Acres of wilderness in this northern Bend community
Situated northwest of Bend in Oregon’s high desert, Tumalo is an unincorporated community surrounded by sprawling forestland and the blue waters of the Deschutes River. “It’s a piece of rural Oregon heaven,” says Connie Settle, Realtor for RE/MAX Key Properties and resident of 14 years. “You’re out of town but also so close to it. Out here, you have elbow room.” She says even with the large amount of space between homes here, people know their neighbors and like to chat. The well-paved Cline Falls Highway winds its way north-south through the neighborhood, offering views of green pastures and the snow-peaked Cascade Mountains in the distance. A handful of local shops and restaurants are nearby, and scenic hiking trails in Tumalo State Park are a half mile south.
Variety of homes along long, gravel roads in Tumalo
Homes in Tumalo sit along a mixture of gravel and narrow asphalt streets, and the median lot size is more than 3/4 acre. Settle says homebuyers “can find anything from a manufactured home to a 1970s little ranch house to a 10,000-square-foot mega house.” Neighborhood streets connect to paved two-way roads, lined with rows of mature fir and juniper trees. Small manufactured homes range from $75,000 to $100,000. In the south, midcentury ranch-style homes with wide front porches and open backyards go for $550,000 to $850,000. Late 20th-century modern Craftsman homes and 2010s contemporary houses with slanted roofs and wooden exteriors are scattered along the eastern border close to the Deschutes River; these four-bedroom homes range between $900,000 and $2.5 million and include stone back patios with fire pits as well as acres of fenced-in pastureland used to raise horses.
Exploring streams in Tumalo State Park
Near the center of Tumalo, the tiny Fit Trail Park offers outdoor workout stations and pull-up bars surrounded by a paved walking trail. A half mile south of the area, the ponderosa-pine-covered Tumalo State Park features plenty of streams and dense forest to roam in. Visitors have access to hundreds of acres of pristine streams for fishing, over 50 tent sites for year-round camping and a 3-mile-long segment of the Deschutes River Trail that passes through a canyon with rocky bluffs on both sides. Mountain bikers can head 5 miles north toward the Cascades for nearly 20 miles of winding, high-desert routes on the Maston Trail System.
Fresh produce at Tumalo Farmstand
Within the neighborhood, residents enjoy grocery shopping at the Tumalo Farmstand for locally grown fruits and vegetables and picking up baked goods at the nearby Tumalo Country Store. The Bite is a go-to hang-out spot featuring several beers on tap and food from four different food trucks; locals can munch on pork sandwiches from The Rogue Chef or pizza from Pine Marten Pizza, then cozy up by a fire pit in the light-string-decorated courtyard. Closer to the southern border, Beyond the Ranch Antiques sells vintage furniture and Backcountry Recumbent Cycles offers e-bikes, trikes and cycling accessories. For retail chain stores, Cascade Village Shopping Center is a 4-mile drive south.
Long list of student clubs at Ridgeview High
The area is served by the Redmond School District, and kids here start at Tumalo Community School, which scores a B-plus on Niche. Obsidian Middle and Ridgeview High both have a B rating. Ridgeview offers several student organizations, such as guitar and fly fishing clubs. Until 2025, students at Ridgeview can expect to have courses in temporary classrooms while the 50-year-old HVAC hydronic pipes and fittings are updated.
Jamming out and sipping beers at The Bite
Every Wednesday and Saturday, The Bite hosts performances by regional bands, and on Sundays patrons can order brunch and play bingo. In October, folks can head 7 miles south to downtown Bend for the three-day Bend Fall Festival, where local food vendors sell snacks, kids play in bouncy houses and families can admire interactive art installations.
Access to the highway and light traffic in Tumalo
U.S. Route 20 cuts through the community, giving residents access to downtown Bend 8 miles south. Cook Avenue travels from the southern border to the neighborhood center, passing many of the area’s small businesses and shops. The area is mostly car-dependent, and Settle says traffic isn’t too heavy. St. Charles Bend Hospital is 8 miles south of the neighborhood, and Redmond Municipal Airport is 13 miles north.
Flooding risks from the Deschutes River
During heavy rainfall, locals living near the Deschutes River may experience extreme flooding. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office suggests keeping a 72-hour emergency kit filled with food, water and medicine for these situations. People can also sign up for text message alerts for any updates during a food emergency.
