THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021 • THE BULLETIN
GO! MAGAZINE • PAGE 11
THE OUTDOORS
bendbulletin.com/gooutdoors
MORE
OUTDOORS
COVERAGE
another outing
Find places to explore, conditions,
expert columns and outstanding
features in The Bulletin’s new
Explore Central Oregon section
in Friday’s paper
Makenzie Whittle/Bulletin file
A view of Prineville from Ochoco Viewpoint looking east in 2019.
We have some pretty incredible vistas along
Central Oregon highways.
Over the years, viewpoints have been cre-
ated so travelers can stop, stretch their legs and
safely take in the scenery. Some are simple wide
spots in the road with a sign or two indicating
points of interest, some are full-fledged parks.
Ochoco Wayside State Scenic Viewpoint of-
fers a perfect panorama view from high on a
plateau of Prineville below and the Ochocos to
the east. While there are no services and only
a few picnic tables and a covered shelter, the
views here are outstanding and the real draw to
pull off State Highway 126.
There are also a few short walking trails that
offer more views to the north and south.
Getting there: From Prineville, drive 1 mile
west on State Highway 126 from the inter-
change at U.S. Highway 26 and turn right.
— Makenzie Whittle, The Bulletin
Ryan Brennecke/Bulletin file
A surfer carves the wave at the Bend Whitewater Park during the winter.
SURFING THROUGH
WINTER AT BEND
WHITEWATER PARK
BY MARK MORICAL • The Bulletin
I
n the summertime, surfers and kayakers at the Bend Whitewater Park
sometimes must dodge the laid-back floaters and tubers who clog the
Deschutes River on hot days. In winter, the tubers are nonexistent but a
dedicated group of surfers remain, carving the human-controlled waves on even
the chilliest of days.
Ryan Richard, a wave shaper for Bend
Park & Recreation District and an avid river
surfer, says a hardcore group of 50 to 100
surfers from Central Oregon, and a few kay-
akers, frequent the park during winter but
usually only about 10 at a time at the most.
Equipped with thick wet suits and the use
of heated restrooms for changing at McKay
Park, river surfers actually find their sport
quite accessible and comfortable during the
winter and early spring.
Directions: The Bend Whitewater Park is
located near the Colorado Avenue Bridge in
Bend, with access from McKay Park at 166
S.W. Shevlin Hixon Drive.
ý
Reporter: 541-383-0318, mmorical@bendbulletin.com
LES NEWMAN’S
QUALITY OUTDOOR WEAR
On NE Franklin Avenue across from Les Schwab
541-318-4868