National Scenic Byway · Oregon

Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway

Century Drive west from Bend past Mt. Bachelor and a chain of mountain lakes, ending at Oregon Route 58 near Crescent and Odell lakes.

Also known as Cascade Lakes Highway; Century Drive

Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway: Forested Slopes Along the Road

Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source

  • Length66 miles[1]ODOT's TripCheck also lists 66 miles.
  • Drive timeThree to five hours[1]TripCheck also gives 3-5 hours
  • RoadsCentury Drive (Oregon Route 372) out of Bend[2]
  • Start and endBend to Oregon Route 58 near Crescent and Odell lakes[2]
  • Fees and passesParking fees and permits apply near some trailheads[1]
  • Best seasonJune through October[2]
  • SurfacePaved two-lane highway, in good to excellent condition over nearly the entire route[3]
  • Vehicle notesBuilt for ordinary passenger vehicles at speeds up to 55 mph. Fill gas or propane tanks in Bend before you start.[3]
  • Seasonal closuresThe road closes beyond Mt. Bachelor in winter.[2]

Before you go

Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Facts last checked against the sources on October 29, 2026.

About the drive

The Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway leaves Bend on Century Drive and climbs into the Deschutes National Forest. Mt. Bachelor fills the view, with Broken Top and the Three Sisters behind it.

From there the road strings together a dozen lakes: Todd, Sparks, Devils, Elk, Lava and Cultus, then Crane Prairie and Davis. Several have resorts, boat rentals or campgrounds, and the little stream leaving Little Lava Lake is the start of the Deschutes River.

The road beyond Mt. Bachelor closes in winter, so the full drive is a June to October trip. Some trailheads charge for parking or require a permit.

Stops along the way

  1. Crane Prairie Reservoir

    Shallow reservoir with an osprey observation point.

    Official information · 43.78591, -121.80075 · about 1.5 mi from the route line

  2. Elk Lake

    Lake with a marina, lodge and historic guard station.

    Official information · 43.98151, -121.80588 · about 0.1 mi from the route line

  3. Devils Lake

    Clear, shallow lake with a white pumice bottom.

    Official information · 44.03445, -121.76176 · about 0.1 mi from the route line

  4. Sparks Lake

    Meadow lake where elk and deer show up at dawn and dusk.

    Official information · 44.01456, -121.74641 · about 1.1 mi from the route line

  5. Todd Lake

    First of the lakes, between Mt. Bachelor and Broken Top.

    Official information · 44.02921, -121.6856 · about 0.7 mi from the route line

  6. Mount Bachelor

    Ski mountain whose summer lift goes to the 9,065-foot peak.

    Official information · 43.97937, -121.68879 · about 1.8 mi from the route line

  7. Drake Park

    Downtown Bend park on the Deschutes River.

    Official information · 44.05848, -121.32222 · about 3.2 mi from the route line

Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).

Food along the way

Farmers markets within about 25 miles

  • Bend Farmers' Market (Friday)Bend, OR · about 6.3 mi from the route
  • Vegetable Man of La Pine Farmers MarketLa Pine, OR · about 14.9 mi from the route
  • Sisters Farmers' MarketSisters, OR · about 19.6 mi from the route

Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.

In season during the best months to drive

The drive's best months are Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Typical U.S. seasons from our Fresh Market Guide; local harvests vary.

Keep exploring

Scenic drives nearby

More scenic drives in Oregon

Food and farms in the area

Sources

  1. America's Byways: Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
  2. The Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway (TripCheck, Oregon Department of Transportation) (checked 2026-10-29)
  3. Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway: Visitor Services, byways.org (FHWA, archived copy) (checked 2026-10-29)
  4. Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.

Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).

More drives in Oregon · All scenic drives