otherwise renovated in 1998 and is operated by the Boys and Girls Club of Bend. The building on the left is the side of the original Bend High School, which you will see fully at the end of the walk.

Continue to the south on Wall Street, and as the road bends to the left you will see Bend's Trinity Episcopal Church straight ahead. This building is on the National Register of Historic Places, and was constructed in 1929. Note the door - all Episcopal Churches in the U.S. have traditionally welcomed parishioners and visitors with a front door painted red. In 2013 the building suffered an arson attack, which fortunately did not damage the front, but the structure is currently (April 2014) being reconstructed in the back, and parishioners are holding services in the St. Helens Parish Hall located right to the west of this building.

 Turn to the right as you face the church onto Idaho Avenue, and proceed west to Broadway, where the road turns into a pedestrian stairway down a short hill into the Drake Park historic neighborhood. Note the volcanic rock used to make the stairway - there's a lot of that particular building material lying around in the Bend area!

 The house to the left of the stairway pictured above is a beautiful 1 1/2 story brick bungalow craftsman structure, built in 1912.

At the bottom of the stairway, Idaho Avenue resumes. Turn right at Congress Street, but before you do so take a look at one of the largest of the houses in this historic neighborhood, the Georgian revival-style McCann home, constructed in 1916. The house is located to the left on Congress Street. As of Spring 2014 the home looks to be in need of some maintenance, including a good paint job.

Continue north on Congress Street. The next two blocks contain a number of beautiful historic homes, most built during Bend's first boom during the 1910's. This home, at 640 NW Congress St., is just one of them, a 2-story craftsman bungalow built in 1910. 

At the intersection of Congress and Louisiana, continue across Louisiana and then Riverside Drive, and you will be into Drake Park, which runs along the Deschutes River. This major waterway originates south of Bend and eventually empties into the Columbia over 100 miles to the north. After you cross the street walk over to the pathway that winds through the park, passing by a large antique log loader.

Continue to the right along the park pathway. After a few hundred feet you will see a parallel path right along the Deschutes River. Cross the grassy area to this pathway.

This part of the Deschutes has a small impoundment behind an old power dam to the north. The result is Mirror Pond, a signature view for Bend - especially on a clear day with a snowcapped North Sister in the background. The lake also gives its name to one of the better offerings from the local Deschutes Brewery, Mirror Pond Pale Ale. But the old power dam holding the water back is decrepit, and sediment has been building up behind the dam. So Mirror Pond may not be with us forever - enjoy the view while you can!

Continue up a stairway next to the river, and then continue up the pathway. Where it forks, go to the right, and you will be entering the downtown Bend commercial district.

To the right along Brooks Street, as seen here, is the Bend Brewing Company restaurant and brewpub. This smaller brewer produces a nice variety of beers, and the restaurant has an outdoor patio overlooking the Deschutes River.

Continue straight ahead through a narrow arcade, and you will find yourself back on Wall Street, one of downtown Bend's two major commercial thoroughfares. There are lots of restaurants and stores along here to explore, amongst the old "main street" style buildings. Turn left after leaving the arcade and go two blocks to Greenwood Avenue, where you will turn right. Proceed one block to Bond Street, Bend's other major commercial thoroughfare, and turn right. On the left side of the street is the Deschutes Brewery Public House, serving the beers of Bend's largest local brewer.

Continue down Bond Street, and notice that the older historic commercial buildings have quite a few new "neighbor" buildings housing retail establishments, offices, hotel rooms, and residences. Downtown Bend is a thriving place because people want to be there in an attractive locale with interesting things to do and see. It's an inspiration for other cities with old downtowns waiting to be revived and made the center of things again. Walk for three blocks on Bond Street and you will come to the McMenamin's Old St. Francis School on the left. This 1936 Catholic schoolhouse has been given the McMenamin's treatment, and now has restaurants, taverns, and a hotel. It's another great, lively place to be in downtown Bend.


After passing the St. Francis School, turn right on Lousiana Street. On the left side of the street is the monumental original Bend High School. This building, now on the National Register of Historic Places, was constructed in 1925 and served as a high school and then junior high school until 1979. It now houses the school district's administrative offices. Continue back one block on Louisiana Street to your starting point at the Bend Public Library.


Now that you've seen the urban side of Bend, go out and enjoy some of the great outdoor experiences of Central Oregon, including forest and mountain hikes.