Best Fall Hikes Outside of Permit Season

The Magic of Fall Hiking in Bend

Fall in Central Oregon is a magical time. The crowds have thinned, the air carries that crisp bite that makes every breath feel purposeful, and the landscape settles into those rich golds and burnt oranges that make for the perfect photo backdrop.  While summer in Central Oregon has its moment, fall means it's the ideal time to explore those trails. The best part about fall hiking is that Permit season officially ends on October 15th. Those trails that required advance reservations all summer are now available without planning ahead. 

The catch during the permit-free season is timing. Some of the most spectacular trails become inaccessible once the Cascade Lakes Highway closes around early November due to snowfall. Others stay open all year. Knowing which is which makes all the difference for the perfect fall hiking experience. 

The Short Window Adventures

These trails offer Central Oregon's most spectacular hiking, but only if you catch them between October 16th and the first road-closing snowfall. We think they're definitely worth planning your trip around. 

Tumalo Falls

Golden aspens create a natural amphitheater around this 97-foot cascade during October's peak color. The sound of rushing water echoes off canyon walls while leaves crunch underfoot. Fall temperatures make the gentle climb to the overlook feel almost effortless at 0.8 miles. If you want more, you can extend the adventure with the longer loop that goes deeper into aspen groves where light filters through branches in cathedral-like beams. Beautiful sights and sounds for the perfect fall adventure. 

Good to know: A Northwest Forest Pass is required. Road closes around November 1st.

Big Obsidian Flow

Walking across Oregon's youngest lava flow feels like stepping onto another planet. Each footstep produces a distinct crunch as volcanic glass shifts underfoot. The obsidian surfaces catch morning light, sometimes mirror-bright, sometimes deep as midnight. This 0.8-mile interpretive trail explains the explosive birth of this landscape just 1,300 years ago, but the real education comes from exploring glass formations that cooled into impossible shapes. A hike like no other that almost feels like time travel. 

Know before you go: A Northwest Forest Pass is required. Trail access ends when Newberry Caldera Road closes for winter.

Paulina Peak Trail

The trail to this ancient volcano's rim becomes a lot more enjoyable when crisp fall air replaces stifling summer heat. Climbing through forest zones, you'll notice how elevation brings different trees and different scents. From the 7,985-foot summit, the entire Newberry Caldera spreads out below with twin lakes reflecting the cloudy fall sky and obsidian flows creating dark ribbons across pumice fields. On clear fall days, visibility stretches from Mount Hood to Mount Shasta.

Come prepared: No permits after October 15th, but a Northwest Forest Pass is required. Seasonal road closure applies. Check the Oregon Department of Transportation for updates. 

Todd Lake

This alpine lake sits just a quarter-mile walk from the parking area, making it one of Central Oregon's most accessible mountain lake experiences. The Todd Lake Loop Trail circles the water in a gentle mile-long stroll that requires no wilderness permit. Broken Top's jagged silhouette reflects in water so still that it creates perfect mirror worlds, while golden larches frame every viewpoint. Fall brings particular quiet here with no crowds. The ideal hike to calm the soul by listening to the wind in the trees and the occasional splash of a rising trout. The surrounding meadows take on deep orange and red hues that change with every shift in light. If you're looking for bliss, this is the trail to explore.

For more adventurous hikers, the Todd Lake Trail climbs from the lake toward Broken Top and Soda Creek, but this route enters the Three Sisters Wilderness and requires permits year-round.

Trail notes: Northwest Forest Pass needed. Cascade Lakes Highway closure makes this seasonal. Loop trail requires no permits; wilderness trail requires permits even in the fall.

Year-Round Hiking Heroes

These trails deliver epic experiences regardless of weather, road conditions, or seasonal closures. Perfect for spontaneous adventures, offering stunning views and plenty of options for every activity level.  

Black Butte

This 4-mile climb gains 1,600 feet through dense forest to reach one of Central Oregon's few remaining active fire lookouts. Fall turns a potential summer slog into an exhilarating fall ascent where cool air makes the steady elevation gain manageable. The summit's 360-degree panorama includes every major Cascade peak. With Mount Hood's profile to the north, the Three Sisters marching south, there's no mountain to be missed. Clear skies provide visibility that makes distant peaks look surprisingly close.

Access: Year-round via Forest Service roads. Northwest Forest Pass is required.

Steelhead Falls

The descent into this basalt canyon follows a path where high desert landscape becomes something more intimate. Crisp fall air makes navigating rocky terrain and stream crossings pleasant while the sound of rushing water grows stronger with each step. The Deschutes River has carved this hidden world over thousands of years, creating multi-tiered waterfalls that cascade through narrow channels into reflective pools.

Know before you go: BLM land means no fees, year-round access via Highway 20.

Pilot Butte

Right in Bend's backyard, this 500-foot climb delivers comprehensive views on a 1.8-mile round-trip that gets your heart pumping without requiring a full day. From the summit, Bend's neighborhoods create geometric patterns against the natural landscape, while the Cascade Range marches along the western horizon. Sunrise and sunset are particularly rewarding times for this accessible climb.

Good to know: No fees, no permits, accessible year-round from city streets.

Smith Rock's Misery Ridge

Fall weather transforms this dramatic landscape into a hiking paradise. The 3.7-mile loop winds through terrain of towering volcanic spires rising from the Crooked River canyon. Comfortable temperatures turn sustained climbs into opportunities for appreciation rather than endurance. You'll pause frequently at viewpoints—not from exhaustion but because every angle reveals another composition of red rock, blue sky, and distant ranges.

Access info: $5 day-use fee or Oregon State Parks Pass. Open year-round.

Metolius River Trail

This spring-fed river runs so clear you can watch trout from the trail above. Fall brings crisp air and golden light filtering through old-growth ponderosa pines. The gentle sound of flowing water provides a natural soundtrack for whatever distance feels right, from short strolls to longer explorations following the river deeper into the wilderness. This is hiking as restoration rather than conquest.

Trail notes: Year-round via paved roads, no fees at most trailheads.

Oregon Badlands Wilderness

Ancient juniper trees twisted into living sculptures populate this high desert landscape, where navigation happens by natural landmarks rather than maintained trails. Some trees have grown for over 1,000 years, creating impossible shapes against distant volcanic peaks. Fall's comfortable temperatures make wandering this trackless wilderness especially appealing. The solitude here goes beyond quiet. It's the profound silence that resets your relationship with constant stimulation from the busy, everyday world. 

Good to know: BLM wilderness with unlimited entry, year-round access from Highway 20, and no fees.

Your Bend Basecamp

Fall hiking around Bend offers something for every adventurer. The real magic happens when you match your energy to what the day and trails are offering. Some days call for Black Butte's sustained climb and panoramic rewards. Others ask for a peaceful flow beside the Metolius River.

Ready to experience Central Oregon's fall hiking secrets? Let Waypoint Hotel serve as your comfortable basecamp. Plan tomorrow's adventure, rest trail-tested legs, and wake up refreshed for whatever the mountains are calling you to explore next. Book your fall getaway, explore the town, and discover why October and November might be the perfect months to fall in love with Bend's trails.