High Desert Food Trail

High Desert Food Trail

The High Desert Food Trail is a program of the High Desert Food & Farm Alliance under the Travel Oregon Food Trails. It is a self-guided adventure through Central Oregon for visitors and locals alike to experience the culinary and agritourism opportunities that make this region unique. The trail features 48 unique businesses including farms, ranches, restaurants, farmers markets, craft and beverage makers, annual events, 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!

How to Experience the Trail

Choose your Adventure

Visit our itinerary options by scrolling down the page, or chose your own adventure. From breakfast and dinner to petting zoos and rhubarb festivals, there is something for everyone.

Download the Trail Map

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Ride the Trail

Find a bike route that fits your needs, location, and abilities!  We have created the following routes in partnership with Bend Electric Bikes. Find other routes they have created here.

Find more Trails and Adventures

Socialize

Tag us on Instagram | Facebook with your adventure!

Check out the High Desert Food Trail Business Directory for web-friendly browsing of participating businesses.

EXPLORE AT YOUR PACE

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.  To ensure the best experience, keep in mind that farmers are inviting you to their property. Please be mindful of the farm animals, equipment and make sure to follow any site-specific rules.  Central Oregon is hot and sunny, be sure to bring enough sun protection and water.

Your experience along the High Desert Food Trail should not end when you leave the area.  Bring a taste of your journey back home to share with friends and family as a reminder of the bounty available in Central Oregon.  Or ship a local food box that has lots of locally crafted products from many of the Trail partners.

ACCESSIBLE TOURISM

 

Looking for more information about the accessibility of participating High Desert Food Trail businesses? Through a partnership with Wheel the World, an accessible travel booking platform that provides detailed, verified accessibility information, you can learn more about business’ bathroom access, grade, parking and more.

By 2027, 30 businesses, including farms, restaurants, farmstands, and more, will be listed on the Wheel the World website. Learn more here.

Finding Local

Wondering what’s local? Look for the Get a Taste of This Place logo to identify high desert-grown, raised, and crafted foods or check out the local food directory at getataste.org.

Annual Events

Annual Events

Seasonality

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

Stunning Landscapes

Sample handcrafted goodness with a view.

Sisters to Redmond

Kick off your day at Black Butte Ranch, enjoying stunning views of the Cascade Mountains while you have a coffee and pastry on their outside patio. Black Butte Ranch has been a staple of Central Oregon for over 50 years.

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. Stick around to enjoy the live music and splash pad, which is a favorite among the kids. For lunch, head over to The Barn, a lively food truck lot with options ranging from wood-fired pizza and plant-based bowls to barbeque. If you’re craving a good sandwich, stop into artisanal butchery and eatery Sisters Meat and Smokehouse for its next-level tri-tip sandwich and craft beer on tap.

Next head east to Faith, Hope & Charity Vineyards, where you can sip award-winning 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 Redmond with dinner at Wild Ride Brewing, where you can sip award-winning Whoopty Whoop Wheat and dine at another array of food trucks, or Initiative Brewing, a sit-down family-friendly craft brewery with allergy-friendly options. Both are located within blocks of downtown, and both have sister locations in Prineville. Consider staying the night at SCP Redmond Hotel, 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.

Artisan Offerings

Lift your spirits with high-desert inspirations.

Tumalo to La Pine

Begin your trip with a lakeside overnight at The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse  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, and locally-sourced meats, snacks and libations from Schilling’s Garden Market. Enjoy a walk around the garden or shop the seasonal markets while taking in mountain views.

Locally sourced gifts and produce can be found year-round at Central Oregon Locavore but if you’re visiting on a Wednesday between May and October, spend the afternoon meandering through the stalls at the Bend Farmers Market. Then stop into Wild Petal Provisions, an artisan store where you can find picnic supplies and pick up a bottle of mead from Lazy Z Ranch Wines. Take your picnic supplies over to The Old Mill District, where you can also grab a house-made pastry or a specialty coffee drink at Sisters Coffee Co. – the first coffee roaster in Central Oregon – to enjoy along the Deschutes River. If you are craving a sweet treat, head over to one of Bonta Gelato’s tasting rooms and experience the flavorful result of collaborations with local farmers and artisans in every bite.

End your day in La Pine, where you can sit back and relax on the outdoor patio of Legend Cider Company and sample beverages made from northwest apples and unique flavor combinations. Stick around for the live music or head to Badlands Artisan Distillery to taste award-winning spirits, specialty drinks, and some bites from the on-site food trucks.

Resilient Agriculture

Experience high-desert ranching.

Warm Springs to Prineville

Start your day off by visiting Twisted Teepee 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 in beautiful Sahalee Park. Then duck into New Basin Distilling Company 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, known for its pumpkin patch, hay rides and petting zoo. If alpacas are more your thing, stop by Crescent Moon Ranch, where you can pet and feed their herd (even the babies) while also sampling their fiber products.

On your way to Prineville, stop by the gorgeous Brasada Ranch for a spa retreat, golf excursion, or horseback ride and plan a time to return for dinner at Wild Rye, their on-site fine dining restaurant, where you can enjoy  seasonally-available curated dishes like the Juniper-Braised Lamb Shank. In Prineville, head to Smiley’s Lavender Farm for U-pick lavender and flowers, ready-made bouquets, or a stained-glass making class. Make sure to factor in a stop to L & S Farm and Garden, 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, 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.

This program is supported in part by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program [grant no. 2020-70017-32426] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Additional funding is provided by an Oregon Wine Country License Plates Matching Grant Program and:

             

And special thanks to our High Desert Food Trail business sponsors:

Contact Us

We're not around right now, but we would love to hear from you. Team HDFFA

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