The river town over the pass.
Tech, outdoor industry and remote workers, just over the Cascades from Portland. Coach Leighty has been coming here for years, and it might be the best Basecamp town anywhere. Long Game coaches Central Oregon players by video, booked in Pacific time.
A town people choose on purpose.
Bend has been a getaway for me for years, and it's the town I keep picturing for a life someday. It's one of the best cities anywhere, and it might be the best Basecamp town of all.
The river is what sticks with me. The Deschutes runs right through the middle of town. On a summer day it's full of tubes and paddleboards drifting past the Old Mill, and when the sun goes down there's a show at the amphitheater on the bank.
Pick the life first, then build the work around it.
That's the Bend lesson. A lot of people there chose the town first and built their careers to fit it. That's a long game move: decide what you want your days to look like, then build toward it on purpose.
Plan a Bend day, start to finish.
Float the Deschutes
Tube or paddle right through town. Visit Bend's guide covers rentals, put-ins and the shuttle.
How to float → River · In townBend Whitewater Park
Surf waves, a float channel and a habitat channel, right in the middle of Bend.
Bend Park and Rec → River · GuidedWhitewater rafting
Sun Country Tours runs guided rafting trips, from quick runs to full days.
Sun Country Tours → Guided toursCaves, volcanoes and canoes
Wanderlust Tours leads small-group trips, including lava caves and evening canoe tours.
Wanderlust Tours → Music · SummerHayden Homes Amphitheater
Summer concerts on the river in the Old Mill District.
See the lineup → Snow · Summer bike parkMt. Bachelor
Ski and ride all winter, about half an hour up the Cascade Lakes Highway.
Mt. Bachelor → In townOld Mill District
Shops, food, the river trail and the amphitheater, all in one walkable spot.
Old Mill District → More ideasTours and guides
Visit Bend's full list of guides, from fly fishing to brewery tours.
Visit Bend →Listed to help you plan, not as partners or sponsors. Check each site for seasons, prices and bookings.
Where to clear your head.
Three Sisters Wilderness
Cascade volcano country. Overnight permits are required June 15 to October 15.
Newberry National Volcanic Monument
More than 54,000 acres. Paulina Peak reaches 7,985 feet, and the Big Obsidian Flow erupted only about 1,300 years ago.
Smith Rock State Park
Thousands of climbs, more than a thousand of them bolted, plus a walk-in bivouac area for tents.
Trail tip: the Central Cascades overnight permit is $6 per group for 1 to 12 people, booked on Recreation.gov.
A quick trip over the pass.
Redmond (RDM)
Central Oregon's airport, about 25 minutes north of Bend.
Search flights → BusCentral Oregon Breeze
Daily bus service between Portland and Bend.
Bus schedule → DriveOver Mt. Hood
About three and a half hours from Portland on Highway 26 and 97.
Directions →Planning a trip? Email mike@longgamelife.live to hear about the next Long Game meetup in Bend.
What's open right now.
Know the ground around camp.
Long games run better when you're rooted where you live. Here's who looks after the Deschutes and the high desert, where locals spend their time off, and where to start if you're visiting.
Protect it
Groups keeping the rivers, forests and trails healthy. Show up for a cleanup or a trail day.
- Deschutes River ConservancyRestoring water and flows in the Deschutes and its tributaries.
- Deschutes Land TrustProtects land across Central Oregon, with guided hikes and volunteer days.
- Oregon Natural Desert AssociationProtecting Oregon's high desert, with volunteer restoration trips.
- Central Oregon Trail AllianceBuilds and maintains Central Oregon's mountain bike trails.
- Leave No TraceThe seven principles every Long Game trip runs on.
Live it
Where the locals actually spend their time off.
- Ranch RecordsDowntown Bend's long-running record shop.
- Ponderosa Park SkateparkOne of the Bend Park and Recreation skateparks.
- Phil's TrailThe hub of Bend's mountain bike trail network.
- Deschutes River TrailFollows the river through town and out past the Old Mill.
- Cascade Lakes Scenic BywayThe ride past Mt. Bachelor and the high lakes. Closed past the ski area in winter.
Visit it
Planning a trip, or new in town? Start here.
- Visit BendThe city's official visitor guide.
- Visit Central OregonThe region's official travel guide.
- Deschutes National ForestHome of Newberry National Volcanic Monument and the Three Sisters.
- Smith Rock State ParkWorld-famous climbing, about 40 minutes north.
- Bend Park and RecreationCity parks, the river and the Whitewater Park.
- Bend ElksSummer collegiate baseball at Vince Genna Stadium.
- Bend on WikipediaHistory and the basics.
Links go to each group's own site. Listed as local resources, not partners or sponsors. Spot something closed or missing? Email mike@longgamelife.live.
Everybody has a long game. Build the life on purpose.
Wherever you are in Central Oregon, start with a free 20-minute call.
Or email mike@longgamelife.live