Moderate Hikes up to 5 miles in and around Bend

If you’ve already crushed the beginner list of hikes and you’re ready to climb higher and travel farther, these hikes are for you. They are listed roughly in order of difficulty. Hikes range from 1.6-5.2 miles in length, with 480’ to 1560’ feet of elevation gain. This is a great way to start including some elevation gain on your hikes and transition into training to climb a mountain. And hey, if you’re doing this hiking thing on the regular, may I suggest buying some William Sullivan books? They’re an essential resource for any hiker! I recommend starting with “100 Hikes in the Central Oregon Cascades.” Hiking tips:

 Carry the ten essentials on every hike.  Watch the weather forecast and be prepared for the worst case scenario.  Take rest breaks and hike more slowly when traveling uphill, especially in the heat!  Practice Leave No Trace Principles when exploring public lands (see lnt.org for more information)  Do your homework: know which trails you need to follow, what parking passes are required and what seasonal conditions you may encounter.

Trail Miles Elevation Information Date gain completed 1.6 480’ In Bend. Take the Nature Trail to the summit. Great views of Bend. Sections of moderate to steep trail. Take the Pilot Butte Challenge in late September each year! https://www.outdoorproject.com/adventures/oregon/hikes/pilot-butte- summit-trail Bessie Butte 1.5 500’ 15 min. from Bend. It’s like taking Pilot Butte and moving it outside of town. Get the same experience but without the crowds. https://www.theoutbound.com/oregon/hiking/hiking-bessie-butte Chimney Rock 2.6 520’ 1 hr. from Bend. Nice hike to an overlook above the Crooked River. Pack a picnic or a fishing pole and spend the day on the river. https://www.outdoorproject.com/adventures/oregon/hikes/chimney- rock-trail

Trail Miles Elevation Information Date gain completed Misery Ridge Loop 3.8 1000’ 45 min. from Bend .Visit Smith Rock! Hike up Misery Ridge and down the backside with great views of Monkey Face. State park pass or day use fee $5. Extremely popular on weekends, especially spring and fall. http://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Misery_Ridge_Loop_Hike Mt. Scott 4.5 1230’ 2 hr. from Bend. Combine with other hikes on a trip to National Park. Great hike to a viewpoint of the entire lake. Open summer to early fall. $30 park entrance fee or America the Beautiful Pass. https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7009111/mount-scott-trail Tumalo Mountain 3.8 1400’ 30 min. from Bend. The official Bendite training mountain! Slog straight uphill all the way to the top. Snow-covered through the winter. NW Forest Pass or Sno-Park pass required. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/tumalo-mountain Paulina Peak 4.4 1460’ 1 hr. from Bend. Hike to the top of Newberry Caldera with panoramic views. Some steep sections! Day use fee. Access late spring to fall. https://www.outdoorproject.com/adventures/oregon/hikes/paulina-peak- hiking-trail 4.4 1560’ 1 hr. from Bend. Hike up this short but steep trail to one of the best views in Central Oregon. NW Forest Pass required. Snow-free late spring through fall. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/black-butte-trail Little Belknap 5.2 1100’ 1+ hr. from Bend. Hike through a lava flow to reach a rocky summit with Crater caves to explore. Very exposed to weather. Open early summer to fall. https://www.outdoorproject.com/adventures/oregon/hikes/little- belknap-crater

Visit JessBFit.com or email [email protected] to learn more about training for hiking.