About La Pine Oregon
La Pine Oregon described as “The Outdoors at Your Front Door.” La Pine is located about 30 miles south of Bend , in southern Deschutes County . A rural community (with a small area that constitutes The City of La Pine) is your gateway to recreation year round.
La Pine Real Estate Market
La Pine Oregon Real Estate market is a little different than that of the areas near La Pine, the majority of the properties in La Pine are an acre or more. The City of La Pine contains many areas that allow for a lot less maintenance featuring smaller parcels that can be found in some of the newest developments such as Crescent Creek, Wheeler Ranch and Huntington Meadows.
Things to See
La Pine features two well known rivers the Little Deschutes River and the Big Deschutes River and numerous lakes. A few miles north of town, you will find La Pine State Recreation Area this is an ideal base camp to use while exploring the lava lands and wilderness areas. The park features a day use area, camping, Yurts and has showers and running water for campers. As you enter the park there is a trail and parking to visit Big Tree, thought to be one of the largest Ponderosa Pines in the state.
Things to Do
Newberry National Volcanic Monument: or what the old time locals still call Paulina Peak is a massive volcano which includes a five-mile wide caldera where you can find obsidian and pumice fields, deep mountain lakes, lava formations and waterfalls. Paulina and East Lakes provide camping and resort facilities. In the winter the snowmobiling is awesome, with miles upon miles of groomed trails. With over 50,000 acres you will also find hiking trails, lakes and a wide range of volcanic deposits from obsidian to pumice with in the park. Paulina and East Lakes are both located near the top of the peak and both have boat landings, great fishing, lodging and a small restaurant. These lakes are best known for the fishing of rainbow trout, kokanee salmon and brown trout. It is not unusual to see an occasional bear, deer or elk on the peak.
Hiking Newberry
The hiking trails double for snowmobiliers and cross country skiers during the winter season, the views are amazing. The Peter Skene Ogden Trail, which parallels Pauline Creek is just one of the many trails are used by cross country skiers and snowmobilers during the winter season.
There are 1.6 million acres of Deschutes National Forest, much of which is just a few miles from La Pine, The National Forest areas include Newberry National Volcanic Monument, the Lava Butte Geological Area and the Lava Cast Forest, Mt. Jefferson, Three Sisters, Diamond Peak and Mt Washington wilderness areas, Mt. Bachelor and the Cascade Lakes region.
Recreation
Recreation activities include rafting, hiking, backpacking, skiing, spelunking, fishing, camping and picnicking. There are more than 158 lakes and reservoirs, over 100 campgrounds and over 240 miles of streams in the national forest. An 89 mile paved driving tour takes you past spectacular views of many mountain lakes and streams, as well as a view of the Three Sisters peaks.
One way to see the area is taking the scenic tour which begins in Bend, Sunriver or La Pine and strike out on a breathtaking 87-mile loop that leads past Mt. Bachelor and the alpine lakes of Central Oregon, with spectacular panoramas and inviting stops along the way. Designated a National Scenic Byway by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, the drive is open all summer. But from November through May, it’s closed beyond Mt. Bachelor due to snow.
Skiing
Mt. Bachelor: About 20 miles from town, Mt. Bachelor ski lifts operate all summer long to take sightseers to the 9,065-foot summit. From there, overlook the remarkable volcanic skyline and gaze well into neighboring states. The experience provides one of Oregon’s most beautiful views.
Lakes
The High-Mountain Playground: From Mt. Bachelor, enter the alpine lake country. First is 600-acre Sparks Lake, chosen as the memorial site to commemorate the work of Ray Atkeson, Oregon’s photographer laureate.
Nearby, there are several entries to the 200,000-acre Three Sisters Wilderness, with 111 lakes and endless trails. A few miles beyond is Devils Lake with its white pumice floor.
At Elk Lake, a year-round resort (accessible by cross-country skis in winter) includes a complete marina. Neighboring Hosmer Lake is famous for its Atlantic salmon population. Lava and Cultus Lakes also offer resort facilities. Across the highway, Crane Prairie Reservoir is known for outstanding fishing and as a breeding ground for osprey.
As the highway loops east, it passes North and South Twin Lakes. Both symmetrical in shape and about 60 feet deep. South Twin Lake offers a resort and marina both of these lakes are good trout fishing and cat fishing. And on the other side of the road, Wickiup Reservoir is another well-known fishing hole.
The High Desert on Display: As you follow the tour route on its final leg, stop at Lava Lands Visitor Center where displays describe the region’s volcanic past. Visit the top of the butte where wonderful views and interpretive trails await.
In a Nutshell
La Pine is a rural community located in southern Deschutes County near the Newberry Volcanic National Monument and Paulina Peak, home of East Lake and Paulina Lake (Where the state record Brown Trout was found).
The recreation rich Cascade Lakes region of Central Oregon surrounds La Pine. There is abundant fishing, hiking and boating at any one of the many nearby lakes in the summer.
In the winter, enjoy cross country and alpine skiing at nearby Mt.Bachelor, or snowmobiling through the woods and up the nearby foothills. Whatever your choice, check out the lodging and recreation options available to you.
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