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Welcome to Redmond

The Hub of Central Oregon

Guide to Redmond, Oregon — Things To Do, Neighborhoods & Relocation

Explore Redmond ↓
Dramatic Smith Rock climbing wall formations
Smith Rock State Park
Downtown Redmond architecture and streets
Downtown Redmond
Craft brewery interior with wood and industrial design
Local Breweries

A Central Oregon Dispatch

Start With The Sky.

You notice it first on the drive in: the way the high desert opens up, the way the Cascades line the western horizon like a promise, the way three hundred days of sun have baked something golden into the landscape. Redmond does that to people. It grounds them.

This guide is for the people driving through who slow down — wondering whether this quiet, sun-soaked hub at the center of Central Oregon deserves a closer look, and what it's really like to trade somewhere else for here.

Dramatic central Oregon mountain and desert landscape at sunrise The high desert opens up. Golden light, endless sky.
Stunning canyon and reservoir with golden cliffs and blue water Where three rivers converge in a 700-foot canyon.

What To Do In Redmond

Twelve Ways To Spend A Day Here

The outdoor experiences visitors come to Redmond for — hover a card for the how, where, and when.

Horseback riders on desert trail with mountain views in background Get saddle-ready on the high desert plateau.

Four Seasons of Living

A Year in Redmond

Turquoise kayak paddle on calm lake water at summer

Summer

Long Light

Lake Billy Chinook by noon. Evening climbs at Smith Rock when the wall cools down. Farmers market Saturdays. Eighty degrees and bone-dry — the high desert at its best.

Rock climber on golden mountain wall during autumn sunset

Autumn

Golden Sage

Cottonwoods turn gold along the Crooked River. Prime climbing season at Smith Rock. The first dusting on the Sisters. Brewery patios and flannel weather.

Skier carving through deep powder on snowy mountain

Winter

Blue Sky Powder

Bachelor and Hoodoo open for business. Snow-tubing weekends. Cold mornings, but the sun still shows up — three hundred days of it. Fireside evenings at Wild Ride.

Rock climber ascending granite wall with wildflowers blooming below

Spring

Sage & Wildflowers

Ski in the morning, ride Cline Buttes in the afternoon. Wildflowers on the canyon rim. Patios reopen downtown. Everyone remembers why they moved here.

The Redmond Story

More Than A Pit Stop

Redmond started as a railroad and ranch town on the high-desert plateau. For decades it was the place you drove through on the way to somewhere else — Bend to the south, the mountains to the west, the river canyons to the north.

Then people started paying attention. The airport grew. The breweries opened. Smith Rock went from a climber's secret to a national icon. And Redmond — quiet, sunny, unhurried — became the place people moved to on purpose.

What it kept was the main street, the elbow room, and the habit of knowing your neighbors. What it added was a craft-beer scene, restaurants that surprise you, and a cost of living that lets you actually enjoy the life you came here for. This guide is our version of that discovery: the honest Redmond, with the trails we love, the neighborhoods we'd send a friend to, and the things nobody puts on the brochure.

Golden hour at Smith Rock with dramatic climbing formation silhouettes

“I came for the sunshine. I stayed for the people.”

— Unofficial Redmond Motto

If The Desert Changed You

The Locals Who Help Visitors Stay

Some trips don't end when you drive back over the pass. If Redmond has started to feel like somewhere you could live, we know the people who help make that real — the agents, the lenders, the neighbors who've done it themselves.

Meet The Team →

Questions People Ask About Redmond

Redmond, Oregon FAQ

What is Redmond, Oregon known for?

Redmond is known as the Hub of Central Oregon — a high-desert basecamp 15 minutes from Smith Rock State Park, home to the region's commercial airport, a growing craft-brewery scene, and over 300 sunny days a year. It offers a more affordable, less congested alternative to neighboring Bend with quick access to the same mountains, rivers, and ski areas.

What are the best things to do in Redmond for first-time visitors?

First-timers should hike the Misery Ridge trail at Smith Rock State Park, walk the Dry Canyon trail through the center of town, explore the Redmond Caves, check out the craft breweries downtown, and drive to Peter Skene Ogden Viewpoint for canyon views. In summer, Lake Billy Chinook and Cove Palisades State Park are must-visits for boating and paddling.

When is the best time of year to visit Redmond?

Late June through September is the most popular window — warm, dry days and access to all lakes and high-desert trails. December through March is ski season at Mt. Bachelor (38 miles) and Hoodoo (50 miles). Spring and fall are prime climbing season at Smith Rock — cooler wall temps and fewer crowds on the trail.

How far is Smith Rock from downtown Redmond?

Smith Rock State Park is about 9 miles north of downtown Redmond — roughly a 15-minute drive via US-97 and Crooked River Drive. It's the closest major town to the park.

How far is Redmond from Bend?

Redmond is about 17 miles north of Bend — a 20-minute drive on US-97. Many residents live in Redmond and commute to Bend for work, or vice versa. The two cities share much of the same outdoor recreation.

Is Redmond, Oregon a good place to live?

Redmond offers a lower cost of living than neighboring Bend with access to the same mountains, rivers, and ski areas. The city has a growing downtown, strong schools, over 300 sunny days a year, and the region's commercial airport. Housing is more affordable, the commute to Bend is short, and the community is tight-knit. Many relocators find Redmond to be Central Oregon's best-kept secret.

Guide to Redmond · A Field Guide to Central Oregon

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