Kid Friendly Trails near Bend, Oregon - Sorted by Age

TLDR/Quick Answer: 

Which Bend trail fits your kid's age:

• Front carrier (newborn–early infant): Pilot Butte, Tumalo Falls

• Backpack carrier (older infant–young toddler): Shevlin Park, Deschutes River Trail at Dillon Falls

• Stroller (any age, paved paths): Drake Park, Rockridge Park, Pine Nursery Park, Millers Landing Park, Riley Ranch Nature Reserve

• Walking on their own (preschool, 4+): Tumalo Falls, Shevlin Park, Pilot Butte, Dillon Falls Day Use Area

• Day trip (bigger kids, 5-6+): Elk Lake, Smith Rock State Park

My family relocated to Central Oregon a couple years ago after my husband completed his active duty military career.  As a family that loves nature, we hit the ground with our hiking boots almost immediately to find kid friendly trails near Bend. I was pleasantly surprised to find so many family friendly hikes near Bend, Oregon. 

I was pregnant with our second child when we moved and we’ve also got a rambunctious older boy. This blog is coming from my firsthand experience hiking through pregnancy, postpartum, infancy, and now toddlerhood with an older sibling tagging along. I’ve organized my recommendations by stage of a child relating to being in a carrier, being in a stroller, or being able to walk on their own for extended periods.

What are kid friendly trails in Bend that I can do with an infant in a carrier?

If you’ve got an infant that loves to be snuggled up in a front carrier, Pilot Butte State Park and Tumalo Falls both offer a fantastic hike that ends in great views. I specifically recommend these two trails for front carrying infants (not backpack style carriers) because they are rather steep and sometimes narrow in portions of the trail. It’s easier to navigate these trails with a front carrier, and it also gave me peace of mind that my little one was safely strapped to my chest - not trying to wander around.

A view of Tumalo Falls from the hiking trail.

If your little one has grown big enough to be able to sit in a backpack style hiking carrier, Shevlin Park and the Deschutes River Trail, Dillon Falls Day Use Area offer lovely scenery for family-friendly hikes near Bend. I also like these two particular trails for backpack carriers because they offer enough space to take the carrier off for a rest break. Little ones sitting in backpack carriers are often learning to walk or have just started walking, and having the ability to let them stretch their legs and explore is important to a fun hike.

I’ll note that several of the stroller friendly trails mentioned in the stroller section can also double as baby-wearing trails parents can enjoy with infants. I didn’t specifically include them as trails for infants because some have very little shade available. Also, having been through the infant stage recently, I know that I really enjoyed carrier hiking with a high-payoff for natural ambiance or pretty views. 

If you’ve got a little one and you haven’t yet taken family photos together, get in touch to chat about how I can bring my local knowledge and parenting experience together to help your photo session feel easy and stress-free. I’ve got lots of secrets for happy family photos to help you bypass challenges and get the good stuff on camera.

What hikes in Bend, Oregon are stroller friendly trails?

It’s worth noting that stroller friendly trails in Bend are mostly paved and have varying degrees of shade available. In the middle of summer, I recommend hitting the trail with a stroller early in the morning when it’s still cool from our high desert nights. In cooler months like autumn or winter, early afternoons can be nice on paved pathways with a stroller to be out in the sunshine. 

I love walking along the Deschutes River in Drake Park in the spring, summer, and fall seasons because of its close proximity to restaurants downtown. Similarly, I also really enjoy walking around the river scenery near Millers Landing Park in these months because I can quickly grab a bite to eat from a local spot in Old Mill. 

My family frequently visits Rockridge Park in the colder months because of the easy access to a sunny walk. If it’s not a windy day, Riley Ranch Nature Reserve is also nice in the colder months because it has very little shade and offers mountain views while you stroll. Do yourself a favor and don’t try to take these trails in summer afternoons - they get way too hot. 

I know people who visit Pine Nursery Park year-round to walk, but I personally like this spot better in warmer weather because it does have big shady spots from the tall ponderosa pines surrounding the trail. Those shady patches can stay frozen for a while, and I don’t like pushing a stroller along patches of ice. 

If you’re looking for more low-key options to fill your days, check out my blog on 5 kid-friendly parks in Bend for which parks work well for families with young kids.

Stroller walk in Pine Nursery Park while my husband and son biked.

What family friendly hikes in Bend, Oregon are good for preschool age kids and older?

Any of the family friendly hikes in Bend mentioned in this blog are likely going to work for kids ages preschool and older to hike on their own. But as kids get older, their ability - and interest - to explore grows, also. For this section, I’m focusing on kid friendly trails in Bend that provide something unique to kids who are past the toddler stage. These trail ideas are best for kids ages 4 years and older. 

We visited Tumalo Falls when my oldest was nearing five years old, and he was absolutely thrilled by the sight of the rushing water. Though the hike has some steep portions, he was able to manage it well with my husband’s steady hands to help him. Hiking this trail was also a natural starting point for talking about how snow melts and comes down through Central Oregon. 

Shevlin Park is honestly a kid’s summertime dream. The hike itself isn’t too long or too difficult and offers plenty of shady spots. But what really makes Shevlin Park great are all the tiny water spots along the trail that families can toss down a picnic blanket and hangout by for hours. Bring a bucket and shovel, some towels, a change of clothes, and a picnic for hours of summer fun.

Pilot Butte State Park has great 360 degree views at the top of it, and is an awesome place for kids to learn about the volcanic nature of Central Oregon. This is also a great spot to pack a hearty snack to enjoy while taking in the scenery. My one important safety tip for this spot: ensure that children are hiking along the inside of the trail, i.e. next to the butte itself, as it is a really steep, hard fall off the edge if a kid has a misstep. 

Dillon Falls Day Use Area offers two options for hiking families with older kids: 1) go into the forested area, past the falls, or 2) walk along the Deschutes River trail that leads to open mountain views. My family tried both paths, and they were both a hit. Personally, I prefer hiking along the Deschutes River Trail from the day use area because its scenery is just breathtaking. 

Worth noting: this stretch of the Deschutes River Trail near Dillon Falls is also one of my favorite spots for family photo sessions — the same open mountain views that make it a great hike make for some pretty unforgettable portraits too. 

Short break during hike along Deschutes River near Dillon Falls.

What are day trip options for family friendly hikes near Bend, Oregon?

If it’s during the warm months when the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway is open, then pack your car for a day trip. There are several hikes around beautiful mountain lakes - but with kids, we’re not going to “hike” the area and instead pick a nice spot to wander. For families, I recommend some walking around Elk Lake and ending with a swim in the shallow, kid-friendly waters. 

If you do want a real hike, Smith Rock State Park is a favorite of Central Oregon for a reason - it’s breathtaking. Hiking down into the red cliffs give a bit of an other-worldly feel as you gaze up, and hiking to the top of Misery Ridge offers a beautiful view of Central Oregon scenery. This location is not for the faint of heart (or step), though. 

I personally only recommend taking a young child in a backpack carrier to Smith Rock if you are already a very sure-footed and experienced hiker. Otherwise, save this spot for bigger preschool ages and older. Smith Rock is not a stroller-friendly trail near Bend - so skip this one all together if you’ve got plans with a stroller. 

There are three main ways to hike Smith Rock with kids: walking around the top from the parking lot, hiking down into the ravine, or up Misery Ridge. If you want easy walking with views, stay up along the parking lot pathways. If you want a cool experience to wander around and explore, hike down into the ravine and follow along the winding water. If you want a challenging hike, go for Misery Ridge. For reference, I only let my kid go to Misery Ridge with my husband (a very experienced hiker) when almost six years old, and they did the first quarter of the hike. 

Just don’t do what my in-laws did and take me up Misery Ridge in the middle of winter with ice and snow on the ground. Smith Rock (and especially Misery Ridge) is best saved for spring through fall months for families with kids. It has enough uneven terrain and steep areas that one false step in winter could seriously injure someone. 

Worth noting: Smith Rock is one of the photo locations I recommend to families with older kids who want to adventure in nature for their photo session. If that sounds like a good fit for your family, I'd love to talk with you about pairing this hike with family portraits.

With so many options for kid friendly trails near Bend, Oregon, it’s definitely worth packing the kids up to explore nature. If you take your kid(s) age(s) and needs into consideration, there’s no reason not to see the beautiful scenery Central Oregon has to offer. My secret weapons for hiking with kids are packing plenty of snacks, a change of clothes for each child, and a small first-aid kid with bandages, antibiotic ointment, and sting kill - because nothing gets a kid back up on their feet and having fun like fuel for their belly or a quick fix to their booboos.

Frequently asked questions about kid friendly trails in Bend, Oregon:

What's the best trail in Bend for hiking with an infant in a carrier? Pilot Butte and Tumalo Falls work well for front carriers since the terrain is steep and narrow. Once your baby can sit in a backpack carrier, Shevlin Park and the Deschutes River Trail near Dillon Falls offer more room to take breaks.

Are there stroller-friendly trails in Bend? Yes — Drake Park, Rockridge Park, Pine Nursery Park, Millers Landing Park, and Riley Ranch Nature Reserve are mostly paved. Go early on summer mornings and stick to sunnier spots in winter.

What trails are best for preschool-age kids and older? Tumalo Falls, Shevlin Park, Pilot Butte, and Dillon Falls Day Use Area all work well once kids are steady walkers, with Shevlin's water access being a summer favorite.

Is Smith Rock good for a family day trip with kids?
It can be, but it's not for beginners — save it for preschool age and older, stick to the parking-lot pathways or ravine for an easier route, and avoid it in winter when the terrain gets icy.

If we’re an outdoorsy family, can we choose to take our pictures on a kid-friendly trail near Bend? Absolutely! The Dillon Falls Day Use Area, Shevlin Park, and Smith Rock State Park hike into the ravine are two trails that I would recommend to families - and are also trails that I’ve had my camera out for portraits.

Hi, I’m Elise.

I’m a Bend, Oregon photographer also serving Redmond, Sisters, and Sunriver. As a mom to two busy boys, I’m committed to helping Central Oregon families preserve moments in photo sessions based around their unique stories.