Sunriver is Central Oregon's premier location
Many people know of Bend as the best place for outdoor lovers in Central Oregon. However, the region's most luxurious location is just about 15 miles down the road: Sunriver. The community's multiple residential areas with upscale cabins and resort-like amenities blend in among the forests, creeks and mountains of Central Oregon. "Sunriver is the premier destination for people looking for the outdoorsy Central Oregon lifestyle," says Jennifer Schaake, a Realtor with Cascade Hasson SIR and longtime resident of Sunriver. Sunriver's three main communities are built to give residents immediate access to all the area offers. "I drive around with kayaks on my roof and a mountain bike and cross-country skis in my trunk," says Schaake. "Where else could I do all that between showing homes?" Love for nature is shared among all residents, no matter their budget. "That's the beauty of Sunriver," says Schaake. "People buying a $800,000 home or a seven-bedroom mansion are moving here for the lifestyle."
Seasonal cabins and luxe mountain mansions
Sunriver, Caldera Springs and Crosswater are the area's main communities. "Sunriver is kind of the entry-level that most people come for," says Schaake. "Then, they might move up to a bigger home in Caldera or Crosswater; people treat living here like an investment." Sunriver is the largest, most established community. Its upscale cabins are tucked into the forest, but it's totally walkable. "It's designed to be traversed by trails," says Schaake. "There are 40 miles of paved paths throughout the community." Residents use the trails to walk or bike to restaurants and the Sunriver Homeowners Aquatic and Recreation Center — SHARC for short — the community's central clubhouse. Many homes are around the town's median price of $900,000, but it also has condos starting around $300,000. Caldera Springs is a newer, high-end community. "Caldera is described as mountain luxe," says Schaake. "It's designed to be a seasonal getaway." Its larger mountain mansions mostly cost around $2 million. Crosswater is Caldera's western neighbor. It's a guard-gated, nonrental community, making it popular with Sunriver's high-profile residents. Most of its expansive homes cost between $3 million and $4 million.
Resort amenities and backcountry recreation
At the end of the day, everyone moves to Sunriver for the outdoor recreation. "Most of us are transplants with different backgrounds, but we all share the same love for nature," says Schaake. Trailheads are woven throughout the area, allowing hikers to explore the forests, rivers and peaks like Mount Bachelor that define the region. During the snowy winter months, these trails become just as useful for cross-country skiing. Fishing and paddling are popular activities on the Deschutes River, which runs alongside the town. Of course, Sunriver is famous for its resorts. Residents have access to resort-like amenities in their communities. SHARC has pools, waterslides, lounging areas, athletic courts and park spaces. Sunriver also has a golf course and pickleball and tennis courts. Caldera Springs has its own 220-acre forest preserve and two clubhouses. Lake House is the main one, home to the Caldera Links golf course, a private lake and tennis courts. The newer Forest House has a luxurious pool and gym. Residents in Crosswater have access to the Crosswater Golf Course, open only to members and residents.
Shopping in the Village and resort dining
The Village is Sunriver's central plaza — buildings here look like log cabins to blend in with the area's woodsy setting. Residents come here for all their general shopping and dining. They get groceries at the Sunriver Country Store and gear up at outfitters like Sunriver Sports and Cascade Guides & Outfitters. It also has various cafes and eateries, from drinking establishments like Sunriver Brewing to fine dining at South Bend Bistro. Caldera Springs has its own upscale restaurants at its clubhouses. Along with shops and eateries, Sunriver has a police station, a fire station and other necessities like dentists and doctors. For more dinner options, residents sometimes drive 15 miles up to Bend.
Concerts and wine tastings at the SHARC
The SHARC hosts summer events. Turf Tunes is a free concert series held at the SHARC's amphitheater on Sunday evenings in June and July. Local bands from Bend often play. The other big event is Uncorked, a wine-tasting festival held in July. It features vineyards from Oregon's premier wine regions, like the Willamette Valley.
Begin at the Three Rivers School
Sunriver is part of the Bend-La Pine School District, which receives a B rating from Niche. The Three Rivers School is the district's only school in Sunriver; it covers kindergarten through eighth grade and earns a B. Sunriver students then have a choice to continue at Caldera High in Bend or La Pine High in La Pine. Caldera High is about 15 miles north and gets a B-minus. La Pine High is about 15 miles south and is rated a C-minus.
Private flights at Sunriver Airport and a long drive to larger cities
Those flying private can land right in town at Sunriver Airport. Bend is the closest sizable city, just over 15 miles north on U.S. Highway 97. Eugene is the nearest urban area, home to the University of Oregon, 125 miles west. Portland is almost 200 miles northwest.
Preparing for potential wildfires
Like many communities that are within dense forests, Sunriver has a moderate risk of wildfires. Having an established evacuation plan is the most important step in preparing for fires. Still, residents can also take measures to protect their homes. Sunriver's HOA website provides residents with tips on how to prepare their homes for fires.
