A good dog walk can be part of what makes living in Bend feel like home. Start with the outings you and your dog actually enjoy: a forest walk, a fenced place to play, or a leashed stroll near town. Each offers a different experience, and the rules change with the place you visit.
GoodDog!: David Keyte’s personal favorite
GoodDog! is David Keyte’s favorite place in Bend to get out with his dog. What he enjoys most is the feeling of heading into the forest: plenty of trails to explore, room for a longer walk, and the Deschutes River as a destination when he keeps going. For David, the appeal is the whole outing—the forest walk as much as the chance for his dog to take a dip.
Look for Rimrock Trailhead off Cascade Lakes Highway just outside Bend. GoodDog! refers to the surrounding trail network, rather than a conventional fenced neighborhood dog park. DogPAC’s trail guide describes it as a year-round off-leash walking location, with a network of trails and dirt roads and river access farther south.
Choose a route before setting out and leave enough time for the return walk. Bring a leash, water and waste bags. The Forest Service requires leashes at developed recreation sites, including parking areas. Off-leash access in the GoodDog! trail network does not mean every adjoining trail has the same rules. Check posted signs and current forest notices.
River access is one of the attractions, but reaching the water is not a promise of safe swimming. Judge the current, footing and your dog’s ability before allowing a dip, and keep your dog away from hazardous water. You can enjoy the forest without making the river the goal of every visit.
Discovery Park: a fenced off-leash option
Discovery Park, within NorthWest Crossing, has a fenced off-leash dog area and walking trails. It offers a different outing from the open forest at GoodDog!: a defined place for off-leash play, with other park spaces nearby. Keep your dog leashed outside the designated off-leash area.
Shevlin Park: plan a leashed forest walk
For a forest outing with your dog on leash, consider the permitted trails at Shevlin Park. Bend Park and Recreation District requires dogs to stay on leash on its trails and notes that some sections exclude dogs to protect wildlife. Follow the current trail map and signs rather than assuming every path is open to pets.
Match the outing to your dog
Think about recall, comfort around other dogs, stamina and the conditions that day. A fenced area, a quiet leashed walk and an open forest trail are different choices. For additional locations and current rules, use BPRD’s dog-park guide.
If you are choosing a home in Bend, try your likely everyday walk from the specific address as well as visiting your favorite weekend destination. Our home-search checklist for dog owners covers yards, routes and property rules. Tell the Bend Relo team what matters to you and your dog, and we can help organize a home search around those priorities.
Talk with David & the Bend Relo team
Buying, selling, relocating, or evaluating a specific property? Tell us what you are working through. We are happy to help.
