Outdoorsy types of every stripe have long been attracted to this high-desert adventure outpost, which has grown to nearly 160,000 residents. But it's irresistible to mountain bikers. The town possesses a staggering 484 miles of singletrack within an hour's drive, from all-day epics on buffed-out trails to after-work loops that practically end at the brewpubs (there are seven in town). Better still, most of them can be ridden year-round.
Deschutes River, Bend, Oregon Photographer: Courtesy of the Central Oregon Visitors Association
Comments
the population is around 80,000 in Bend city limits, 160,000 is way off...!!!!
Flag Thisran that trail this a.m. :)
Flag ThisBend has the best biking,kayaking, running trails,hiking,fishing, and most importantly best skiing around. A damn good nightlife too! You already gave the best town trophy to Boulder and Boise so maybe next year you can give it to Bend as we have way better terrain here than both of those places combined. More pictures of the towns as well. You guys already used that picture years before. Just please give our town the respect it deserves.
Flag ThisYou named Bend as a runner up in mountain biking?! Are u kidding me?! We were named Best mountain biking town this year by a actual mountain biking magazine and now you name us runners up to Grand Rapids?! Really? Get your facts straight, do your writers even go to the places on this list? Come on Outside do the right thing and retract the list and make it right.
Flag ThisWe have also been named Best ski town in recent years by other publications!
Flag ThisCut Outside some slack. I applaud them picking a place like Grand Rapids. Sure, in terms of pure outdoor/mntn biking terrain, Bend has an embarrassment of riches. But, that is well documented in every outdoor mag in the world. As a native Ohio boy (now CA), I am proud to see a place in the Midwest get some good press. God knows all we tend to get is spit on. Also, consider in the first page of this article the author clarified that job availability / cost of living is factored, not just terrain.
Flag ThisGreg this is not Forbes list, this is OUTSIDE mag and if you consider that the writers factored in on cost of living and jobs available then why is Carbondale, co on the list? Do you know how much it is to live there and where it is located. It's in the middle of nowhere and expensive. And quite frankly not alot of options besides tourism. The same goes for Mammoth Lakes. And then there is Encinitas,Ca, no one can afford that housing market. I love the place but not to live unless I'm Bill Gates
Flag ThisJim, I'm purely reiterating what was on the first page of this web article. And I still applaud them picking a place that is different/new. I feel like I see the same 15 places in constant rotation in most of these magazines. I've been to Carbondale. I agree it's expensive and in the middle of nowhere. And I live in Encinitas, and I can't afford a 900 sq ft house. So, I know what you are saying, but I didn't make the list. I'm just glad something in the Midwest got some good press. It's rare.
Flag Thislast we tried to live in bend, the stae tax and local taxes were abpout 18% off the top of an income...any updates or comments on the economics/
Flag ThisWhat about home prices? ...the median and the current market condition? Job market?
Flag Thisjeremiah.....relex
Flag ThisThe economy is pretty tight in Bend right now. The outdoor living is simply fantastic. I lived in Bend from October 2010 to April 2011 but had to move because things were getting too tight. Most groceries are brought in from far away and prices go way up when gas gets expensive. The West side of Bend is gorgeous. The East side is the ghetto.
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