DOG-FRIENDLY PARKS IN BEND, OR

High desert sunshine bathes this Central Oregon city of 100,000, where 300 days of annual sun attract outdoor enthusiasts despite harsh winter conditions. Situated at 3,600 feet elevation, Bend experiences dramatic temperature swings—winter lows around 24°F, summer highs in the low 80s—with only 12 inches of annual precipitation. The Cascade Range creates a rain shadow effect, leaving the region dry while western Oregon drowns. Former lumber town turned recreation mecca, the city's growth has transformed both economy and demographics over three decades.