La Pine combines trails through a ponderosa pine forest along the Deschutes River with seasonal events and opportunities for cycling. To plan your trip, you can first decide whether to focus on time in LaPine State Park, a mountain biking activity, or local festivals and culinary discoveries.
Trails and Scenery Around La Pine
LaPine State Park is located in a ponderosa pine forest along the Deschutes River. Its 14 miles of multi-use trails are intended for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. In winter, the trails are also suitable for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. So the type of outing you plan here also depends on the season; trail conditions may vary seasonally.
Along the Deschutes River, the park’s day-use area includes a picnic area, flush toilets and a swimming beach without lifeguards. The lack of lifeguard supervision is an important practical distinction when planning a visit to the water. Seasonal operating conditions may apply to the facilities.
Another option for hiking and mountain biking is the Newberry Caldera, about 16 miles east of La Pine. It has numerous campgrounds, interpretive sites and two lakes used by paddlers in summer. The caldera thus complements the trails in the state park with additional activities and scenery in the surrounding area. If you would like to include both in your trip, you can take their different highlights into account when planning your days.
Cycling and Golf
Paulina Plunge is a mountain biking route in La Pine where riders descend more than 2,000 feet on fat bikes. The activity includes visits to as many as six waterfalls and two natural waterslides. This makes the described descent different from the multi-use trails in the state park: the focus here is on the descent and the destinations along the route. Tour arrangements and seasonal operations may change, so check availability before making concrete plans for the activity.
Another option for an active stay is Quail Run Golf Course in La Pine. The well-maintained 18-hole championship course offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountain ranges of Central Oregon. If golf is part of your trip plans, check current course conditions before your planned visit.
Events and Culinary Discoveries
The La Pine Rodeo takes place over the Fourth of July weekend; dates may vary from year to year. Annual events in La Pine also include the Rhubarb Festival and the Holiday Trucker's Light Parade. If a festival is a deciding factor in your trip, check the specific event dates for that year.
The High Desert Food Trail is a self-guided culinary route through Central Oregon. It showcases farms and ranches, artisan producers and farm-to-table restaurants. It adds a regional perspective on producers and cuisine to outdoor activities. You can make this route a focus of its own or connect it with your plans for La Pine, while keeping the trail’s regional focus in mind.
Discover more destinations: Bend, Deschutes River Woods, Sisters
Go to the overarching travel guide: Deschutes.
