Swampy Lake Hiking Trails, Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon offers an avid outdoors person an amazing amount of wilderness to explore, weather by bike, foot, snowmoble or 4 wheeling. In my case it’s either of foot or bike. This particular adventure was on foot to the Swampy Lakes area of Bend. To get there you take Cascade Hwy towards Mt. Bachalor. It’s about a 20 min drive to the Swampy Lake Sno - Park. Pull into the car park and head to the trail head.  In the Winter Swampy Lakes is used for Cross country skiing and summer works great for a long hike or bike. Swampy Lakes does not get the foot traffic as some of the other popular trails and so going a short distance you will feel a sense of being in the wilderness. At the start of the trail head there are a few trails you can head to from Swampy Lake, Tangent and the Swede Ridge Loop.  I took the Swede Ridge Loop that started with a slow uphill climb that came to a small ridge and meets with another trail loop. Today is May 27^th and there is still a fair amount of snow on the ground, but I love snow in the spring when the sun is out the sky is blue and the snow is corn soft. Where the trail meets  other trails I take a right over the ridge and still continuing on the Swede Ridge Loop trail.  Swede Ridge starts to slop down into a drainage and opens up to switchbacks great for biking. From here it’s about 2 miles as the post says to the Swede shelter. Cordinates are 44.015N and 121.548W. I think it is further than 2 miles but it is a pleasant hike with lots of shade and not many ups and downs.  If you are looking to beat the crowds then this might be a hike to get away, enjoy and spend some quality time outdoors.   By Sharon Page - May 27th, 2009