On a recent flight to Bend, I flew through SFO airport in San Francisco. It was a crystal clear day, and I had a window seat. This allowed me to get an excellent view of the amazing landscape through Northern California, Oregon, and Bend. I took lots of great photographs of the incredible landscapes.
The Route From San Francisco to Bend Oregon
United Airlines flight 5877 from San Francisco International Airport to Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) took off around 10:47 am on a beautiful Friday with crystal blue skies. Immediately upon takeoff, I had a tremendous view of San Francisco Bay and the entire Bay Area.
Immediately upon takeoff, I could make out most of the major areas of the Bay Area, and our flight proceeded to fly right next to one of the most famous areas in the entire state of California—Napa Valley.
Mount Shasta in NoCal
Not more than 20-30 minutes into the flight, as we headed over Northern California, I saw the next major volcanic peak dominating the landscape – Mount Shasta. Mount Shasta sits at a towering 14,179 feet and is considered an active volcano.
It is the second-highest peak in the Cascades and the fifth-highest in the state (Mount Whitney). There was a disputed eruption in 1786 (historians are not sure if it really happened), but the last known disruption was around 1250 AD.
Stunning Views of Crater Lake
After another 20-30 minutes of flight, the next major landscape on the horizon began to appear, confirming our arrival into the state of Oregon.
Crater Lake simply looks stunning from the air. The water is deep blue, and the surrounding crater looks like it was custom-architected to hold this magnificent body of water carefully.
The eruption that created Crater Lake was said to have happened 7700 years ago and was witnessed by Native Americans. The resulting lake, fed by rain and snow, is the deepest in the USA and one of the purest in the world.
The Three Sisters Mountains and Mount Bachelor
Almost immediately after passing Crater Lake, I began to see the great peaks that define the Bend area. The Three Sisters Mountains, along with Mount Bachelor, were seemingly right outside my window.
These icon peaks stand guard above Bend and provide all kinds of recreation for hikers, climbers, and mountaineers. Deep inside that picture are amazing hikes like the Green Lakes Trail Hike and the Ray Atkinson Trail Hike at Sparks Lake.
The Deschutes River and Bend, Oregon
At the same time, and more impressive was the view I had of the extended path of the Deschutes River as it winds through the Central Oregon region. You can easily see below the river as it passes through Redmond, Tumalo, and Bend.
The Deschutes is the main drainage on the eastern side of the Cascades Range all the way to the Columbia River.
One final highlight of the flight before landing at Redmond Airport was the next great peak in the Cascades Range – Mount Jefferson.
Mount Jefferson, at 10,502, is the second-highest mountain in Oregon (Mt. Hood). However, due to the rugged nature of the area, it is considered one of the most difficult to summit.
Birds Eye View Why Bend Is an Outdoor Wonderland
Anyone who visits or lives in Bend knows it is an outdoor-oriented town. But seeing the landscape, the peaks, rivers, and terrain from above highlights what a special place Bend is for those who love the outdoors.
