Awesome place for the whole family. Absolutely worth the stop. They have a great Cafe with good beer for a break between exhibits. Numerous exhibits range from outdoor Otter exhibit which is great, to very informative educational interactive exhibits inside. There are constantly changing features too, which keeps it new and exciting. Such a good spot.

Loved the laid-back, natural atmosphere. The National Geographic Wolf exhibit by Ronan Donovan was fantastic. The Native exhibit is also very good. The artifacts collected and donated by Doris Swayze Bounds are amazing. We also enjoyed the talks given by the volunteers. They are interesting and well presented. The river otters are very entertaining and fun to watch. It is well worth visiting.

This place is always incredible. I've grown up in Bend and coming here is always a treat. I'm grateful to have grown up admiring these birds, to be able to come back as an adult and photograph them is a real pleasure. I highly recommend a visit here, help support these amazing people and animals.

Even though it was 34 and raining, we LOVED this museum. The native American section was awesome. The desert section was awesome. The bird exhibits with eagles and falcons was awesome. And, of course, the otters were otterly awesome. Great way to spend a morning with 2 kids!

The museum was amazing and all the exhibits in it caught our attention and had the kids stopping to ask 100 questions or start insightful conversations, but I loved how much there was to do outside. The walks between outdoor exhibits like the Ranch and the Otter Encounter were gorgeous and a great way to stretch legs in between so much learning. All the animal talks we were to were amazing, I'd recommend trying to get to as many as you can. (Our favorites were the otters and the birds of prey one.) We didn't think we'd get hungry but we did, and ended up sharing some stuff in the cafe. I was surprised by how good all the food was... it wouldn't win any big awards but compared to other museum/zoo cafeterias this food was really really good.

Wonderful way to spend a couple hours of time! The birds of prey were super cool! There are two walk-through exhibits (one on Native Americans and one on early colonization) Both are very informative and have awesome displays! When we went the cougar and porky pine weren't out 😩 Over all it was 20 dollars well spent!

This place is wonderful, and what a joy to walk around and learn about the high desert. Oregon is such a diverse state. It has something for everyone. This is definitely a place to come and visit. Now, usually, I am not excited by museum food. But, I am happy that I ate here, delicious. It's one of the best Ahi Tuna. I say, go spend a day here and enjoy the best of Oregon.

Fantastic place to visit, far all ages, very educational, very easy parking, very helpful and knowledgeable staff. The out door part is amazing it takes you back in time, if you are lucky you can cach the lady making ice cream. If you want to see the birds show make sure you get there before 5 pm. The all museum is superb, definitely a great place to see if you are in the area. Reasonable priced great gift shop. I am coming back.

If you enjoy learning about nature in a specific locale, make sure to visit the High Desert Museum when in Bend. They don’t have a large number of animals but those they have are relevant to the area and are interesting to see. They also have a replica of a old time farm and sawmill which gives a good depiction of life in the old west. They had several interesting, indoor exhibitions and one highlight when we were there was an exhibition of photographic x-rays of fish.

I got there after 4p and they close at 5p. I was offered three options since <1hr is not enough to see everything. (1) pay 70% (2) pay full price, see what you can before 5p and return the next day to complete your visit. (3) come back when you have more time. I opted for option 1. I was given some suggestions on how to maximize my time. I had to see the otters! They were so cute! I was going to go back inside to take my time in the Spirit of the West Exhibit but decided to walk briskly through the other outdoor sites: the High Desert Ranch and Sawmill, The Changing Forest, Birds of Prey Center. I didn't have time to thoroughly explore the By Hand Through Memory. I skipped the Desertarium and Collin's Gallery due to the time constraint. I would love to come back to spend a few hours here.

I love coming here with my nephews. There is always so much to see and experience. And although it's really educational, its also a lot of fun too. My favorite exhibits are the fox and the otters, but all are great. During Christmas break, we brought my nephews here for the Winter Nights event and had such a great time making cookies, trying local brews, listening to winter stories and checking out the Wolf exhibit. I highly recommend if you are looking for something fun to do!

Love, love, love the High Desert Museum! This is a great museum that has something for everyone. Whether you are interested in native peoples of the Oregon high desert area or birds of prey, or otters, this place will not disappoint. I love that they also have displays of historical and contemporary art as it relates to people from the high desert communities. I will definitely be visiting this place again in the near future! A+++

We love visiting the museum every year to see what's new. There are rotating exhibits every few months along with the permanent. A must-do is to watch the otters play in their outdoor area. Tons of fun. New on this visit was a beautiful fox that was playful. Always enjoy the bird and critter talks. Great experience.

One of the best museums I've been too! Unbelievable exhibits and animals. Great Cafe on site with REALLY good burgers. Reasonably priced as well. I also overheard that if you are a person who is on EBT and therfore low income you get in for $2. I loved hearing this! But worth the full price I paid for sure!!

We go to the museum, whenever we're in town! The otters are my absolute favorite, they are the most adorable for a clowns imaginable. On our last trip we were lucky enough to be able to purchase the raptor experience. Tickets. Not only are the birds beautiful, the handlers are teaching both birds and people about conservancy. It was a wonderful experience! Unfortunately, during our trip a wild hawk decided to take place in the show, luckily the peregrine falcon was not harmed! Truly a wonderful experience, highly recommended!

It is always such a fun family experience. I haven't been here in years. It's such a treat going back and spending the day and just enjoying all the history and animals without having to be rushed

It's a wonderful place! We had a great time! The staff (mostly volunteers) are all very pleasant and knowledgeable. They are very strict about their closing time. We were practically shooed out the door at 5:02 when they close at 5:00. I understand you want to go home but I'm just looking at the few last minute things on my way out the door. It was a great place though and I do look forward to going back.

This museum is tucked into a ponderosa forest in Bend, OR. The museum has both indoor and outdoor exhibits, all focused on animals, people/cultures, and plants of Oregon's high desert. There are live animals, like a bobcat, hawk, skunk, fow and porcupine that are part of their various, family-oriented programs. There is ample parking and though the museum can get crowded, there is lots of room to move about and lots of sitting areas dotted throughout the property. At the time of this writing, 2 adults and 2 children admission will set you back about $64. We look forward to visiting the High Desert Museum again, during the winter to see how the exhibits change based on the seasons.

Very interesting and interactive. There were educational sessions about where children and adults could see and learn more about the animals and birds. You can tour a small high desert village and experience how the early settlers would have lived. Hands on activities for the children to enjoy. We really enjoyed the section about the Native Americans. By all means take time for this stop.

How does super fun time with the 5 year old we saw everything there was to see. It wasn't too busy nor was it expensive. With all the interactive ScenesTo all the Critter is you're able to look at. It's a good spot for both children and adults. I learned an absolute bunch while I was there. There were so many helpful volunteers who would walk you through exhibits explain to you whatever you wanted. Definitely needs to be more museums and places like this. Honest goodness fun for the entire family!

This is one of the coolest museums I've ever been too! Obviously the themes center around the high desert, but also the entire pacific northwest. Lots of exhibits about Indians and Indian life, as well as early settlers. Then there's several exhibits centered around wildlife with animals and a wing devoted to otters and another wing too birds of prey. Take note that all wild life here were injured at one time and are rehabilitated but unable to be released. Kind of expensive but the facility is massive and you can spend multiple hours here. Lots of photos attached.

Adorable, family friendly, natural history museum. They have indigenous art, historical recreations of indigenous and settler life, current art, and variety of wildlife. My favorite parts were seeing the otters and birds of prey. Check out the daily schedule for times of events. The walking trail to exhibits is paved and accessible. There were vending machines, a cafe (delicious!), and a lovely gift shop on site.

This is absolutely one of my favorite museums. Great for kids but really enjoyable for adults too (I went alone). The volunteers are super knowledgeable and nice and the exhibits are illuminating. I highly recommend the seasonal programs like Raptors of the Desert Sky (only thru Labor Day). And don't miss a volunteer talk or two! I ended up purchasing a membership even though I don't live close by. I hope to make it out at least once a year.

Great place to take your kiddos or even for a date night. The exhibits are very informative and my daughter loves all the animals! It's also awesome they have a play area for the kids to play. So many cool things to learn about the high desert and so much history here. I highly recommend going if your visiting or if you've never been!

It's nice to see some of our Oregon history. I was impressed with the native bead work and the canoes made by hand with the simplest of items. The headdresses of the chiefs were very beautiful. The otters were going in and out of the water. The birds of prey were very elegant and majestic. I can only imagine what they must be like out in the wild.

A gem in the desert! Fantastic indoor exhibits and a truly joyous outdoor experience with walking trails, otters, owls, eagles, and more. Great attention to detail was put into every exhibit and the place appears to be meticulously cleaned and maintained. Kids will love it. Adults too!

This place is wonderful. Highly recommend the Raptor Fly Over Show. Have not experienced anything like it! Something that I thought was great is that they have free outdoor kennels to house your dogs while you're in the museum.

Thinking back on the memories of my life, the High Desert Museum stands out as one of the greatest places I’ve been. It definitely evokes great memories. The staff is always friendly and very knowledgeable. I have been here with my family several times, and this place never ceases to surprise me, in a good way. They have beavers, birds, cats, and very informative and educational exhibit. Their historical portrayal of events and the way people lived give you a great education of the past. I would recommend this place for anybody looking for a great day out in nature.

Kept thinking as I walked the outdoor paths about how absolutely beautiful it must be on a spring or summer day. Excellent place for children. Adults will love the present exhibit on the people preserving the authentic native American traditions. Who knew the explanation of a mail order sawmill could be so interesting. Nice cafe with a nice variety.

Great museum with incredible displays. Most employees were friendly and informative. At one point after seeing the 1904 exhibit we followed footprints in the snow which led us towards a backdoor. Since one of us was in a walking cast we thought we could get back into the building from that direction. Suddenly, one of the rudest and most unhelpful employees I have ever had the displeasure of being in her presence appeared and rudely sent us back the way we came.

Exceeded my expectations! So much stuff to see and learn, not to mention our group was completely free due to military discount. Amazing they offer that! Staff is friendly, educational shows periodically through the day, and was very clean. Gift shop priced high, but as to be expected. Overall, our whole group had a great time.

I originally brushed off going here on a recent trip to the area. I then got a recommendation that it was worthwhile and I have to agree. The animals were all active and seemed to be happy and in good health. The otters are a blast and the shows were great and informative. If you have kids 5 and older they will have a good time.

Came to Bend for weekend getaway and High Desert Museum did not disappoint! Right off the highway and lots of parking. This Museum offers indoor exhibits and outdoor exhibit, with a variety of presentations throughout the day. I LOVED Gert the Grey Fox, Juniper the Porcupine did not make her presence known. Many many Golde Mantle Ground Squirrels and Chipmunks throughout the park. Overall something for everyone! Go adventure and see the museum!!

Definitely worth the stop!! great live animal exhibits, along with some historical/informational plaques and rooms. Didn't do 5 stars because a few things were closed. I am definitely coming back. The otters, made the trip worth it!

Wonderful place! It’s a two-in-one experience: 1) Walking through western history, and 2) getting to encounter wildlife. 🦊 🐸 🦦 🦅 🐿 They do a great job creating habitats for the animals and even give the birds free fly time each day. Both the indoor and outdoor living history experiences are fantastic. Very informative and realistic! So glad they did not ignore the plight of native Americans caused by westward expansion. There’s also a cute cafe and gift shop. The whole place is well maintained with beautiful sculptures and artwork throughout. This was an all around great way to spend several hours. Also, they have a shaded kennel area for dogs so they aren’t left in the car! 🐶

Absolutely wonderful. We arrived just as they opened to beat the crowds and spent 3 hours walking around. The exhibits are as good as if Disney designed them. I’m mad that it took us so many years to visit.

Awesome place to take the kids. Tons of outdoor learning and wonderful inside exhibits. It's always different, so you can go multiple times a year and learn something new!

This museum was a wonderful surprise! It has a lot of very good exhibits that cover a range of interesting topics, and had very engaging content. There is a wonderful outdoor path that winds through additional exhibits like a birds of prey aviary, an otter pond, and more. We are so glad we gave this place a try during our road trip!

I was apprehensive at first, but I think this is definitely a hidden gem and once of the best museums I've visited. Telling the story if the local geography and culture, its extremely well laid out, better than some zoos on the west coast. With wings dedicated to the native peoples, native live animal exhibits and outdoor exhibits depicting life in 1904 along with animals, its well worth it to visit. The otter exhibit was especially good and the indoor recreated town was especially surprising. The restaurant was also surprisingly really good and inexpensive.