Sunriver Resort in Central Oregon is a place our family returns to year after year. Partly because it’s familiar, but also because there’s always something new to discover.
Here are 6 reasons why we love returning to Sunriver:
1. Activities for Everyone
Whether you prefer to relax or recreate, there’s truly something for everyone here. During summer months, our favorite resort activities include:
Biking
We love the 34+ miles of paved bike trails, where you can safely pedal around the expansive property, along the various marked loops.
Bikes are available to rent, or you can bring your own. Helmets are provided, too. Oregon law requires that kids under 16 must wear helmets.
Swimming
The Cove is one of our favorite spots at Sunriver Resort. It’s an aquatic center available exclusively to Sunriver resort guests. In the outdoor area, there’s a large zero-entry pool, a hot tub, and fun waterslide. Inside there’s a pool, lazy river, hot tub, and another fun slide. The pool’s open year-round.
KidTripster Tip: To lock in vacation vibes, order a Lava Flow, that’s our favorite blended drink. Want to take it to the next level? Rent a cabana and enjoy your own private space to spread out.
Water Sports
Rent a tube, raft, or SUP board from the Sunriver Marina then take a leisurely float down the Deschutes River. A driver will pick you up a few hours later at the designated pull-out point and return you to the marina. It’s a fun and mellow way to spend an afternoon.
Golfing
Sunriver Resort has 63 holes among its four award-winning golf courses. If you’re a true golfer, you’ll love it here. We’ve met many travelers that haven’t experienced half of the fun resort activities because the golf experience has so much to offer.
However, our family prefers the “putt putt” version. Miniature golf is one of the many entertainment activities at The Village at Sunriver, which also has a rock climbing wall, bounce houses, go karts, an arcade and more.
Horseback Riding
One way to experience the expansive beauty of Sunriver Resort is to see it on horseback. You can choose a 45-minute or 75-minute ride.
Anyone age 7 and up can ride, no experience is needed. Pony rides are available for younger kids. You’ll receive some instructions at the stables before heading out as a group.
Our leisurely ride took us along the river, through a picturesque pine forest, where we saw some wildlife.
Wildlife Watching
Any visit to Sunriver will include some sort of wildlife sighting. Central Oregon is home to a wide variety of animals. Want to know what to look for? Pick up an interactive wildlife brochure at the Bike Barn and the Marina.
The Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory is another place to see animals. The small center is home to birds of prey, bees and other little critters. There’s a nature trail and botanic garden. Sunriver Nature Center is open daily. Admission is $9 for adults, $6 for kids 4-12, kids under 4 are free.
KidTripster Tip: There’s a separate observatory located right next door. Sunriver’s a great place to view the night sky. You can use the telescope at the observatory to view constellations. We stayed at Sunriver during the Perseid Meteor Shower in August and saw several meteors streaking across the sky from our patio, no special equipment needed.
2. Natural Places to Explore
Although there’s plenty to keep your family busy at Sunriver Resort, there’s also a lot to do nearby. The resort’s located in area shaped by millions of years of volcanic events. It makes for an interesting natural landscape.
Here are some of our favorite places to explore, all within a short drive:
Lava Lands Visitor’s Center & Lava Butte
Get up to speed on all of the geological history with a stop at the Lava Lands Visitor’s Center. This is the hub of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. There are engaging interpretative exhibits to check out. During the summer, you can take a shuttle bus to the summit of Lava Butte.
Lava River Cave
Just down the road is the Lava River Cave, also part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. This mile-long lava tube is the longest one in the state of Oregon. It’s about two miles roundtrip and takes about 90 minutes to explore.
KidTripster Tip: Dress warmly as the temperature inside the cave is just 42 degrees. You’ll also need to bring flashlights and/or headlamps.
Lava Cast Forest
The Lava Cast Forest Trail gets you up close to tree molds formed 7,000 years ago by volcanic activity. You can see where trees once stood, and even climb inside some of them. The trail is just under a mile. It’s a paved loop, making it easy for all skill levels. The Lava Cast Forest is only open during the summer season as it requires a 10 mile drive down a gravel Forest Service road.
Benham Falls
A family friendly trail takes you to Benham Falls. A wide dirt trail takes you up close to the largest falls on the upper Deschutes River. It’s an easy walk, with a footbridge and several lookouts through old growth pine trees. Parking is available on either side of the trail. Bikes are allowed on the trail.
KidTripster Tip: You can pedal over from Sunriver, on the 5 mile bike path between the Benham Falls trailhead and the resort.
Big Obsidian Flow
Another place to explore is the Big Obsidian Flow. At 1,300 years old, this is Oregon’s youngest lava flow. There’s a one-mile trail that takes hikers onto the obsidian flow (it’s black glass!). Be sure to wear hiking shoes or sneakers here to protect your feet, and be wary of bringing your dog along for the hike as it can be dangerous for their paws.
KidTripster Tip: A day use fee or recreation pass is required at many of these locations. At most locations, drivers can pay on-site. Check before you go.
Mt. Bachelor
Mt. Bachelor is open year-round. It’s about a 20-minute drive from Sunriver. In the winter, you can ski, snowboard, and even go dog sledding.
In the summer, the scenic chairlift is open. There’s also mountain biking and hiking. A zip line opened a few years ago. It launches from a 7,800 foot elevation and drops nearly 1,400 vertical feet down the side of the mountain. It’s billed as the steepest, fastest, and highest-elevation zip line in the Northwest.
3. Year-Round Resort Activities
Although summer is our favorite time at Sunriver Resort, there’s an ever-changing menu of activities depending on the season.
Winter offers snow sports, ice skating, sleigh rides, and holiday traditions like tree lightings and visits from Santa Claus.
Spring and fall are typically quieter times at Sunriver. Be sure to check for seasonal specials and expect to get the best deals mid-week or during shoulder seasons.
4. Quality Family Time
The wholesome vibe makes Sunriver a great choice for families.
The variety of fun activities mean your kids will want to be outside spending time with you, instead of spending time with their screens.
Whenever we visit, we notice kids being kids. They’re not embarrassed to be hanging out with their families, riding bikes, splashing in the pool, rafting down the river. It’s good old-fashioned fun at Sunriver.
It’s also safe place for older kids to explore on their own. The lodge or Sunriver Village serve as good meeting spots for teens and their friends.
5. Choice of Accommodations
Whether you prefer a hotel room or a whole house, Sunriver Resort has that and more.
Be sure to make your reservations through the resort directly to enjoy the many amenities of staying at Sunriver.
We love the Lodge Village Suites. These units sleep up to 6 people and have two full bathrooms and a full kitchen. Each unit has a deck and a fireplace. We like the proximity to the lodge, the pool, and to Sunriver Village.
The Lodge Village has smaller units available, too. These are more like hotel rooms, without a kitchen.
KidTripster Tip: If you rent a room without a kitchen, there are plenty of dining options at Sunriver Resort. The resort offerings include the Lodge Kitchen (serving breakfast, lunch & dinner), the Owl’s Nest (serving lunch & dinner), and the Backyard Cafe & Bar (serving burritos, wraps, sandwiches, etc throughout the day). The Village at Sunriver also has several restaurants.
Outside of the Lodge Village, we’ve rented larger homes at Sunriver for times when we’ve traveled with friends and extended family. There are some truly gorgeous homes here. Some have hot tubs, foos ball and ping pong tables, complimentary use of bikes, and more. Prices vary depending on the home’s location, amenities, and decor.
6. Easily Accessible
Located 15 miles south of Bend, Sunriver Resort is an easy escape for most Oregonians. It’s a 3.5 hour drive from Portland, and 2.5 hours from Eugene, making it a manageable weekend getaway. (This resort’s also popular with California guests, it’s about a 7 hour drive from the Bay Area.)
Because of Sunriver’s location in the high desert, the weather’s typically better here, than elsewhere in the state. The area typically gets about 300 days of blue skies and sunshine each year.
The writer received a complimentary stay and meals for purposes of this review.
