All Things Deschutes – Bend, Oregon

The Deschutes River, flowing north for 252 miles long, is a major tributary of the Columbia River. The river provides much of the drainage on the eastern side of the Cascade Range in Oregon, gathering many of the tributaries that descend from the drier, eastern side of the mountains.

The Dechutes River (remember, pronounced da·shootz) was named Rivière des Chutes or Rivière aux Chutes, French for River of the Falls, during the period of fur trading. Lewis and Clark explored the river in 1805, and referred to it by the Native American name Towarnehiooks; on their return journey they gave it the new name Clarks River. During the middle 19th century, the river was a major obstacle for immigrants on the Oregon Trail.

Enough fun facts!

Thursday, May 4th

Al and I decided to start a morning walk with a coffee and pastry from Village Baker. The Deschutes River Trail winds through Bend with paved paths along the water, just a short walk from Tim and Amanda’s home. In 2015, Bend turned a section of this into a whitewater park with channels for surfing, paddling, kayaking and tubing and fish migration. This engineering feat is a result of 26 air bladders or gates affixed to the river bed that control the flow of the water.

Although the air temperature was 55 degrees that morning (who knows what the water temperature was) there were plenty of brave surfers to watch. We stood on the bridge overlooking the river and watched and watched.

Still photos are one way to see this, but a video is much better.

In the summer, This part of the Deschutes River becomes a tubing mecca. Amanda and Tim enjoy tubing through it on hot lazy days. I saw photos and it looks like a crazy fun thing to do.

After lunch the four of us went to Deschutes National Forest, 1.6 million acres along the east side of the Cascade Mountains. Mt. Bachelor, the ski resort is part of the park. We hiked a short path to see Dillon Falls, a run of class V rapids (NOTE – Class V: Extremely difficult, long, and very violent rapids with highly congested routes, which should be scouted from shore. Rescue conditions are difficult, and there is a significant hazard to life in the event of a mishap. The upper limit of what is possible in a commercial raft). Amanda said that there was much more water now than they ever see the summer.

Let the photos speak for themselves, although, truthfully, photos never do justice to the real thing. What I found fascinating is that this is the same river that runs through Bend where those surfers were.

The Ponderosa pines are EVERYWHERE here, standing perfectly straight and soooo tall, sending roots into the most unlikely places, especially the rocky steep slopes of hills and mountains. “Ponderosa pine thrives in relatively dry climates and droughty or rocky soils because of its ability to acquire and conserve water. Its deep roots reach moist soils far below the dry, hot surface. Its seedlings withstand desiccation, and its stomata (leaf pores) can efficiently close, preventing water loss by transpiration. ….. Native Americans used ponderosa pine in a variety of ways: for medicine, food, fiber, a blue dye, and firewood. Pitch and gum concoctions were used for sore eyes and aching backs and as an underarm deodorant. Seeds and inner bark were eaten. Needles were used in basketry, and wood was used for timber and building materials.” (Oregon Encyclopedia) Today, its wood has been used extensively for residential and light construction.

Next hike – Benham Falls, also on th Deschutes River. We walked down a fence-lined walkway that zig-zagged to an established overlook with a view of the most vertical part of the rapids. Benham Falls is another turbulent class V rapids and cascades rushing on the Deschutes River towards the southwest of Bend. The falls flow through an area where a large field of lava solidifed and formed a narrow canyon through which the Deschutes River gets squeezed resulting in this powerful display.

Friday, May 5

Continuing the theme of “All Things Deschutes” we toured the Deschutes Brewery on Friday afternoon. Although right in Bend, on the Deschutes River path, Amanda and Tim had never toured it. Bewery #4! We walked to the brewery (how convenient is that??)

in 1988, Gary Fish established a small brew pub in downtown Bend, naming it after the river. His dream was to make the brewery a community gathering place based his belief that “Good beer brings people together.” The brewery is family and employee owned.

Every year, Deschutes Brewery produces their “Jubelale“, a festive robust winter ale with a “warming spice.” Although the beer itself has remained largely the same, the label changes each year. Deschutes commissions a local artist to create an original piece of artwork for the label, and each year subsequently a new artist is selected. 

Tim and Amanda had raved about the burgers at a food truck at Deschutes Brewery. Willie Burger began serving their smash burgers at local farmers markets in 2022 and graduated to a food truck this year. We weren’t really hungry because we were planning to go out for dinner that evening, but how could we resist tasting these burgers when the truck was right there in front of us??? I suggested we get one burger and split it four ways just to get a taste.

Two really, really great days – hiking, nature, water, beer and burgers.