Ultimate List of Fun Things to Do in Sunriver Oregon
Are you looking for the perfect central Oregon vacation? This ultimate list of fun things to do in Sunriver Oregon will help you plan a vacation that your whole family will never forget! We have taken countless trips to Sunriver and we have an absolutely wonderful time each and every visit.
Of course, the best list of what to do in Sunriver, Oregon will be dependant upon the ages of the visitors and what they like to do for fun. I am going to add things to this list that cover a variety of ages and personalities so everyone will find something great to do. Since Sunriver and Central Oregon in general are home to many outdoor activities and awesome destinations, you are sure to find opportunities to have the best time on your family vacation.
Ultimate List of Fun Things to Do in Sunriver Oregon
If you have secured a vacation rental and you are ready to start exploring the area, look no further than this exhaustive list. Do keep in mind though that while some of the things on this list will cost money, not all of them will! There are plenty of free or low-cost things to do in this great part of the state.
The Best Things to Do for Free or Cheap in Sunriver
Go For a Bike Ride
Most vacation rentals in Sunriver come with the free use of bicycles. There are miles and miles of bike trails throughout Sunriver Resort that are perfect for a leisurely bike ride. If mountain biking is more your style, there are local mountain biking areas (although, unless you bring your own bike with you, you’ll need to rent a mountain bike). Mountain bikers tend to love the Sunriver area.
Head to the Park
There are quite a few playgrounds and parks throughout the resort and the kids will have a wonderful time just playing. My youngest son has spent hours and hours playing at these parks on our visits.
Enjoy the Beautiful Scenery
When was the last time you took some time to just sit and enjoy the scenery around you? Chances are it’s been a while and vacation is the perfect time to do this. Sunriver is full of beautiful scenery and trust me, you won’t regret spending some quiet time taking in your surroundings. I do this while enjoying my morning coffee on every visit to Sunriver.
Head to the Lake
There are some seriously beautiful lakes in the Central Oregon area. If you are a water lover, a day at the lake is a great way to spend a day that won’t break the bank. Here are some of our favorites:
- Paulina Lake
- East Lake
- Sparks Lake
- Elk Lake
Or, if you want to look at the beautiful alpine lakes but not hang out at the lake, you can enjoy the beautiful Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway. This drive provides great views of the gorgeous lakes nearby.
Go for a Hike
Central Oregon is an amazing place to experience many different recreational opportunities and hiking is one of the best! Trails like the Benham Falls Trail, Smith Rock, and Paulina Creek are all great options of hikes to take near Sunriver. In fact, I have written an entire post based solely on hikes to take in the area. Check out that post here.
Explore The Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Northwest of Sunriver, you’ll find over 55,500 acres of adventure available at the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Here you will find fascinating lava flows, multiple lakes, as well as incredible rock formations, hot springs and so much more. A self-guided tour can lead you to explore these amazing landscapes and even lava tubes!
Other Things to Do in Sunriver
Visit SHARC
Sunriver Owners Association opened a facility called SHARC (Sunriver Homeowners Aquatic and Recreation Center) which is an all-season center that features aquatics, disc golf, basketball, bocce ball, a park, and a pavilion. During summertime, there is an outdoor pool activity park in the pool. It’s so much fun and one of our favorite features of this resort community.
Play Golf
For the golfers reading this, you are in luck! Sunriver is home to a really great golf course!
Take the Paulina Plunge
Outside of the LaPine State Park is the Paulina Plunge which is a collection of six waterfalls and two natural waterslides. You can see all of this by hopping on the Paulina Plunge Mountain Bike Tour. Talk about exhilarating!
I’ll be honest with you here, I’ve never done this, however, my brother and sister-in-law did a few years ago and they are still talking about it to this day. They loved it!
Visit The Sunriver Nature Center
If you love nature or stargazing (or both!), you need to head to the Sunriver Nature Center. This center is a great place to go to see some spectacular sites. You can see beautiful nature exhibits of animals, birds, and plants. Even more exciting though is the Oregon Observatory, which is the largest astronomical viewing facility in the country. Here you can see stars, galaxies, and beyond. It’s quite exciting.
Head to the High Desert Museum
We visited the High Desert Museum when our kids were younger and it was absolutely awesome. Wildlife, history, culture and so much wild west fun to be had here!
Go White Water Rafting
If you like to adventure a bit, sign yourself up for a white water rafting tour to enjoy central Oregon in a whole new way! I happen to think that central Oregon is the best place in the state for white water rafting. I have taken two of these tours and have loved every minute of both.
Head to the Brewery
There are so many great breweries in the area, you won’t want to miss out on trying them out if you are a beer lover.
Grab a Great Cup of Coffee
There are so many great coffee shops in the area for you to enjoy! I highly recommend stopping in at a small shop or two to support the local economy and treat yourself to a delicious cup of coffee.
When Should You Visit Sunriver?
Sunriver is great during the summer season, but trust me when I say that this is a year-round destination. There are many great things to do, many different recreational activities and the vacation rentals here range greatly in size and capacity, meaning that they can work for a romantic trip for two or even a family vacation for 15+!
