Sunscreen? Check. Float tube? Check. Bend hotel reservations? Check.
Appetite for sun-soaked days capped off by a farm-fresh dinner and a snuggly blanket of stars? Check, check, and helllllooo, friend! Welcome to August in Bend.
Bend’s warmest month brings a unique blend of magic. It’s scorching outside, but does anything feel as refreshing as a post-hike dip in a mountain lake? Yes, there’s wildfire smoke, but the dramatic lightning storms that sparked it are a wonder to behold, plus holy cow, the sunsets this time of year! And don’t get me started on the Perseid Meteor Shower, which Mother Nature plans each year for my mid-August birthday.
Wondering what to see, do, and experience in Bend this August? Here’s a roundup!
Head for the hills and hike
Most able-bodied Bend visitors have hiking on their bucket list, and August is when it’s wise to watch outside factors like heat and smoke.
High desert thunderstorms are a thing of wonder, but lightning wreaks havoc on our forests. When planning August hikes, start with a skim through Central Oregon fire info website to gauge what’s ablaze nearby. Downloading an air quality app like the EPA’s AirNow can help you determine whether smoke and wind conditions have turned your favorite trail into a Traeger grill.
All clear for fires? Try the high-altitude trails off the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, which are at their best now that most of the snow has vanished. Now’s an excellent time to tackle Tumalo Mountain, or pick a scenic loop trail like Lucky Lake or Blow Lake.
Want to try one of our most popular trails in the Central Cascades? Preserving those spots for generations to come means you’ll need a special permit for trails like Green Lakes and Tam McArthur. Read up on the rules and plan ahead.
The Deschutes River Trail includes endless options for trekkers of all levels, and its proximity to town lets you squeeze in a post-breakfast hike and be back to your hotel in time for lunch.
Before setting out, pack plenty of sunscreen and water, and plan trailside stops in the shade. Bend’s high desert heat can be intense if you’re not used to it, so give yourself tons of extra time—especially when it’s hot out.
When hiking with four-legged friends, check out these tips for keeping your pup safe and happy, especially in warm August temps. And as always, practice Leave No Trace principles when hiking in Bend’s great outdoors.
Discover your chill in rivers and lakes
A swimming pool feels fab when temps get toasty, and you’ll find plenty of Bend hotels with pools. But nothing beats the combo of a cooling soak and an adventure in Bend’s great outdoors.
Bend rivers and lakes offer ample opportunity to try standup paddleboarding and kayaking. Add an adrenaline rush to your adventure with a whitewater rafting adventure with Sun Country Tours, or try the Paulina Plunge for a truly unique high desert activity featuring natural waterslides.
For a more serene river experience, try floating the Deschutes River as it ambles through the Old Mill District and Downtown Bend. The river shuttle runs daily in August to keep floaters circulating between the put-in and takeout. How do you float the river in Bend? Check out this post for everything you need to know.
For other forms of water play, including canoeing, swimming, and surfing (yep, really!) follow the links on this page.
Toes in the grass, tunes in the air
August tends to be Bend’s biggest month for concerts at Hayden Homes Amphitheater. August 2024 boasts an especially huge lineup, including one epic week featuring St. Vincent and Spoon (August 8), Trampled by Turtles (August 9), Walker Hayes (August 12), Megadeath (August 13), Michael Franti and Spearhead (August 14), and Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats (August 15). I’ll personally be shakin’ my groove thang at the Gipsy Kings show August 4, and my folks are journeying from the other side of the mountains to catch the Beach Boys August 24. Check out the full August lineup here.
Craving free music in Bend? Catch a show on Thursdays in Drake Park with the Munch and Music series that’s been going strong since the early ‘90s (which I’m just now realizing was my first concert in Bend…see also “Tawna turns 50 this month.”). You’ll also find lots of live music at local hotspots like Flights Wine Bar and Silver Moon Brewing.
While Faith Hope and Charity vineyards may be on your radar for wine, they also have a robust roster of live music throughout August. Bring a blanket or a low-backed chair, but leave food and drinks at home––there’s plenty to purchase on site.
If live theater is your jam, act early to snag seats for plays staged on the banks of the sparkling Deschutes in Drake Park. Shows typically take place in late August and tickets go fast.
For more ideas on getting your art fix outside, check Visit Bend’s event calendar for things happening in August.
It’s smoky in Bend…now what?
Whether it’s thunderstorms, high temps, or wildfire smoke chasing you indoors, there may come a time you’ll want to seek respite in Bend’s indoor spaces. Lucky for you, there’s lots to choose from.
Make dinner reservations at one of Bend’s award-winning restaurants. Plan a fun family outing at the High Desert Museum and enjoy both indoor and outdoor spaces with native wildlife, indigenous art, interactive exhibits, and natural history.
To get the kids’ wiggles out, bounce around at Trampoline Zone or Mountain Air. If vintage video games are your jam, Vector Volcano is the spot to be.
Want to unleash your inner artist? Book a class at Freak’n Art and pick from options like So Sketchy (charcoal and conte crayon drawing), Just Add Water (watercolor pencil drawing/painting), Shades of Gray (India ink painting) and more. Best of all, you’ll take-home a Bend souvenir that you made yourself.
Missing your feline friends back home? Stop by Playful Paws Cat Cafe for a vacation kitty fix, and who knows? You might just find an adoptable buddy.
From bowling alleys to bumper cars to indoor kart racing to indoor climbing gyms there’s tons of fun stuff to do inside when you’ve had your fill of Bend’s great outdoors. For more ideas on making backup plans in Bend when weather won’t cooperate, check out this article.
Speaking of making plans…
As my birthday nears in mid-August, I know time’s running out. Not in a grim “you’re getting old” sense, but that there’s so little time to do ALL THE THINGS before summer’s end.
My annual birthday meteor shower (which apparently has a real name and isn’t held only for my birthday?) peaks each year around August 11-13. For prime viewing, head out to Pine Mountain Observatory or the Oregon Observatory in Sunriver, or stick closer to Bend with the Hopservatory at Worthy Brewing.
Want to enjoy Mt. Bachelor’s summer offerings like disc golf, ziplining, scenic chairlift rides, the downhill bike park, and the ultimate sunset dinner at 7,800 feet? Scope out their summer activities page, then book your plans before the season runs out.
Looking forward to fall staples like Little Woody (slated each year for Labor Day Weekend) or the epic Oregon Whiskey Festival happening Sept. 20-21 at Oregon Spirit Distillery? Make sure you snag tickets now, since events like these fill up fast. Pro tip: If you swing by the Bend Visitor Center and ask nicely, we’ll hook you up with a coupon for a free tasting at Oregon Spirit Distillery.
Camping near Bend gets colder as August fades and fall grabs nighttime temps with chilly hands. Get those last August camping trips on the books pronto! While some spots have first-come, first-served sites, many require reservations through recreation.gov or the Oregon State Parks reservation system.
Feeling ready to rock August in Bend? I’ll see you out on the trails (or river, or brewery, or…just get out and enjoy, okay?!)
Read more at VisitBend.com
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