(Originally Posted September 9, 2015)

You rarely find Bend, OR mentioned without the words “dog friendly” before it. With miles of groomed walking trails, 7 off-leash dog parks, dog friendly national forests, several sparkling lakes, and dozens of dog friendly businesses, dog friendly Bend, OR is an ideal vacation spot for active people who love traveling with their dogs. 

We rented a great house from Airbnb on a 50 acre working farm. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

That’s probably why GoPetFriendly.com named Bend as One of the Best Cities for Dog Vacations in the US and BringFido.com named the Riverhouse a Fido’s Favorite Award winner. 

Oh, and Dog Fancy Magazine named Bend the 2012 Dog Town of the Year.

Not surprisingly, the number of Bend households that have dogs is almost 40% higher than the national average (50% vs. 36%).

Dog Friendly Bend, OR

Located in central Oregon about 2 hours east of Portland, Bend is in the Cascade Foothills along the Deschutes River with an elevation of 3623 ft. above sea level and a high desert climate.

Finding Dog Friendly Accommodations

While Bend has a plethora dog friendly hotels, my cousin (we went with her family) reserved a dog friendly house through Airbnb, and it was an ideal place to stay with our dogs because the house was on a 50 acre working farm.

As Haley demonstrates, the farm offered the dogs plenty of opportunities to roam. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

While several areas of the farm were off-limits, we had plenty of room to stroll around with Miguel and Haley.

It was so nice to be able to walk around the property without having to leash them and watch them dash around excitedly exploring every new smell.

The only potential danger we had to worry about were the horses – the owner’s daughter told us they ran down her dogs after they chased them (the dogs sustained serious injuries but are fine now).

The house wasn’t the most luxurious place I’ve stayed, but it was roomy, clean, and comfortable with internet access and Direct TV.

Miguel on the farm surveying his domain. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

At $2200, the rent was a bit high, but between splitting it with my cousin and saving money on meals by making them in the kitchen, the cost was about the same as staying in a hotel.

And having lots of open space to walk with the dogs? Priceless.

I hadn’t used Airbnb before, but when we travel with our dogs again I will check it out to see if I can find more dog friendly places on the site. 

Dog Friendly Hikes in Bend

Bend is one of the best places in the Northwest to hike with your dog not only because of the gorgeous scenery and varied terrain but also because it is located just outside the 1.8 million acre Deschutes National Forest where 95% of the trails are open to dogs off-leash in the summer and there are 1,200 miles of summer trails on the forest. In winter, dogs are allowed off-leash on 99% of national forest lands managed by the Deschutes National Forest.

We went on 2 hikes with the dogs when we were in Bend…

The dogs led us on our hike along the Deschutes River in Tumalo State Park.

1. The Deschutes River in Tumalo State Park. 

This is a great off leash hike for older dogs with limited mobility and/or people who want a easy, scenic walk.

The hike is only about a half mile each way with very little change in elevation (i.e., no steep climbs), and along the way you get great views of the river and surrounding mountains. We took about an hour to finish but we walked slowly and made several stops to look around and take pictures.

The hike stops at a boulder field. Some people said the trail continued on the other side of the boulders but neither we nor our dogs were inclined to find out.

2. Green Lakes Trail in the Deschutes Nation Forest

Our second hike was a bit more challenging. One of the most popular hikes in Central Oregon, the Green Lakes Trail is about 4.5 miles each way with a gradual incline of about 1000 ft. 

During your hike you’ll see old growth trees, clear running streams, piles of volcanic rock, and of course, Green Lakes.

The hike in Tumalo State Park was relatively flat and had great scenery. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Dogs must be leashed, because the trail has a few narrow spots along steep drop offs.

We took about 5 hours – including rest stops and an hour hanging out at Green Lakes – to complete the hike.

Be sure to bring plenty of water and food/snacks. The good news is you don’t have to carry water for your dog because most of the trail is alongside Fall Creek which is accessible in several places. And of course Green Lakes is one giant water bowl.

One thing I didn’t expect is that you have to walk across a log bridge 3 times at various points on the trail. The logs are sawed so humans can walk across them easily, but if you have a big dog that would have trouble walking on flat log about 8-10 inches wide or a dog that’s scared of bridges, getting across them could a challenge.

Our dog Miguel does NOT like heights or bridges, and he refused to go over the first log bridge at the beginning of the trailhead, so I had to carry him across. The second one wasn’t a problem because the water was so low there we could walk across the  stream. At the third bridge we put Miguel directly behind Haley, who had no fear of walking on the log, and he followed her like a champ! And he crossed all three of them by himself on the way back!!

You should plan to stay about an hour at Green Lakes. The views are spectacular, and it’s the perfect spot to recharge your batteries for the walk back. If your dogs like water it’s also the perfect spot for them to take a dip.

Dog Friendly Elk Lake Resort

The Green Lakes hike had more gorgeous scenery. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

On the day we didn’t hike we went to Elk Lake Resort which is about 30 miles outside of town. It was a little crowded but the Elk Lake is an ideal spot to standup paddle board, canoe, and kayak. We saw a few dogs riding paddle boards with their people while others played in the water. If you’re looking for a relaxing day by the water with your dog, Elk Lake Resort is your spot.

Dog Friendly Downtown Bend

Since we ate most of our meals at our great Airbnb house and didn’t do much shopping, we weren’t in downtown Bend often, but we did spend a few dog friendly hours there.

Virtually all the stores allow dogs, and dogs are welcome on the patios of the restaurants/breweries. If you ask someone if their business allows dogs he/she will look at you like a Seattleite looks at tourists when they cross a street against the “Don’t Walk” sign.

When we were in clothing store that shared a space with an upscale jewelry store the manager told us she wasn’t sure the jewelry store was dog friendly. But before we could ask the sales clerk in the jewelry store if they allowed dogs she swooped down on Haley for a long petting session. Yes, they allowed dogs.

On the Green Lakes hike there are 3 log bridges you have to cross. Miguel refused to cross the first one so I had to carry him across. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

You can also take your dog for a walk on one of the trails in the Bend Park and Recreation District.

With 65 miles of walking trails, including some beautiful ones along the Deschutes River, you should have no problem finding one that’s right for your and your dog.

What Are You Waiting For?

So if you love to share outdoor adventures with your dog, Bend should be a must see stop on your itinerary. But even if you aren’t into hiking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, or standup paddle boarding, you can still find a plethora of more leisurely activities.

For more information about dog friendly activities in and around Bend go to these sites:

DogPAC – Website devoted to information about off-leash activities in Central Oregon.
Deschutes National Forest – Lots of info about hiking and camping with your dog.
Wanoga Snow Play Area – Groomed, dog friendly winter trails.
Visit Bend – Tons of info about what to do in Bend with or without a dog.
Visit Central Oregon – Same as Visit Bend but has info about areas around Bend too.

We didn’t need to carry water for the dogs because they could access Fall Creek from several areas on the trail. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

More incredible scenery from the Green Lakes hike. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Yet more scenery from the Greek Lakes Hike. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Miguel and Haley take a dip at Green Lakes. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

This Vishla who we met at Green Lakes is a Search and Rescue Dog. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

This Jack Russell Terrier made the trek to Green Lakes. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

As did this 10-year-old former seeing eye dog. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Haley and Miguel stayed on the lookout for any suspicious characters or critters. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Haley strikes a pose. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

The dogs watch paddle boarders at Elk Lake. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Downtown Bend. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

The dogs peek in a store. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Haley and Miguel do a little boot shopping. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Dogs are welcome on the patios of downtown restaurants and bars in Bend. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Slippers for dog lovers. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

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Seven Devils State Recreation Site is another great offleash beach on the Oregon Coast. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

We left Florence early Saturday morning and decided to try Seven Devils State Recreation Site, about 30 miles away, on our way to Arcata, CA where we would stay at yet another Best Western Inn. The morning was cloudy and windy, and the beach was completely deserted. Of course the dogs had another rompin’, stompin’ good time chasing the ball, seagulls, sticks, and anything else they could find.

Although the rock formations off the coast weren’t as spectacular as Haystack Rock, they weren’t too shabby either. Since the tide was out we were able to get close enough to explore some of their nooks, crannies, and tide pools. After about an hour we piled into the minivan and headed to Arcata.

The scenery was an odd mixture of overdeveloped tourist towns with several rundown, tired looking burgs huddled along the side of the road that had seen much better days, probably when the logging industry was booming. Now they just sell trinkets, pinwheels for your front yard, and burl carvings. Lots of burl carvings.

About an hour after we passed the California border we went to Redwoods State and National Park because it looked like it might have an off-leash beach. And it did. After driving a couple of miles off the main highway, we found several cars parked in front of a path on the way to yet another flat, long, off-leash beach. The path to the beach led past a Native American burial ground, so we kept the dogs on leash until we passed it.

Miguel found a good chewing stick at Seven Devils State Recreation Site. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Other than a family fishing, the beach was empty. While the dogs played and ran around, we spotted 2 bald eagles – one adult and one juvenile flying through the scrabbly evergreen trees that bordered the beach.

Having thoroughly worn the dogs out, we drove on, for another hour or so, to Arcata.

The Best Western Inn there was among a cluster or hotels and fast food restaurants just outside of Arcata, so other than having a big bathroom area for the dogs, it was nothing special. In fact, not much in Arcata and the towns around it seemed special. Lots of empty storefronts and run down buildings.

The one redeeming factor was that Arcata has a nice town square that has been somewhat renovated. We found a restaurant for dinner called Jambalaya, and although it looked like it catered primarily to beer drinking students from the local university, Humboldt State, the food was surprisingly good. And we got to watch the basketball playoffs on a huge screen while the dogs slept in the car right outside the window.

We liked the drive around town as well because Humboldt State is more counter-culturally oriented than most schools. The student body has lots of hippies and hippie wannabes (think UC Berkeley north), so we saw lots of students in tie dye, flowing skirts, braids, and bandanas.

We didn’t hang around long, though, the drive wore us out. So we headed back to the good ol’ Best Western Inn and our surprisingly comfortable bed for the rest of the night.

Like most Oregon beaches, Seven Devils State Recreation Site has beautiful scenery. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

The wide, flat beach at Seven Devils State Recreation Site is great for dogs. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Miguel checks out the rocks at Redwoods State and National Park. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

The beach Redwoods State and National Park had more rocks than the ones in Oregon. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Dylan found a pool of quiet water to explore at Redwoods State and National Park. Photo grom Seattle DogSpot.

Miguel calls it a day after our visit to Redwoods State and National Park . Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

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Samoa Dunes Recreation Area

After our experience with the breakfast buffet at the Best Western in Florence we decided to forego the one in Arcata.

Dylan at MacKerricher State Park. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

We found a Starbuck’s in Eureka for our caffeine fix and then headed to the Samoa Dunes Recreation Area just outside town.

We drove through a heavily industrialized, run down area to get there. The first beach access we found was littered with broken bottles and trash. We decided to try another spot.

The access point was across the street from a paper plant, but it was much cleaner.

Although not as pristine and scenic as the other off-leash dog beaches we had been, it was clean, wide, flat, long, and more than adequate for the important task of wearing out the dogs.

The only people we saw were one surfer and a couple from Utah who had never seen the ocean before. Although both the air and water were cold, the woman plunged into the surf fully clothed to celebrate her initial encounter with the Pacific.

Miguel had never seen a surfer before so he freaked out when the guy emerged from the surf clad in a wetsuit, but after a few seconds of barking he was OK.

MacKerricher State Park.

On to Gualala, CA

During the first part drive to Gualala, our next destination, we drove through groves of huge redwoods, some of which were easily 10 feet around and hundreds of feet tall.

Once we reached PCH 1, we made our way to the ocean where the road hugged the coast and provide spectacular views.

We made a quick stop at MacKerricher State Park where unfortunately dogs had to be leashed, but the scenery provided sweeping views of the Pacific and its rocky coast.

We also saw several seals swimming in the water and flopping around on the beach. One used its flippers to cover itself in sand while laying the sun.

Since it’s Memorial Day weekend the park and beach were packed with people and its roads were crowded with cars. Fortunately the dogs were already tired from their morning romp, so they didn’t mind walking on leash.

Sleeping Among the Redwoods

With the dogs thoroughly tired out we made the rest of the trip to Gualala where we stayed at the St. Orres, a well-known dog friendly destination. Perched on a hillside above the Pacific, the St. Orres is nestled between dozens of redwoods.

Guests stay in small cottages scattered around two open areas among the trees. The architecture of the main building and the sauna/hot tub reflect the Russian influence on the area. Think turrets.

The cottage had a bed, sitting area, bathroom, and a back porch looking at several nice looking redwoods. We ate at St. Orres’ restaurant where we had an excellent meal. Everything looked and tasted delicious, and the service was exceptional.

After dinner we managed to drag ourselves back to our cottage where we all quickly feel asleep.

Mixed Reviews on the St. Orres

While the vast majority of our stay was top notch, I do have a couple of issues with the St. Orres.

First, I don’t think anyone upgraded the facility since it was built over 3 decades ago. The furniture and bathrooms need a makeover.

Second, while it bills itself as dog friendly, the St. Orres does nothing for your dogs other than charge you $30 for each one you bring.

No treats, no gift bags, no real acknowledgement that you have a dog with you. Our cottage only cost $155, so they charged more than 25% extra for our dogs. For that they could spare some treats.

But overall, we loved staying at the St. Orres and will do it again if we’re ever in the area again. Tomorrow, we go to the home of Clint Eastwood, Carmel, CA.

MacKerricher State Park. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

MacKerricher State Park. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

The St. Orres in Gualala, CA. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Our cabin at St. Orres. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

View point in Gualala, CA. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

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Hotel Monaco: Seattle’s Premier Pet Pampering Destination

If you’re planning a weekend getaway to Seattle with your pooch or expecting visitors with dogs this summer that want to stay in a luxury dog friendly hotel, the pet friendly Hotel Monaco is one of downtown Seattle’s premier pet pampering destinations.

Photo from Hotel Monaco.

Recently, Kona the mascot and spokesdog for Puyallup-based K9 Carry All, a local company that produces custom made leashes and strollers for your pet, posted this review of Hotel Monaco on our website:

The Hotel Monaco Seattle is a pawrific place to stay! I have my Mom & Dad take me there as often as we can. They have special welcome gifts when we check in. My very own water, food bowls & a bed to borrow. The cookies are very tasty too. They have a Happy hour for the humans that are of age. Wines & specialty drinks that change with the seasons. Goodies too ,all in the Lobby. The fun part is meeting all the pups that join in. They do have hot chocolate & other fun things for the kids. It is really neat.

The Hotel is only a block away from the 5th Avenue Theater. They will even dog sit while your Mom & Dad are enjoying that special night out. At the front desk they have a chalk board that has all the pups names on it. It is fun to see who is staying for the day. The staff is always very friendly & helpful. If you need anything just ask. I give the Hotel Monaco Seattle 5 Paws Up! Woofs & Wags! Kona

Thanks for the review, Kona!

Monaco Seattle is featured in Suitcase Magazine’s “The Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in the World” and in Fodor’s Travel’s “15 Hotels Where Resident Animals Are a Perk.”

Click here to learn more about Hotel Monaco’s pet friendly amenities.

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Goodby Cannon Beach, Hello Florence, OR!

Yesterday we bid farewell to one of the most dog friendly places on the planet, Cannon Beach, OR and made the four hour trek to Florence, OR. We didn’t leave until almost 11AM so we wanted to plough through the drive as quickly as possible to get to Florence with enough time left to take the dogs on a late afternoon walk on the beach.

Boats docked on the Siuslaw River in Florence, OR. Photo by Seattle DogSpot.

The drive down US 101 alternated between stunning and not so much. The road twisted and turned through coastal forests and then plunged down to hug the coast just above the water in many spots. But we had several stop and go traffic moments driving through overdeveloped beach towns filled with pavement, traffic lights, trinket shops, and fast food joints.

Florence has a similar combination of scenery. The main drag through town is crowded with touristy shops and chain restaurants. But the Old Town area by the Siuslaw River has several locally oriented shops and restaurants, and docks with working fishing boats that reflect the city’s maritime roots.

We stayed at the Best Western Inn, which is perched on the side of a hill on the river opposite from Old Town. While dogs are welcomed, no ammenities were provided for them – no treats, gift bags, etc. They just take $20 for each pet and that’s it.

The room was nothing fancy but it was twice as big as our room in Cannon Beach, so it was much more comfortable, and the view from the balcony overlooking the river was exceptional.

Oregon Dunes are Spectacular

Oregon Dunes National Recreation area. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t just walk from our room to the off-leash beach as we did in Cannon Beach. Instead we had to pile back in the car and drive for about 10 minutes to get to the Oregon Dunes National Recreational Area.

As you may have guessed from the name, the primary attraction are the huge sand dunes that border the ocean for about 40 miles. These dunes aren’t just little mounds of sand – the ones we climbed over to get to the beach were 50-60 feet high.

And the climb over the dune to get to the beach is not for the faint of heart. The sand is extremely soft, and we felt like we were slogging uphill through thick mud with 50 pound weights on each leg. By the time we reached the top we were spent.

If you have any physical problems or disabilities you probably aren’t going to be able to climb over the dunes. I don’t know if you can access the beach without going over the dunes – check with the park office to find out.

Dinner in Florence: Meh

For dinner we ate at the Waterfront Depot in Old Town, which appeared to be popular with the locals. It had a variety of everything – seafood, steak, chicken, etc.

The price was about half as much you would pay in Seattle, but the food was half as good. Not bad, but not great. Kind of meh.

The next morning, after a quick sample of the complimentary breakfast that wasn’t worth the price, we headed out to our next destination, Arcata, CA.

Talk to you tomorrow….

Oregon Dunes National Recreation area. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

View from the top of the a dune at Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation area. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Miguel chomps on a stick at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation area. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Dylan wants to know where his stick went. Oregon Dunes National Recreation area. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Still wondering. Oregon Dunes National Recreation area. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation area. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

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NEXT STOP, CANNON BEACH!

Our first day on the road with both dogs went well. No major meltdowns in the car (for people or dogs). No major dog freakouts about the jarring change to their normal routine (you know how dogs LOVE their normal routines). And of course, having lots of treats smoothed over any potential rough spots.

Gnat Creek Campground near Astoria, OR. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

As I said yesterday our ultimate destination is Santa Barbara, CA, which is where my wife Randy grew up. We’re taking it easy on the way down by breaking up the trip into 3-4 hour days to avoid keeping the dogs cooped up in the car too much.

The drive from Seattle to Cannon Beach was an easy 4 hours. We stopped just outside Astoria, OR at Gnat Creek Campground on Highway 30 to let the dogs take a bathroom break and get some exercise.

As soon as we turned off the highway the scenery immediately turned green and lush. The only sound we heard was the stream rushing through the park.

The dogs had sensory overload exploring all the new sounds and smells that bombarded them when they got out of the stale car air. I wish we could have stayed longer but we knew what waited for us at Cannon Beach and were anxious to get there.

We weren’t disappointed.

CANNON BEACH: DOG FRIENDLY PARADISE

As soon as we arrived in Cannon Beach we saw dogs and people everywhere. The town is famous for Haystack Rock, a prehistoric, Jurassic Park-sized rock that looms over the beach just offshore. It also has avoided the tourist trappings of other coastal towns like Seaside – lots of local artists, no chain restaurants, stores that sell local crafts.

Haystack Rock at Dog Friendly Canon Beach, OR. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

But for dog lovers, the beach is the main attraction – it’s is a long, flat, expanse of pure dog delight. About 2-3 miles long, it’s the perfect place for dogs to romp, run, sniff, chase, and play.

 It also appears to have some magical power that turns dogs into whirlwinds of happy energy. 

DOG FRIENDLY ACCOMODATIONS

We stayed at the dog friendly Hallmark Resort. When we walked in the front door we found a big shell full of dog treats by the front desk.

We also got a goody bag for each dog containing treats, poop bags, small towels for wiping off sand, and a water bottle.Our room wasn’t luxurious, but it was comfortable, especially the bed. It also had free internet access plus a gas fireplace.

Besides, we weren’t paying for luxury, we were paying for immediate access to one of the best dog friendly beaches in the country!

The cost of the room was $179 plus $20 for each dog.

Dog treats at the check in desk at the Hallmark Resort in Canon Beach. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

BEACH ROMP AND DINNER

As you can imagine the dogs were balls of pent up energy after a long day in the car, so they became whirling dervishes as soon as we hit the beach, not caring about anything other than exploring every inch of the beach, picking up every stick, and smelling every piece of seaweed.

We all eventually settled down and walked for about 2 miles, and our mission of completely wearing out the dogs was accomplished.

After cleaning up we had a solid meal of good, basic bar food at Bill’s Tavern and Brewhouse. If you’re looking for fine dining this isn’t your place; if you want a burger and fries in a relaxed atmosphere, you should drop in. We aren’t big drinkers but they brew their own beer and other people there liked it.

After dinner we went back to our room where everyone immediately collapsed into a big pile of tired – a perfect end to our initial day on the road.

COFFEE & ON TO FLORENCE, OR

Our first job in the morning, of course, was to find coffee. Sleeping Monk Coffee Roasters is a great little organic coffee place just down the street from the hotel. The coffee was excellent, and we bought some cat-shaped biscuits for the dogs. They also have a nice front porch/yard with benches where you can relax with your dog.

After another walk on the beach to tire out the dogs (hopefully), we left for Florence, OR, our next stop.

To be continued….

The Hallmark Resort gave us a nice bad of dog goodies. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Canon Beach is a great spot for dogs and people – wide, flat, and gorgeous. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

This dog is mesmerized by the stick. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Dylan loves Canon Beach. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

So does Miguel. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

Beautiful sunset to end the day. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.

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