SMITH ROCK STATE PARK + SURROUNDING AREA ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS

Bend Cascade Lakes + Surrounding Area Elopement Locations

There is no shortage of lakes, waterfalls, and open prairie here in Bend to elope at! The possibilities are almost endless when choosing an amazing elopement location whether you two want to hike in or just meander out of the parking lot. Breathtaking views are all around.

Below is a list of lakes, falls, forest areas, and mountains in Bend and surrounding areas that may be the perfect elopement location you’ve been searching for:

Elk Lake + Elk Lake Resort

This beautiful lake is one of the most picturesque settings you can find in Central Oregon. With the Three Sister mountain range towering over the north end of the lake and Mt. Bachelor dominating the eastern horizon, you won’t be disappointed with the view. You can find more information on how to elope at Elk Lake or the beautiful resort by visiting the links below. Find more information on how to elope at Elk Lake HERE. Visit Elk Lake ResortHERE or email elklakeevents@gmail.com for more information about the resort.

Cultus Lake + Cultus Lake Resort

Cultus Lake is a natural glacier-formed lake located in the Deschutes National Forest 48 miles southwest of beautiful Bend. It lies at the base of the North part of Cultus Mountain and can only be described as beautiful. Find more information on Cultus Lake HERE and Cultus Lake Resort HERE.

Lava Lake

Lava Lake was formed as a result of lava flows creating a dam along the lake’s eastern shoreline. It’s about 40 miles southwest of Bend and is open mid-April to late October, weather permitting. Find more information on Lava Lake HERE and HERE.

Lava Butte

Lava Butte is a 500-foot tall cinder cone along the Northwest Rift of Newberry Volcano in Central Oregon. It rises prominently over Route 97 between Bend and Sunriver. A fire lookout tower sits atop Lava Butte and is joined by a rim trail that offers panoramic views over a dark volcanic landscape. Lava Butte also provides majestic views of the Cascade Mountains to the west. Find more information on Lava Butte HERE.

Todd Lake

Todd Lake is the first of many alpine lakes accessed from the Cascade Lakes Highway west of Mount Bachelor. It is a short walk from the parking area and offers some of the best views of Broken Top you can find in the area. You can find more information on how to elope at Todd Lake HERE.

Meadow Camp

Just southwest of Bend off of Century Drive and along a quiet stretch of the Deschutes River you will find gorgeous Meadow Camp. There are beautiful rock faces and cliff sides nestled along the river backed with endless pine forest. More information on Meadow Camp can be found HERE and HERE.

Dillion Falls

Dillon Falls are rapids near Bend in the Deschutes National Forest. This area offers a great summer setting for picnicking and viewing Dillon Falls along the River and is just a short drive out of Bend Oregon. It is diverse with scenery from the falls, a beautiful pine forest, and depending on time of year even an open field. More information on Dillion Falls can be found HERE.

Benham Falls

Located in a beautiful stand of old growth ponderosa pines on the edge of a riparian area, you can find Benham Falls nestled along the Deschutes River. There are forest roads connecting Benham Falls to Lava Butte, Lava River Cave, and Sunriver Resort, and a footbridge connects the forest road to an easy-to-navigate trail near the river and falls. The shady area has lots of wildlife and flowers with a few lookouts over the gorge for viewers. More information on Benham Falls can be found HERE and HERE.

Green Lakes

The Green Lakes Trail is one of the most memorable hikes we have done in Central Oregon. It is an 8 mile out and back easy to moderate trail with a 1,150 foot elevation gain over 4 miles. This hike can be accessed from various different trailheads (Soda Springs TH, Todd Lake, Park Meadow and Moraine Lake), however the most popular is the official Green Lakes/Soda Creek trailhead right off of the Cascade Lakes Highway 27 miles outside of Bend. It’s a beautiful hike with diverse scenery the entire time. More information on Green Lakes area can be found HERE and HERE.

Mt. Bachelor + Pine Martin Lodge + Mount Bachelor Village

Whether you want to say “I do” after a lift up the mountain or in beautiful Mount Bachelor Village, the possibilities are endless here and we would be crazy to leave this area out of the top elopement locations in Central Oregon! An elopement at Mt Bachelor is a good idea any time of year and you get one of the best views around as your backdrop almost anywhere. More information can be found HERE and HERE and HERE.

Spark Lakes

Sparks Lake is approximately 370 acres of lake wetland that are surrounded by another 360 acres of meadow, marsh, or stream wetlands. There is a beautiful view of South Sister and sweeping lake landscapes all around that are some of the most breathtaking views during sunset. More information on Sparks Lake can be found HERE and HERE.

Tumalo Falls

This very popular site offers beautiful views of Tumalo Falls just a few minutes from the trailhead in the Summer time. Tumalo Falls is a 97-foot waterfall on Tumalo Creek, in the Cascade Range west of Bend, Oregon. For more information on Tumalo Falls visit HERE and HERE.

Tumalo Mountain

Tumalo Mountain Trail is a 3.8 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Bend, Oregon that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail is accessible year-round and offers great views of the 3 Sisters mountain range. More information on Tumalo Mountain can be found HERE.

Sisters Oregon Elopement Locations

Suttle Lake + Suttle Lodge

When looking at the top elopement locations in Central Oregon, we could not leave Suttle Lake out! If you are a fan of beautiful boathouses and lakeside cabins, this may be the place for you two! The lodge has a little cocktail lounge called “skip” and the surrounding Suttle Lake provides an abundance of beautiful landscapes to be the backdrop of your ceremony. For more information on Suttle Lake visit HERE + for information on Suttle Lodge you can visit their website HERE.

Black Butte + Black Butte Ranch

Black Butte is a steep but gorgeous climb of 1.9 miles to the panoramic summit, gaining 1,600 feet of elevation. The impressive views while on the summit of the Butte stretch for many miles providing a beautiful sight of Mt. Hood, Mt. Jefferson, Three Fingered Jack, and the Three Sisters. If you aren’t so much a fan of hiking, down the road is the beautiful Black Butte Ranch known as a preferred Central Oregon wedding destination for over 40 years. With an unparalleled mountain backdrop, farm-to-table catering, amenities, accommodations, and multiple ceremony sites to choose from the possibilities for an amazing elopement are endless. More information on hiking Black Butte can be found HERE and Black Butte Ranch HERE.

Camp Polk Reserve + Wychus Creek

Located near Sisters, Oregon, the reserve contains approximately 1.4 miles of Whychus Creek with wetlands, meadows, aspen groves and ponderosa pine stands. Just Northeast of Sisters it is a beautifully diverse setting for an elopement. More information about the reserve can be found HERE.

Dee Wright Observatory

Found in the Cascade Range at 5,187 feet, the Dee Wright observatory provides panoramic views across 65 square miles of black lava rock that looks so much like a magical moonscape! In fact, in 1964 NASA conducted drills with astronauts as they prepared to travel to the moon here. On a clear day you can view Mt. Washington, Mt. Jefferson, the South, North, and Middle Sister, and even see Mt. Hood 78.5 miles to the north. More information on Dee Wright Observatory can be found HERE.

Tam McArthur Rim

Tam McArthur Rim Trail is a 5.1 mile out and back trail located near Sisters, Oregon that features a gorgeous lake. The trail is best used July until October and is a gradual hike leading to the cliff where you will get a panoramic view as far north as Mount Hood and more intimate views of Broken Top, the Three Sisters, and Three Creek Lake. More information on Tam McArthur Rim can be found HERE.

Canyon Creek Meadow

Looking for a gorgeous view of the high cascades wildflower meadows, this is it! This 4.5 mile loop leads to some of the most serene landscapes and is a moderately easy hike with only 400 feet of elevation gain. More information on Canyon Creek Meadow can be found HERE.

Camp Sherman along the Metolius River

Located just 31 miles northwest of Bend, this city sits on the Wild and Scenic Metolius River with commanding views of 10,497-foot Mt. Jefferson. We visit Camp Sherman frequently for work + play and think it is one of the best spots Central Oregon has to offer. From the red rock roads to winding river beds, some of our all time favorite spots are hidden in this area. More information on Camp Sherman can be found HERE.

House on Metolius

Set on two-hundred acres of private land next to the sweeping Metolius river and surrounded by endless acres of national forest, House on Metolius is one of the most beautiful settings you could ask for. With multiple elopement sights, in-house reception + dining, and accommodations your elopement planning could be as easy as saying yes! For more information on eloping at House on Metolius visit HERE.

If you found this post helpful or are considering eloping due to a change in wedding plans visit our post Wedding Cancelations and Rescheduling and send us an email at: rosemaryandpine.studio@gmail.com or visit our contact page HERE for more info!

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