The A-to-Zs of Central Oregon: C is for CASCADE LAKES

Did you know that just west of Mount Bachelor are a series of beautiful lakes? These are the Cascade Lakes, and we love to explore them on our canoes and kayaks in the summer. Many of them are accessible by the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, which is closed during the winter months. If you're interested in exploring the lakes, we have amazing canoe and kayaking tours in the warmer months, and our Naturalist Guides can offer up even more fascinating information about these spaces. 

 

some of our favorite Cascade Lakes: 

Sparks Lake

This is one of our favorite lakes in the area, with amazing views and plenty of opportunities to learn about the local landscape and wildlife-- there are about 370 acres of lake wetland, surrounded by another 360 acres of meadow, marsh, and stream wetlands! Needless to say, we have a lot to share about this area's biodiversity. 
 

Todd Lake

Originally called Lost Lake because it was difficult to find, this lake sits at 6,150 feet, making it the highest of the Cascade Lakes. Todd Lake is right at the foot of Broken Top, and you can see some pretty stunning views from this area. We love this lake for its natural beauty and for its policy of no motorized boats, which protects this ecosystem so that plants and animals can thrive. 
 

Elk Lake

Photo by Danny Walden

Elk Lake is a popular destination year-round, but particularly in the hot summer months. The most trafficked of the Cascade Lakes, Elk Lake is a great spot for paddling the crystal clear waters and taking in some amazing views. The lake is also home to trout and kokanee, or land-locked lake populations of sockeye salmon. 
 

Hosmer Lake

Photo by Danny Walden

Hosmer was originally called Mud Lake, but the name was changed to honor local naturalist Paul Hosmer, whom we plan to profile on this blog at some point. This is another well-protected lake, with lots of opportunities to see local wildlife. Only fly-fishing is allowed at Hosmer, and the bulrushes provide a great habitat for the salmon and brook trout that occupy its clear waters.
 

Davis Lake

Davis is one of the shallower lakes but offers up some beautiful scenery. The lake was formed by a lava flow, blocking Odell Creek to form a resting body of water. This lake can cover over 3,000 acres in the winter months but becomes quite a bit smaller in the summer, when the water can easily escape through the surrounding volcanic rock. This is one of the most popular fly-fishing lakes in the Pacific Northwest. 

Photos by Danny Walden

There are many more lakes to cover, but these are just a few of our favorites. We lead daily canoe trips on these amazing lakes in the warmer months.

If you're interested in seeing amazing views while sampling some amazing beers from the local breweries we outlined in last week's post, check out our super fun Brews and Views canoe tour! 

The A-to-Zs of Central Oregon: B is for BREWERIES

With the most breweries per capita in the state of Oregon, it's no secret that Bend has got a great selection of craft beer! Central Oregon's arid landscape and pure, crisp water are some of the factors that make the beer so delicious. That's part of why we started the Bend Brew Bus tours-- breweries are such a huge part of the culture in Bend, and the art of beer-making is something to be celebrated and enjoyed. 

There are currently over 20 breweries in the Bend area, with locations right in downtown Bend, and as far out as Redmond, Sisters, and Sunriver! So, if you choose to visit them all, you'll get a wide variety of scenery, beer selections, and food choices. Here are just a few of our favorites:

CASCADE LAKES BREWING COMPANY

Cascade Lakes Brewery is partnered with Wanderlust Tours for our Brews & Views Canoe and Snowshoeing Trips, so we're a little biased, but we think they make delicious beer! On top of that, there's an abundance of great pub food and a fun, laid-back atmosphere at their Lodge location. We especially dig the Blonde Bombshell when we're in the mood for a nice smooth ale. 
 

SILVER MOON BREWING 

Silver Moon is one of our favorite places to stop on the Bend Brew Bus. We love touring their brewing setup-- they really know what they're doing. Aside from having great food, delicious beers (check out the IPA 97 if you're into hoppier beers), and a super cool atmosphere, they also host great events like live music and trivia!

WORTHY BREWING

Worthy is an amazing place to visit. They have it all: delicious food, award-winning beers, and even a Hopservatory! How many places can you enjoy a freshly crafted beer, and then closely observe the cosmos? 
 

CRUX FERMENTATION PROJECT

Photo by Tyler Rowe

Crux is another local favorite we're lucky to visit with the Bend Brew Bus! We love their food, especially the Pig Newtons (figs wrapped in bacon!!!). Also, did you know they just came out with a delicious new beer called Play Wave? They never fail to deliver a unique, quality experience, and we always recommend stopping by to enjoy their excellent wares and their great outdoor seating area!

DESCHUTES BREWERY

Deschutes Brewery is one of the most quintessential Central Oregon breweries, and we highly recommend paying them a visit if you haven't. We love their beer, and for some of our custom tours, we pair events with their beers. After all, who wouldn't want to hike up Black Butte, and then enjoy a Black Butte Porter? There's nothing better!

If you're interested in taking a unique and enriching tour of the breweries in our area, join us on one of our daily Bend Brew Bus tours! 

The A-to-Zs of Central Oregon: A is for ALPINE SKIING

It's no secret that we're all big ski fans here in Central Oregon. Conveniently located at the foot of Mount Bachelor, Bend has been home to many great skiers throughout history (some of whom are outlined in our previous post about local Olympians). We ski before work, on our lunch break, after work (or even during work, if we're lucky!). We ski straight through May, and sometimes even on the 4th of July!

We're obsessed! We have been since at least 1928 when Scandinavian lumber works Nels Skjersaa, Nils Wulfberg, Chris Kostol, and Emil Nordeen founded the Skyliners Ski Club-- the first group to bring organized winter sports to Central Oregon.  

Photo courtesy of the Deschutes Historical Society

The Skyliners were the first to sponsor ski races in Central Oregon, promoting competitive skiing in the area. They were also founding members of the Pacific Northwest Ski Association.

While there are several places to alpine ski in Central Oregon, Mount Bachelor is the most popular by far. The ski center at "Bachelor Butte" was established in 1958 by Bill Healy, with the help of ski enthusiasts like the Skyliners. Since then, it's become the Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort we all know and love.

Photo by Chaney Swiney

With the development of the ski center, talented winter athletes began coming from across the country to train in Bend.

Mt. Bachelor's Head Alpine coach Frank Cammack helped to cultivate top competitors in the sport, including Kiki Cutter, the first American to win a World Cup race (and whom we mentioned in our Bend Olympians post). With Cammack, a great number of Central Oregon skiers went on to compete at national and international tournaments, making Bend a top contender in Alpine Skiing!

Photo by Robson Hatsukami Morgan

Speaking of skiing, we're so excited to get out in all that fresh, new snow! Stay tuned for more of the A-to-Z's of Central Oregon over the next few weeks on the Wanderlust Tours Blog.