In Bend, dogs might outnumber humans
You would be hard pressed to find a more dog-friendly place than Bend, Oregon. Our restaurants have puppy bowls on the menu, the dog parks are vast, and it wouldn’t be a stretch of the imagination to think that the dogs may even outnumber humans.
Many people move to Bend with their pets, not only for the dog -friendly atmosphere, but for the vast outdoor activities that lay right outside our doors. And in that expanse lays one place that I have always loved the most, and that is Good Dog! dog park in Bend, Oregon. Yes the exclamation point is indeed part of the name, and from the very first visit, you’ll know why.
How to get to Good Dog!
Starting at the Rim Rock Trailhead off of Century Drive (as you head towards the Cascade Lakes Highway from Bend) this trail system is technically a 3.5 mile loop, but because of the incredible number of routes one can take, a hike at Good Dog! could be as long or short as you like.
And the best part; the entire area is an off-leash dog park! Since my discovery of this trail a year after I moved to Bend (a year too late if you ask me) it has been my favorite place to take my pup for an outdoor adventure. I’ll usually end at the river to let my dog, Arlo, swim, and if the river is your destination as well, it’s only a little over a mile to get there from the parking lot.
However, the river is not the only draw of the area. Anywhere you turn you’ll find beautiful landscapes, including dramatic boulders, thick forest, and wildlife of Central Oregon.
This place is truly idyllic. And it’s not just the scenery that creates a draw to the area.
Why we love it
Laura V., a recent Seattle transplant, loves the community that frequents Good Dog! dog park as well. “People are always so happy” she says, “I love the interactions that happen on this trail”.
She also takes her dog, Lew, there for the quiet time, if that’s what you prefer.
“This is the place I come to relax with my dog” she happily proclaimed, and I couldn’t agree more. It is the perfect place to get outdoors with your pup, and the area being off leash makes every interaction more pleasant.
“People are always so happy, I love the interactions that happen on this trail”.
Laura V, Bend dog owner
Choose your own adventure
Really, are there any cons of Good Dog! dog park? You’d be hard pressed to find one. The only thing I suggest for new visitors, is unless you already know the trails, it can be easy to get turned around, as there are so many different turns you can take.
This park really is a “choose your own adventure” kind of place! However, it’s very difficult to get truly lost out there, as there are so many people, and no matter which direction you take, you’ll eventually find a sign or a happy hiker willing to give you some directional insight. The rule of thumb I go by is if you go straight South from the parking lot, you’ll meet the river, and from there, the Deschutes River Trail.
If you go West, you’ll meet Meadow Camp, which is a lovely multi-use area that is perfect for a picnic. And if you go East, you’ll eventually find yourself at LOGE, a hotel that has a bar with cocktails and draft beer, which could be the perfect point for a mid-hike drink. Either way, don’t fret if you feel like you’ve taken a wrong turn, you’ll quickly see that you’ve found your way to a wonderful place, from which it’s always easy to find a way back to the main parking lot.
Bend is Dogtown, USA
We all love Bend because of its access to the outdoors, it’s friendly, welcoming attitude, and most of all it’s love for our furry friends.
Good Dog! encapsulates every one of these wonderful facets that make our town great. Overall, I think our new friend Laura V. and her pup Lew said it best, “We moved to Bend for places like this” and I too am grateful we have places like Good Dog! that make Bend feel like home.
Author: Gracie Baker
Gracie moved to Bend in early 2019, and within a few weeks of seeing what a dog-friendly place the city was, knew she wanted a furry friend. After scouring the shelters for months, she began to lose hope that her and her partner Jacob would find their perfect pup. But one day while perusing the website of Brightside in Redmond, she saw a beautiful young Australian Cattle Dog pop on to the adoption page, his name… Arlo. It was love at first sight, and the rest is history. Arlo is the absolute sweetest creature and a complete love bug. Friends with everyone he meets, Gracie and Jacob love taking him everywhere they go, whether it be to their neighborhood dog park at Hollinshead, or for a pup burger at 10 Barrel. Arlo’s favorite place to go adventuring is at Good Dog! and he has been sure to make friends with all of the bartenders at The Lot, in order to get unlimited treats. Gracie, Jacob, and Arlo love Bend, and hope it will be their forever home.