Dog-friendly adventures in Bend

Bend has to be one of the most dog-friendly places in the US.

Everywhere we went we saw lots of well behaved good boys and girls living their best lives. And why wouldn't you when Bend has so much to offer dogs, from an amazing river where they can walk, swim and play to a town that seems to welcome dogs into almost every store.

While Bend is an outdoor lovers paradise, for those of us who are urbanites or have less energetic dogs, there is still plenty to see and do.

THINGS TO DO

Deschutes Riverfront Trail

The Deschutes Riverfront Trail follows either side of the river on well maintained and paved pathways. Along the way there are beautiful views, areas to rest, sculptures and parklands to explore. 

My suggestion is to start from the Old Mill District, cross the footbridge and then continue up the river. There are plenty of grassy areas to sniff and places to sit as needed. Heading under the road bridge you'll get to Riverside Dog Park. While I don't usually mention these, this one is a really good size, but its main attraction is that it extends down to the river’s edge where lots of dogs were swimming. So perfect if your dog likes to take a dip or it’s a hot day.

From here the next stop is Riverside Park, which has a large grassed area and a really cool kayak sculpture in its roundabout.

A very on theme sculpture for Bend

Just past the park the paved path continues and from here you can get good views of the orange hued cliffs on the right.

The path is really spacious and offers great views

You'll then reach another footbridge. Cross here and see the impressive horse sculpture, 'Two Bits'. If you stay near the river there is also a small wooden walkway / pier that juts out into the river that is worth a look.

‘Two Bits’ sculpture

The trail then continues down the river, next to parkland before eventually passing some nice homes. It then goes back under the road bridge and leads you back to your starting point at the Old Mill.

Old Mill District

This District is a large outdoor shopping mall that has plenty of parking and is a nice area to walk around and explore. There are cafes and restaurants here and those that have outdoor seating seem to allow dogs. We were there on a sunny so grabbed some sandwiches from one of the cafes and had a picnic on the grass next to the river.

We didn’t really visit any of the stores so I’m not sure if they allowed dogs, but if you’re outdoorsy there is also a large REI in the complex. While officially they do not allow dogs inside, if you're after something specific for your dog they will allow you in. Beats feet had taken a bit of a battering and we wanted to look at bootie options so she was welcome to go in.

Downtown Bend

The downtown area of Bend prides itself on being dog friendly and we were amazed how many stores were happy to let Beats in for a browse. We also saw lots of water bowls and so our journey was slow as she had to keep stopping to sniff each and every one. There are also a number of art works and murals scattered around town and as Bend is easily walkable you'll spot these as you explore.

McKay Park / Bend Whitewater Park

This waterfront park is downstream from the Old Mill area, but worth a visit, especially in the late afternoon. Here you'll find a small, grassy park and a manmade surf park with queues of people waiting for their turn to surf the river waves. We really enjoyed watching them and Beatle was also able to have a paddle in the calmer area of the river (closer to the bridge). We also went up to the top of the bridge for a different viewpoint that was equally as good.

Nothing like a river paddle after a long hot day of exploring

Dog-Friendly Breweries

Bend has quite a few breweries and we found that if they had outdoor seating, they were very welcoming to well behaved dogs. We visited Bend Brewing which had a huge grassy backyard with lots of tables (and a high dog to person ratio) and it was lovely to be able to sit outside by the river as the sun set. Beats is a big fan of beer, so we had to distract her with food by ordering some deliciousness from the on site food truck.

There are lots of other dog friendly breweries in Bend, so if sharing a cold brew with your best bud is something you enjoy then you have plenty of great options. I won’t try and list them all, but it’s a pretty safe bet that if you come across one and it has outdoor seating, your dog will be able to join you.

Waiting (im)patiently for a treat at Bend Brewing

Visit Ruffwear

We are huge fans of this brand and Beats has worn their harnesses since she was a pup. We really wanted to go here so she could try on some booties and check out their other products - but unfortunately they were closed the day we were planning to visit (which happened to be our last day in town). But if you’re in Bend and keen on checking out the latest gear and gadgets for your adventure dog, then this would be a great spot to visit. Their products are incredibly hardy and robust, well put togther and most of all, designed with your dogs wellbeing and comfort in mind. We also love that Beat's harness has a small ID pocket up top where we have an Apple ID tag just in case we get separated. To see their range of products visit: https://ruffwear.com

GETTING AROUND

While downtown Bend is quite compact and easily walkable, the Old Mill and riverwalk areas are located further away so it’s useful to have a car to be able to drive to the different attractions.

EAT AND SLEEP

Breweries in Bend are a great option to visit with a dog and we loved chilling out with a beer in their open gardens. We also found that cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating were very welcoming to dogs which was great.

We stayed at the Campfire Hotel, a quirky hotel that was basic, but had everything we needed for a great stay. While waiting for our room, we were able to enjoy a beer in their cute bar and Beats was welcome to join us inside - and there was also a nice patio overlooking the pool with more seating. At night, there was a large campfire area that was always busy with people gathering to talk about their day, and the large onsite pool was perfect to relax in after a long day of exploring (although dogs were not allowed at the pool).

The Campfire Hotel has an actual campfire!

IN SUMMARY

Beats is more of an urban explorer than a mountain going adventurer, but if you enjoy hiking and have a dog that loves the outdoors then Bend is the perfect place for you.

We didn't do any longer hikes during our visit as it was quite hot, but the www.bendexplored.com website has a full list of dog-friendly trails, including their leash rules.

For a list of dog friendly businesses, pet supplies and local vets in Bend, visit www.bend.thedogguide.com