A Wheelchair Accessible Bend, Oregon Travel Guide

Six years ago, I visited Oregon for the first time. On that trip, I fell in love with the city of Portland (and its variety of tasty donuts), but I hoped to explore more of the state one day. Fast forward to April 2023 and I finally had a chance to return to Oregon for a speaking engagement and this time, I was determined to see more of the state! In particular, I really wanted to do two things during this Oregon trip: visit the world’s last remaining Blockbuster and try adaptive snow skiing for the first time ever. So, with those goals in mind, I set my sights on the charming and wheelchair accessible Bend Oregon. 

Bend is about a three to four hour drive from Portland, so my mom and I used a wheelchair accessible rental van from United Access to make the drive after touching down in Portland. Our accessible rental van worked perfectly and the customer service at United Access was incredible. They even put snacks in our van for us since it was going to be a longer drive. I’m telling you, they could not have been any nicer. The drive to Bend ended up being relatively easy and it was absolutely beautiful! 

Over the course of a few days in Bend, we enjoyed hiking on nature trails, eating delicious food, and yes, I was able to try adaptive snow skiing and felt all of the 90s nostalgia at the world’s last Blockbuster. It was one of my most epic and fun-filled trips in a long time, and Bend quickly won me over and made me realize just how awesome Oregon is. If you’re curious about wheelchair accessible Bend Oregon attractions and things to do, where to eat, or where to stay in Bend, I’ve got you covered with this guide. Keep reading to discover how you can enjoy a trip in Bend, Oregon as a wheelchair user!

Wheelchair Accessible Bend Oregon Attractions & Things to Do

Riley Ranch Nature Reserve 

I love rolling on accessible hiking trails and Riley Ranch Nature Reserve is a great one in Bend, Oregon. This trail was the first place that I visited in Bend and it was a wonderful starting point to enjoying the great outdoors as a wheelchair user. 

At Riley Ranch Nature Reserve, there is a one-mile long loop and it’s made of hard-packed gravel. It was very easy for me to roll on and I really enjoyed spending about 45 minutes or so on this accessible trail. Most of the trail was flat, but there were a couple of steeper sections. Nothing my powered wheelchair, or any manual chair even, couldn’t handle though! 

There was some snow on the trail, which was lovely. As someone from Georgia that doesn’t see much snow, I loved it! I also saw some deer while on the trail and I met some friendly Bend locals during my roll. 

An accessible companion care restroom is available at the beginning of the trail and multiple benches are along the trail, so if you don’t use a wheelchair and need to rest for a bit, those are an option. I was thrilled to see just how great accessibility was at Riley Ranch Nature Reserve.

Alpenglow Park

After rolling around Riley Ranch Nature Reserve for a while, my wheelchair was still doing good on battery power, so we decided to head over to Alpenglow Park. Near downtown Bend, Alpenglow Park is 37 acres large and has a lot to offer.

You’ll find open lawn areas, a wheelchair accessible playground (it even has an accessible swing!), a seasonal water play area, an off-leash area for dogs, and plenty of trails to enjoy. On a nice day, you could easily spend hours at Alpenglow Park. 

There are 2.2 miles of ADA accessible trails at Alpenglow Park. That includes a 0.9-mile paved perimeter loop path and 1.3 miles of soft surface natural trails. I loved rolling on the paved trail and while it wasn’t necessarily as scenic as Riley Ranch Nature Reserve, it was fantastic and still offered a lot of beauty. 

With over two miles of wheelchair accessible trails and more accessibility options, Alpenglow Park is a fun place to explore no matter what your abilities are. Whether you want to enjoy a picnic in the park or just go on a hike, you are sure to have a good time at this wheelchair accessible Bend Oregon attraction! 

The world’s last Blockbuster

There was nothing better as a kid than getting to go to Blockbuster on a Friday night and picking out a movie for the weekend. If you’re a 90s kid like me, I’m sure you agree, right? Sadly, those days are mostly over now that every Blockbuster around the world has shut down… except for the world’s last remaining Blockbuster in Bend, Oregon! 

I have wanted to visit this Blockbuster for years to experience all of the 90s nostalgia and it was just as wonderful as I imagined. At the world’s last remaining Blockbuster, you can rent movies, of course, but they also have a plethora of souvenirs you can purchase and an exhibit about the history of Blockbuster. 

I loved browsing the movies and I had to get a few souvenirs, including a coffee mug and a shirt. It was so much fun to experience this and reminisce on my childhood days spent inside Blockbuster. Now, I just wish they would bring all of the Blockbuster’s back! 

High Desert Museum 

One of Bend, Oregon’s most popular attractions is the High Desert Museum and I had a chance to check it out! This museum shares both the history of and current realities of life (and wildlife) in the region, which is known as the West High Desert. 

About half of the museum is indoors with wonderful exhibits and half is outdoors, but there are smooth paths to all of the different areas. And if you need to borrow a wheelchair, the High Desert Museum has them available at the entrance. There are companion care restrooms available as well. 

In addition to the informative exhibits, I really enjoyed seeing a variety of animals as well, including snakes, a fox, and more. My favorite part of my visit though was watching the “Sky Hunters” show. This show is a minimal extra cost, but totally worth it. During the show, birds flew over the audience and we learned about each one. It was so much fun and really entertaining, as the birds got extremely close as they flew overhead.

Whether you’re a history buff and want to learn about this part of the country or you just want to see some wildlife and enjoy rolling in the outdoors, the High Desert Museum is a must-visit while in wheelchair accessible Bend Oregon! 

Old Mill District

If you are wanting to shop, eat, or roll by the river, the Old Mill District is the place for you! It is a fun area to shop, dine, and explore in Bend, Oregon and it is a lively place with something for everyone. 

Historic mill buildings have been turned into dozens of stores and restaurants at the Old Mill District. My favorite was the huge REI store, where I was able to stock up on some great gear for adaptive snow skiing the next day. You’ll also find popular stores like American Eagle, Gap, and Banana Republic to name a few, and a movie theater and spa. There are so many options here and you can treat yourself to a guilt-free shopping spree here, as there is no sales tax in Oregon!

In addition to the many shops and restaurants, there is also a great paved path in the Old Mill District that goes along the Deschutes River. This is a beautiful area and a good place to spend a few hours in Bend! 

Adaptive Snow Skiing at Mount Bachelor 

I have wanted to try adaptive snow skiing for years. It’s been a big dream of mine, but every winter, I keep putting it off mostly because I hate cold weather. As someone that has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, my muscles don’t do well in cold weather, but I couldn’t resist any longer. I decided to finally try it in Oregon and it was so much better than I could’ve ever expected! 

Since the drive to Mount Bachelor had a lot of snow and we (my mom and I) didn’t feel super confident about driving in that amount of snow, the kind folks of Oregon Adaptive Sports offered to drive us in their bus. We met them in downtown Bend and their bus had a wheelchair accessible lift and tie-downs to secure my chair. Leah of Oregon Adaptive Sports drove us for about 30 minutes to the lodge at Mount Bachelor, where my snow skiing adventure would begin!

I’ll admit that I was super nervous about how it’d go and if I’d even be able to do it, but within minutes of arriving at Mount Bachelor, the kind folks at Oregon Adaptive Sports put my mind at ease. Inside their office, they fitted a sit ski to my accessibility needs. They helped transfer me from my wheelchair into the sit ski (I had my ableMove transfer sling) and then used lots of straps to get me secured in the sit ski. Surprisingly, it was quite comfortable and they had a solution for everything I needed to have the best possible experience. They are total professionals and I knew that I’d be in good hands once we were outside skiing on the mountain. 

After putting on a helmet and goggles, it was time to hit the slopes! For about an hour or so, it was nonstop thrills and surprisingly, I wasn’t even that cold (because I had so many layers on and my adrenaline was pumping, which probably helped!). My instructor, Jeremy, stayed behind me the whole time and safely steered me down the mountain a couple times. Two volunteers were with us as well in case we needed them, but everything went great! 

We went pretty fast over some hills, through some trees, and more. I felt like I was in the most awesome video game ever. I’ve been able to have some pretty remarkable experiences around the world, from hot air ballooning over volcanoes in Spain to zip lining over gators in Florida, but adaptive snow skiing might have been the coolest and most adrenaline-pumping thing I’ve ever done.

My experience with Oregon Adaptive Sports was truly exceptional and I cannot recommend them enough. If you have ever dreamed of going snow skiing, look no further. It only took me once to become a huge fan of adaptive snow skiing and I already can’t wait to do it again next winter! 

Where to Eat in Bend Oregon

Drake

Without a doubt, Drake was my favorite restaurant that I ate at while in Bend. It’s located in downtown Bend and specializes in “creative and inspirational comfort food”. For an appetizer, we had the bang bang shrimp. They were so delicious and the sauce on them was perfection. Then, I had the buttermilk fried chicken for my entree. It was served with hot honey, collard greens, and a biscuit, but I also got a side of mashed potatoes because I can never resist potatoes. I’m not exaggerating at all when I say that this was some of the best fried chicken I’ve ever eaten in my life. It was amazing and I’ll be dreaming of it until the next time I’m in Bend. 

Pine Tavern

During my time in Bend, multiple people recommended the Pine Tavern. It has been around since 1936 and is undoubtedly one of Bend’s most popular dining establishments. We decided to try it for dinner and it was fantastic! We had the fresh hummus plate for a starter and then I had steak frites for my entree. The steak was cooked perfectly and came with house roasted garlic & herb aioli and truffle fries on the side. It was a yummy meal and the service at the restaurant was great and very efficient. 

Bend Brewing Company

If you’re a fan of beer, there is no better place to visit than Bend Brewing Company. It is the second oldest brew pub in Bend and has a history of award winning craft beer. Even if you’re not a beer fan though, Bend Brewing Company offers a variety of food as well, from sandwiches to fish tacos and much more. My mom and I split two appetizers for our meal; the soft pretzel with beer cheese and the nachos with queso, black beans, salsa, sour cream, and diced chicken. Everything was delicious, but I especially loved the chicken nachos! Yum! 

Where to Stay in Bend: The Oxford Hotel

While in Bend, Oregon, we stayed at the beautiful The Oxford Hotel! This is an eco-chic boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Bend, so there are many restaurants and shops within walking/rolling distance. It’s really a perfect location and makes exploring the area easy. 

In our wheelchair accessible room, there was a king sized bed. It worked for my needs on this trip, but if you need to use a hoyer lift for transferring, there wasn’t any clearance underneath the bed unfortunately. The room was also on the smaller side, so we had to move some furniture around for me to be able to maneuver around the room easily. The hotel staff was happy to help us with that (they were seriously so nice!!) and after their help, it worked perfectly for me.

In the bathroom, there was a roll-in shower, a pull-under sink, and grab bars. The bathroom was spacious and I loved that there was no lip to get into the shower. It was perfectly smooth!

Next time I’m in Bend, I would certainly consider staying at The Oxford Hotel again. With the location in the heart of downtown, the friendly staff, and the accessibility, it’s a great option for any trip to Bend. Learn more about The Oxford Hotel by clicking here.

Sure, there are a ton of fun wheelchair accessible Bend Oregon attractions, but Bend is about so much more as well. It’s a welcoming destination with friendly people that strives to be inclusive for everyone, and it massively succeeds in doing that. If you are looking to visit Oregon, make sure that Bend is a part of your itinerary! I can almost guarantee that you’ll fall in love with this city just as much as I did.

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*Thank you to Travel Oregon for working with me on this trip and showing me the best of wheelchair accessible Bend Oregon! While my experiences were complimentary, all opinions expressed are authentic and my own.

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