Extra-Celestial Central Oregon
Dark Sky Adventures in Central Oregon
Some trips promise you the moon and the stars. And this one delivers in a big way, plus throws in some extra planets for your viewing pleasure. From Bend, Sunriver, and Sisters to Antelope Basecamp in the remote high desert, Central Oregon serves up night-sky wonders with year-round adventures to match.
Bend After Dark
People love Bend for a lot of reasons, including the great outdoors right outside your door! Hiking and biking trails crisscross the shimmering Deschutes River; jewel-like lakes tucked high in the mountains seem to wink at you; and family-friendly breweries with fire pits (among the best for beers and cheers) are excellent places to eat, drink, and catch a glorious sunset.
And when the sun goes down, the adventure doesn’t stop. It’s often just getting started!
Wanderlust Tours has been leading the way in environmentally conscious nighttime adventures under Oregon’s dark skies. Choose your starventure: canoe an alpine lake under the Milky Way, go on a snowshoe adventure beneath a meteor shower, or take a sunset and stargazing hike under the majestic night sky of Oregon's high desert.
Paddling one of Central Oregon’s high-elevation Cascade Lakes brings you even closer to the stars as you glide under moonlight and starlight.
Snowshoeing through a forest in the Cascade Mountains and stopping in snowy meadows to scan the skies for shooting stars is the stuff of fairy trails. The Geminids meteor shower is one of the year's premier celestial shows. Wanderlust Tours helps you experience it on a guided adventure around Mt. Bachelor and the Deschutes National Forest.
BONUS: Mt. Bachelor’s Nordic Luminaria events are another way to see the mountains in a whole new light. Snowshoe or ski easygoing trails illuminated by candlelight, then warm up by a winter bonfire. Glow-in-the-dark gear and costumes encouraged!
Get back—wayyy back—to the Oregon Outback with Wanderlust’s Fort Rock Sunset Hike and Stargazing Tour. Far from city lights, this high-desert landscape serves up some of the darkest skies around. And historic Fort Rock is a standout. Lace up your boots and stroll this ancient volcanic tuff ring, a National Natural Landmark rising like it's reaching for the North Star.
WORTHY BONUS: In between night trails, pair some tasty ales with telescope time at the one-of-a-kind Worthy Brewing and Hopservatory. Craft beer meets the cosmos at this Bend favorite, where outdoor fire pits and casual picnic tables on the patio invite you to stay awhile and sip seasonal and classic brews. Meanwhile, upstairs in the third-floor dome, something else is brewing. The Hopservatory awaits, featuring a 16-inch research-grade telescope for your celestial viewing pleasure. On-site astronomer extraordinaire Grant Tandy will point the way to glowing galaxies, homing in on planets and stars that dazzle after dark.
Not Your Father’s Night School
Central Oregon is your crash course in all things cosmically cool.
Take your curiosity to new heights at the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory, the nation’s largest public observatory.
By day, stroll the shores of Lake Aspen looking for resident beavers and otters; wander the botanic garden to see the wildflowers that thrive in the high desert; and say hello to snakes and salamanders in the Creature Cave.
Then get all intergalactic! Sunriver’s high elevation and status as a certified International Dark Sky Place make it ideal for seeing celestial wonders. With a fleet of powerful telescopes, including a whopping 30-inch giant, astronomers take you on a cosmic journey to spot planets, constellations, and faraway galaxies.
At Bend’s High Desert Museum, immerse yourself in the Forest at Night, an interactive pavilion showcasing what happens when the sun goes down and the forest wakens with nocturnal creatures. Learn about the secret lives of species like the white-lined sphinx moth and great horned owl. The museum also earns superstar status for revealing how birds use the stars to navigate across the High Desert.
Even baseball has a starring role in teaching us about the importance of dark skies and reducing light pollution. Bend's ballpark, Vince Genna Stadium, was designated a DarkSky Certified Outdoor Sports Lighting facility by DarkSky International. That’s a home run for lighting designed to protect the night sky.
Stay Under the Stars
Forget counting sheep. At these Central Oregon getaways, the stars are worth staying up for.
For a little luxury under the Milky Way, Black Butte Ranch near Sisters offers resort-style comforts along with guided stargazing tours across its Big Meadow. Using binoculars, sky maps, and a telescope, guests can explore constellations, planets, and maybe even spot Saturn's rings.
Nearby Sisters is a Certified International Dark Sky Community, recognized for its commitment to reducing light pollution and preserving those spectacular night skies. This mountain town pairs Old West charm with a little cowboy cosmos. After dark, top billing goes to the stars (okay, and the saloons!).
Sunriver is a star attraction in its own right, recognized by DarkSky International as Oregon's first International Dark Sky Place in 2020. This resort community takes its night skies seriously, keeping artificial lighting to a minimum so the sky gets to shine. Make an adventure of it at Sunriver Resort, a 3,300-acre retreat surrounded by ponderosa pines, with cozy lodge rooms, spacious vacation homes, and outdoor activities for every season. By day, bike scenic pathways or enjoy the Deschutes River; by night, let the constellations be your guide to the wonders above.
For something farther off the beaten path, Antelope Basecamp is Oregon's first DarkSky Approved Lodging property. Tucked into the remote high desert, its cozy A-frame cabins offer front-row views of everything from meteor showers to shifting constellations.
Talk about stellar stays!
