Discover Bend Scavenger Hunt
Discover the outdoor capital of central Oregon with a scavenger hunt across Bend. Stroll the riverside lawns of Drake Park along the Deschutes, browse the old lumber mills turned shops at the Old Mill District, climb the cinder cone of Pilot Butte and toast on the famous Bend Ale Trail. Bend mixes high-desert sunshine, a snowy Cascade backdrop and one of the densest craft-beer scenes in the country, made for a great group photo on every corner.
Stops on this hunt
The geo-tagged checkpoints that anchor this route. You can rearrange, replace or remove any stop after using the template.
-
1
Downtown Bend
Navigate to the heart of downtown Bend around Wall and Bond Streets and check in among the shops and breweries.
-
2
Drake Park
Walk to Drake Park along the Deschutes River (Mirror Pond) and check in on the riverside lawn.
-
3
Old Mill District
Walk or ride south along the river to the Old Mill District and check in among the converted mill buildings.
Challenges (17)
Bend kick-off
The hunt begins! Find a classic Bend backdrop (the Deschutes River, a downtown storefront, the Cascade peaks in the distance) and take a group photo with the whole team in shot.
Checkpoint: Downtown Bend
Navigate to the heart of downtown Bend around Wall and Bond Streets and check in among the shops and breweries.
Downtown Bend storefront
Downtown Bend is full of brick storefronts, breweries and the old Tower Theatre sign. Take a group photo in front of a storefront or the Tower Theatre marquee.
Trivia: where Bend got its name
Bend is named after a crossing of the Deschutes River that pioneers called "Farewell Bend". The postal service shortened that two-word name to just one word. What single word is the city now called?
Answer: bend
Checkpoint: Drake Park
Walk to Drake Park along the Deschutes River (Mirror Pond) and check in on the riverside lawn.
Mirror Pond reflection
Drake Park sits along Mirror Pond, a wide calm stretch of the Deschutes that reflects the trees and sky. Take a group photo with the still water and reflections behind you.
Trivia: Bend incorporated
Bend held its first meeting as an incorporated city in the early 1900s. In what year was it incorporated (1905)?
Answer: 1905
Checkpoint: Old Mill District
Walk or ride south along the river to the Old Mill District and check in among the converted mill buildings.
Old Mill smokestacks
The Old Mill District kept the towering smokestacks of the old lumber mills above its shops and riverside paths. Take a group photo with the brick smokestacks behind your team.
Deschutes River pose
The Deschutes River winds right past the Old Mill, full of floaters and paddleboarders in summer. Take a group photo on the riverside path with the water behind you.
Bend Ale Trail toast
Bend has one of the densest concentrations of breweries in the country. Order a tasting flight, a pint or a local kombucha at a brewery or taproom and take a group photo with everyone raising a glass in a toast.
Trivia: Pilot Butte
Pilot Butte rises right inside Bend and makes the city one of the few in the continental US with one of these within its limits. What kind of geological feature is Pilot Butte (an extinct one)?
Answers: volcano / cinder cone / cinder cone volcano / extinct volcano
Cascade peaks view
The snowy Cascade peaks, including the Three Sisters and Mount Bachelor, rise west of town. Find a spot with a view of the mountains and take a group photo with the peaks behind you.
Bend foodie classic
Find a Bend favourite (a food-cart-lot bite, a local craft beer, a stack of pancakes, a scoop of Oregon ice cream) and take a group photo with everyone tucking in at the same time.
Pilot Butte summit view
For the boldest teams: climb (or drive) Pilot Butte for a 360-degree view over Bend and the Cascades. Take a group photo at the summit with the whole town spread out below you.
Local Bend tip
Convince a local Bend resident to share a tip about the city (a brewery, a trail, a swimming spot on the river). Take a photo with your impromptu guide and remember the tip.
Bend finale
Final challenge. Find a beautiful Bend spot (Mirror Pond at golden hour, the Old Mill smokestacks, a Cascade overlook) and take an amazing closing group photo. Cheers from central Oregon!
Frequently asked questions
Three to four hours covers downtown, Drake Park along the Deschutes River and the Old Mill District at a relaxed pace. Downtown and the Old Mill are flat and walkable; Pilot Butte is a short drive east if your group wants the summit view as a finale.
Downtown Bend, around Wall and Bond Streets, is the natural starting point. Drake Park and the Deschutes River are a block west, the shops and breweries are all around, and the Old Mill District is a short walk or drive south along the river.
Yes. The route works for any age. Kids enjoy the ducks and lawns of Drake Park, the riverside paths of the Old Mill District and the views from Pilot Butte. Downtown and the Old Mill are flat and stroller-friendly, and the brewery stops are easily swapped for ice cream and the river for younger groups.
Bend has one of the highest numbers of craft breweries per person in the US, and the Bend Ale Trail links them on a self-guided tasting route. Several hunt challenges send you to toast at a brewery or taproom. Sober teammates and younger groups can swap in the local soda, kombucha or coffee scene, which is just as strong.
Yes. Pilot Butte is an extinct cinder cone volcano rising right inside the city, one of the few volcanoes within US city limits. A short trail (or a road) leads to the summit, where a 360-degree view takes in the whole town and the Cascade peaks. It makes a spectacular optional finale to the hunt.