The High Desert Food Trail offers a self-guided adventure through Central Oregon to help visitors and locals alike experience the culinary and agritourism opportunities that make this region unique. The trail features 45 unique businesses including farms, ranches, restaurants, farmers markets, craft and beverage makers, and more, that will help you dive deeper into the high desert’s agricultural roots. With stunning landscapes to marvel at, artisan offerings to feast on, and resilient agriculture to experience, there is something for everyone on the High Desert Food Trail.
Travel Tips
This year-round, self-guided High Desert Food Trail is designed to be explored at your own pace — you are welcome to start and finish wherever you like. We encourage you to inquire at individual businesses about seasonality and hours of operation before visiting.
The working farms along this trail provide some of the most unique and engaging experiences. We ask that you respect the invitation to enter each property and be cautious around farm animals and equipment. Children must be supervised at all times and you should be prepared to follow all site-specific rules. For your safety and comfort, be prepared with appropriate footwear, sun protection and water.
Your experience along the High Desert Food Trail should not end when you leave the area. We encourage you to bring a taste of your journey back home to share with friends and family as a reminder of the bounty available in Central Oregon.
High season varies by business but is typically May – October. Seasonality of key products is listed below:
- Leafy greens: Mar – Dec
- Rhubarb: Jun – Sep
- Lavender: Jul – Aug
- Squash and zucchini: Jul – Sep
- Tomatoes: Jul – Oct
- Potatoes: Aug – Dec
- Pumpkins: Oct – Dec
high desert-grown, raised, and crafted foods or check out the local food directory at High season varies by business but is typically May – October. Seasonality of key products is listed below:
- Leafy greens: Mar – Dec
- Rhubarb: Jun – Sep
- Lavender: Jul – Aug
- Squash and zucchini: Jul – Sep
- Tomatoes: Jul – Oct
- Potatoes: Aug – Dec
- Pumpkins: Oct – Dec
High season varies by business but is typically May – October. Seasonality of key products is listed below:
- Leafy greens: Mar – Dec
- Rhubarb: Jun – Sep
- Lavender: Jul – Aug
- Squash and zucchini: Jul – Sep
- Tomatoes: Jul – Oct
- Potatoes: Aug – Dec
- Pumpkins: Oct – Dec
Explore the High Desert Food Trail Themes and Itineraries!
From exciting agricultural experiences to high-end culinary events, there is something for everyone to enjoy! Click one of the three themes below to help plan your itinerary and learn more about the farms, ranches, and artisan businesses featured on the trail.
Sisters to Redmond
Sample handcrafted goodness with a view.
Kick off your day with a visit to Sisters Coffee Co. (21) for a specialty coffee drink, a house-made pastry and a slice of history — they’re the first coffee roaster in Central Oregon.
If you’re visiting the area on a Sunday between June and October, peruse the locally grown food and handmade crafts at the Sisters Farmers Market (20). Stick around to enjoy the live music and splash pad, which is a favorite among the kids. For lunch, head over to Boone Dog Pizza (19), a food truck that serves up wood-fired pies with seasonal ingredients like heirloom tomatoes. Don’t leave without snagging a loaf of their wood-fired sourdough bread. If you’re craving a good sandwich, stop into artisanal butchery and eatery Sisters Meat and Smokehouse (22) for its next-level tri-tip sandwich. Regional craft beer is on tap at both eateries.
Next head east to Faith, Hope & Charity Vineyards (9), where you can sip wine while looking out over stunning views of the Three Sisters. Learn how the winery manages to fight the frost and grow grapes that they transform into award-winning wine.
After you’ve had your fill of wine, end your day in downtown Redmond with dinner at Terra Kitchen (26), where plant-centric and sustainably grown ingredients take center stage. Consider staying the night at SCP Redmond Hotel (27), where Terra Kitchen is located. In addition to the hotel’s adventure, wellness and work-away packages, guests can enjoy the panoramic views of the Cascade mountains from the hotel’s rooftop bar — the only one in Redmond.
Tumalo to La Pine
Lift your spirits with high-desert inspirations.
Begin your trip with a lakeside overnight at The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse (6) in Sisters, where you can start your day with an alpine-style breakfast. Head south to Tumalo and fill your picnic basket with u-pick and farm stand goodies from Well Rooted Farms (30), and meats, jerky and pepper sticks from Pioneer Ranch (31). Enjoy your farm-fresh snacks as you stroll along the nearby Deschutes River.
Before making your way south, tour the facilities and sample the creations of Crater Lake Spirits (33). Be sure to try the Prohibition gin, made with high-desert juniper berries.
For lunch try the burger at Bend’s Jackson’s Corner (42), which sources its ingredients from local farms and ranches, and partners with the city’s many quality craft breweries. If you’re visiting on a Wednesday between May and October, spend the rest of the afternoon meandering through the stalls at the Bend Farmers Market (37). Locally sourced gifts and products can be found year-round at Central Oregon Locavore (36).
Bend is known for its regionally inspired beer, so don’t leave without sampling The Ale Apothecary (43), which uses water from the Deschutes River as well as Oregon wildflower honey and grain from nearby Mecca Grade Estate Malt (1) in Madras.
End your day in La Pine, where you can sit back and relax on the outdoor patio of Legend NW Cider Company (44) and sample beverages made from Northwest apples. Stick around for the live music and a dinner of wood-fired pizza.
Warm Springs to Prineville
Experience high-desert ranching.
Start your day off by visiting Twisted Teepee (2) on the Warm Springs Reservation, where you can choose from menu items like huckleberry pancakes and Indian fry bread.
If you’re visiting on a Saturday in summer, spend the rest of your morning strolling past the local produce and artisan goods at the Madras Saturday Market (5) in the beautiful Sahalee Park. Then duck into New Basin Distilling Company (4) for a tour of the facility, and sample their spirits made from Opal Springs water and rye grown in Jefferson County.
The ranches in Terrebonne are worth the stop. If you’re visiting in fall, head over to DD Ranch (11), known for its pumpkin patch, hay rides and petting zoo. If alpacas are more your thing, stop by Crescent Moon Ranch (10), where you can pet and feed their herd (even the babies) while also sampling their fiber products.
In Prineville, head to SunLife Farm and Ranch (13) for a U-pick lavender experience and to see the apiary. The property is home to 5 miles of hiking trails overlooking the Ochoco Mountains. Make sure to factor in a stop to L & S Farm and Garden (12), a farm store that offers homemade, canned, pickled and preserved goods including jams, jellies, syrups, seasonings and more.
End your day at the Wine Down Ranch (14), a working cattle farm with overnight accommodations including a tiny house, a bunkhouse and campsites. In addition to experiencing life on a ranch, the Wine Down is a great spot for hiking, biking, bird-watching and stargazing.
