Area Guide
Things to do in Sunriver & Bend: the places we actually go
We’re Riley and Anthony, and this is the exact guide our guests receive: no sponsored listings, no places we haven’t been. It’s 39 spots we return to again and again: where we eat every week in Bend, the hidden float on the Deschutes, the shop we can lose an afternoon in, and the falls at the end of the bike path.
We’re sharing it publicly because we think Central Oregon trip planning should start with people who live it. If you stay with us, you’ll get the full digital guidebook after booking, house details and all, but the good stuff below is free for everyone.
The Short List
The best things to do in Sunriver
- Ride the paved bike paths 40+ miles of car-free paths through the pines. Four bikes come with the cabin.
- Bike or hike to Benham Falls Ride the paved Sun-Lava Path north from Sunriver, then walk the last stretch to the falls.
- Float the Deschutes Put in at Harper Bridge and drift through Sunriver to the canoe takeout, or take the short Besson horseshoe.
- Spend a day at the SHARC Pools, lazy river, and slides. Six passes are waiting at the cabin.
- Walk into Lava River Cave A mile-long lava tube (bring your own light), plus Lava Lands and the Newberry volcano.
- Ski or ride Mt. Bachelor About 20 minutes up the road, then the hot tub and fireplace after.
- Eat and drink in the Village Pizza, pints, and bakery mornings, a 3-minute walk from our door.
- Stargaze and meet the wildlife The Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory, and otters at the High Desert Museum.
Browse the Guide
Four ways in
Eat & Drink
Every restaurant and bar we actually order at: Village pizza nights, the brewery tap room, and the Bend spot we eat at weekly.
Browse eat & drinkAttractions
Benham Falls, the SHARC, otters at the High Desert Museum, a lava cave, and the stargazing you only get under high-desert skies.
Browse attractionsActivities
Float the Deschutes from Harper Bridge, day-trip to Todd Lake, or claim one of 18 pickleball courts.
Browse activitiesShopping
From alpaca sweaters at West of the Moon to Bend’s Old Mill District, plus our honest advice on where to buy groceries.
Browse shoppingLonger Reads
Guides worth a cup of coffee
When a topic deserves more than a card (SHARC passes, ski season, the best floats), we write it up properly. Straight from our own stays, updated as things change.
September 30, 2026
Dog-Friendly Hikes and River Spots Near Sunriver
Where to hike with your dog around Sunriver, which leash rules apply where, and the handful of places your pup will have to sit out.
Read the guideSeptember 30, 2026
Sunriver Float Guide: Harper Bridge, Besson, and the Takeout
How we float the Deschutes: Harper Bridge to the free Sunriver canoe takeout, the 15-minute Besson horseshoe, where to rent, and the rules to know first.
Read the guideSeptember 30, 2026
Lava River Cave and Lava Lands: A Day Trip from Sunriver
How to see Oregon's longest lava tube, Lava Butte, and the Newberry caldera from Sunriver: reservations, passes, drive times, and how we'd plan the day.
Read the guideSeptember 30, 2026
Sunriver Bike Paths: Best Loops and the Ride to Benham Falls
The guide we'd hand you at check-in: the digital path map, the rules worth knowing, an easy river loop, and exactly where the pavement ends on the way to Benham Falls.
Read the guideSeptember 30, 2026
Sunriver in Winter: Mt. Bachelor, Snow Days, Hot Tub Nights
The drive to Mt. Bachelor, where to ski, snowshoe and sled, what a Sno-Park permit is, and how to end every snow day in the hot tub.
Read the guideSeptember 30, 2026
Sunriver Weather by Month and the Best Time to Visit
Average highs, lows, and precipitation for every month, plus our honest take on when to come to Sunriver and what to pack for each season.
Read the guideSeptember 30, 2026
Things to Do in Sunriver with Kids: A Family Guide
Our family playbook for Sunriver: pool days, bike paths, a short river float, live animals, rainy-day backups, and a three-day plan built from all of it.
Read the guideAugust 27, 2026
What Are SHARC Passes? (And Why Our Cabin Includes 6)
Sunriver's aquatic center is the best family day in town: here's what the SHARC actually is, how access works, and why six passes come with the cabin.
Read the guideAugust 27, 2026
Pet-Friendly Sunriver: A Dog Owner's Guide
Everything we tell guests who bring their dogs: cabin logistics, leash rules, the best paved walks, and paw care for high-desert summers and snowy winters.
Read the guide