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Photo by Mike Putnam, Visit Bend

The once-sleepy town of Bend has become a celebrated destination for pretty much anyone drawn to mountains, lakes, rivers or wooded trails. Bend is located on the dry, inland side of Oregon’s volcanic Cascade Mountain Range, and the ever-present mountain peaks have defined the town since its early logging days. This is the high desert, with mostly sunny days, cool nights and clean air that smells of ponderosa pine.