Beautiful State Parks Near Redmond Oregon
The city of Redmond is surrounded by natural beauty in Central Oregon. Within a short drive, you can discover beautiful Central Oregon State Parks with scenic landscapes, outdoor activities and camping adventures.
Best State Parks Near Redmond Oregon
Here are some the best State Parks within a couple hours drive of Redmond. We haven’t been to all of them yet, but we’re looking forward to exploring more of these beautiful parks soon.
Smith Rock State Park
- Drive from Redmond: 13 minutes (9 miles)
Smith Rock State Park is considered to be the birthplace of modern American sport climbing. With its over 2000 climbing areas and routes for any skill level, Smith Rock is the perfect destination for rock climbers.
Aside from rock climbing, the state park is great for fishing, horseback riding, and hiking. The hiking trails are what bring us to Smith Rock – we love to go in the early morning while it’s quiet and the summer sun isn’t too hot yet.
One of the most rewarding hiking trails is Misery Ridge, where you can enjoy scenic views of deep river canyons once you reach the top.
>> Read our guide for more information on hikes in Smith Rock State Park
If you want to go camping in Smith Rock State Park, the bivouac camping area is open early spring through late fall (March to November) on a first-come, first-served basis. There are also a number of vacation rentals around the area.
>> Read our guide on the best places to stay near Smith Rock State Park
Tumalo State Park
- Drive from Redmond: 22 minutes (16 miles)
Located along the banks of the scenic Deschutes River, Tumalo State Park showcases the arid beauty of the region’s high desert. The park is known for its miles of hiking trails and crystal clear river streams.
While shallow in some areas, Tumalos is a popular place for water activities like swimming, trout fishing, kayaking, and floating!
Floating the Deschutes River is one of our favorite things to do in Central Oregon. Many people float the river in Bend but aren’t aware of this option from Tumalo. If you’re planning a float trip, check out our packing list essentials.
>> Read our guide on how to float the Deschutes River in Tumalo
For camping, the park has some tent and RV sites that are open year-round. We also recommend checking out the surrounding area for vacation rentals, eateries, and more.
>> Read our guide on the best things to do in Tumalo, Oregon
Cove Palisades State Park
Photo credit: Ipoellet, via Wikimedia Commons
- Drive from Redmond: 35 minutes (27 miles)
The Cove Palisades State Park is characterized by towering cliffs, scenic river canyons, and the serene waters of Lake Billy Chinook.This body of water is created by three rivers: the Crooked River, Deschutes River and Metolius River.
The park is a popular destination for hiking, boating, and paddling. Seasonal rentals for all sorts of equipment like jet skis, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, houseboats are available at the Cove Palisades Resort and Marina.
Other amenities include day-use areas, reservable picnic shelters and seasonal campgrounds. The campgrounds include electrical sites, tent sites, and deluxe cabins at the marina for rent.
Prineville Reservoir State Park
- Drive from Redmond: 45 minutes (35 miles)
Prineville Reservoir State Park is located nearby the Ochoco Mountain Range and the Crooked River, forming a beautiful backdrop.
The main day-use area has a boat ramp as well as a roped-off swimming area. Recreational water activities like water skiing, paddle boarding, kayaking, and wakeboarding are must-dos. The lake is also great for fishing everything from rainbow trout, large-mouth bass, crayfish, and more.
The state park is also known as a prime spot for stargazing because of its minimal light pollution and dark night skies. In fact, it was one of the first Oregon state parks to be certified as an International Dark Sky Park.
If you plan to stay the night, there are two main campgrounds with plenty of RV and tent sites and even deluxe log cabins.
LaPine State Park
Photo credit: Another Believer via Wikimedia Commons
- Drive from Redmond: 45 minutes (43 miles)
LaPine State Park has a scenic location up in a high desert subalpine forest along the Upper Deschutes River. It’s home to 15 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails.
During winter, you can even try out snowshoeing or cross-country skiing on the trails. Another of the main highlights along the trails is Big Tree, Oregon’s oldest ponderosa pine that is considered to be over 500 years old.
There is a day-use area by the river with picnic tables, fire pit and a small grill. It’s only open seasonally but the camping area in the south loop with tent and electrical sites as well as log cabins is open year-round.
Cascadia State Park
Photo credit: RickObst via Wikimedia Commons
- Drive from Redmond: 1 hour and 30 minutes (79 miles)
Located in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, the Cascadia State Park is traversed by cascading creeks and features tranquil hiking trails.
Some of these trails lead to the scenic Soda Creek Falls and other scenic viewpoints along the South Santiam River.
The park also has a campground, group tent sites, and picnic areas that are shaded by Douglas Fir trees.
White River Falls State Park
Photo credit: Jonk via Wikimedia Commons
- Drive from Redmond: 1 hour and 40 minutes (87 miles)
White River Falls State Park is located along the Tygh Valley. The main highlight of the park is the 90 feet waterfall that plunges over a basalt shelf.
It’s an excellent place for hiking where you can get amazing viewpoints of the falls from above or go deep into the canyons to see a historic hydroelectric power plant at the base of the falls.
The park is open year round but the best time to visit the park is during spring since that’s when the waterfall flows the strongest.
Best Scenic Viewpoints Near Redmond Oregon
In addition to full-fledged State Parks, Redmond is close to several scenic viewpoints maintained by the state of Oregon as well.
Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint
- Drive from Redmond: 9 minutes (4.7 miles)
The Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint is a short drive away from Redmond and Eagle Crest. It has nice rest areas on the banks of the Deschutes.
The area is small but it’s a great stop during a road trip to have a picnic along the river or go fishing. For a short, easy, and family-friendly walk, head on to the hiking trail leading to the falls.
Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint
- Drive from Redmond: 11 minutes (9 miles)
The Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint offers visitors amazing views of vertical basalt cliffs and the Crooked River Canyon. We’ve enjoyed this area as a scenic rest stop on our way to or from Redmond.
Also known as the Peter Skene Ogden Wayside, the park also has access to the Crooked River High Bridge where the bravest can go bungee jumping with the Central Oregon Bungee Adventures!
Pilot Butte Scenic Viewpoint
Photo credit: Cacophony via Wikimedia Commons
- Drive from Redmond: 26 minutes (19 miles)
The Pilot Butte Scenic Viewpoint is home to the famous cinder cone from which the park takes its name. The Pilot Butte is a lava dome created from an extinct volcano, located just in the outskirts of Bend, Oregon.
The scenic viewpoint has hiking trails that lead to the summit with panoramic views of the high desert and surrounding mountains. The trails are accessible year-round from the east side parking lot. It’s popular as one the closest State Parks near Bend, Oregon.
Best State Natural Areas Near Redmond Oregon: Fort Rock
.jpg)
Photo credit: MARELBU via Wikimedia Commons
- Drive from Redmond: 1 hour and 25 minutes (85 miles)
The Fort Rock State Natural Area is one of the most captivating rock formations rising out from the high deserts of Central Oregon.
The volcanic tuff ring, which was formed thousands of years ago by volcanic activity, can be reached by hiking a footpath.
National Parks and Monuments Near Redmond OR
Now that we’ve covered Oregon State Parks near Redmond, we’d be remiss not to mention some of the best National Parks and Monuments where you can enjoy a day trip from Redmond.
Deschutes National Forest
Photo credit: MARELBU via Wikimedia Commons
- Drive from Redmond: 45 minutes (30.1 miles)
The Deschutes National Forest is a gem of the Pacific Northwest known for its diverse landscapes of lush forests, sparkling lakes, and volcanic peaks.
The National Forest provides year-round recreation activities like hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing. To visit, you can usually purchase day passes on site (now using online payment) as well as annual passes at a park office.
Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Photo credit: Rocketman1111 via Wikimedia Commons
- Drive from Redmond: 30 minutes (28 miles)
The Newberry National Volcanic Monument has the largest volcano in the Cascade Range. The area includes over 50,000 acres of lakes, lava flows, hot springs, and other unique geological formations worth visiting.
Crater Lake National Park
- Drive from Redmond: 1 hour and 50 minutes (106 miles)
The Crater Lake National Park is the sole national park of Oregon. It’s home to Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States.
The lake is surrounded by a network of trails with spectacular views from various viewpoints along the rim.
The national park offers tons of outdoor recreational opportunities, a lodge, and camping sites where guests can stay overnight, surrounded by the park’s natural beauty.
Whether you go to a state park or a scenic viewpoint, these parks will let you experience the wonders of Oregon and its natural beauty all within a couple hours’ drive from Redmond.
Like this post? Pin it for later or share with friends!
