We have stayed at Sunriver, Oregon several times and love the resort. At 4,000 feet, Sunriver is in a high desert ecosystem. That means you will have a mix of sage brush, Ponderosa pines, and aspen trees. There are many things to do at the resort and the surrounding area. Sunriver is an easy 30 minute drive south of Bend Oregon on highway US highway 97.
While there, you will probably see mule deer, squirrels, chipmunks, herons, Canada Geese, Osprey, and Steller’s Jays. You might see elk, coyotes, raccoons, beavers and river otters. If you are lucky you might even see a mountain lion, bobcat, or a black bear.
Places to stay
- Sunriver Resort – this is the only “hotel” in Sunriver itself. Instead of rooms, they call them apartments. The amenities are very much high end with pool, hot tub, etc.
Most people we know rent a condo or a full house from one of the national rental firms such as VRBO, AirBNB, or Expedia. We rented both at different times because we liked to be able to cook for ourselves. Some of the rentals also include bikes to ride and passes to the waterpark.
Things to see and do in Sunriver itself
Village – the center of Sunriver is the “The Village at Sunriver.”- Food – there are currently 11 places to eat and get coffee in the village.
- Shopping – there are 19 places to buy food, souvenirs, camping/skiing/biking gear, art, and other merchandise in Sunriver.
- There are 22 other businesses, banks, guide services, real estate, and other services.
Activities
- Golf – there are 4 golf courses in or near Sunriver. Most of the crouses were designed at least in part by known golf course designers. All the courses are private. Most require golfers to be staying at the resort to play n their course.
- Sunriver Homeowners Aquatic & Recreation Center “SHARC” – SHARC is the resort’s water park. It has pools, a lazy river, water slides, the SROA Member Fitness center, a disc golf course, a bocce ball court, basketball court, and a café. SHARC is free to resort owners and guests and to the general public for a fee.
Walking paths – one of the things we enjoyed the most were the walking paths. Sunriver Resort is huge and has several walking paths throughout the resort. The Sunriver Resort very pedestrian and bike friendly with crosswalks and tunnels when paths cross roads.- There are tennis, pickleball, and tennis courts scattered throughout the resort along with playgrounds and other activities.
Things to see and do around Sunriver
Lava River Cave – The lava cave, part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, is between the main monument and Sunriver. The cave is actually a tube that runs for a little over a mile underground. In some places the cave it huge with high vaulted ceilings while others will require you to duck or bang your head on solid rock. The cave is closed at certain times of the year because of the bats that live in the cave. Even when it is open, there are some rules you need to follow to access the cave to help protect the bats. You will need to bring one or two VERY BRIGHT LIGHTS! There is no illumination once you get down into the cave and it is very dark! Finally, there is a timed reservation system for part of the year so reserve you r spot early.
Benham Falls East Trailhead – if you are claustrophobic, perhaps you would rather go for a walk in the woods. Benham Falls East Trailhead should answer that need for you. The walk/hike follows the Deschutes River for less than 2 miles. You can access the trail from either the west trailhead (north end) or east trailhead (south end) and walk either direction. We started at the south end, got to the falls and then returned to our cars. The walk mostly follows old forest roads and so it is pretty easy. There are some side paths to get better pictures of the river.- Newberry National Volcanic Monument – the main portion of monument is in the middle of a large lava field. The highest point in the main monument is the summit Paulina Peak at 7,985 feet. The peak was named for Chief Paulina or Pahninee, a Paiute warrior in the region in the middle 1800’s.
High Desert Museum – On one of our recent visits, we stopped at the High Desert Museum. The museum covers 135 acres with several buildings in addition to the large main building. The main building has several themed areas. Those include background of the native Americans from the high desert area of the western United States, sections about the history of the region, and displays of animals from the area. Scattered around the site are displays with other animals, an old sawmill and farm and other displays.
Mt. Batchelor – About 20 miles northwest of Sunriver is Mt. Batchelor. In the winter it is the premier ski area of central Oregon and in the summer it’s taken over by bicycles. The ski lifts run visitors and riders to the top for the view or a downhill run.
- Crater Lake – 90 plus miles south of Sunriver is Crater Lake, the remnants of Mount Mazama, a volcano the blew up almost 8,000 years ago. It is possible to drive around the rim and even take a boat ride on the Lake.
