When summertime is in full swing in Bend, you look for lots of ways to beat the heat. Floating the Deschutes River is a popular option, along with standup paddleboarding, whitewater rafting, or a dozen other outdoorsy options you can read about on our water recreation page. But sometimes, you just want a swimming pool. Maybe it’s the childhood nostalgia you get from the whiff of chlorine, or maybe you just want to park your towel someplace no muddy dog could roll on it. If you need a pool to get cool, here are five great options in Bend and Central Oregon:

The SHARC in Sunriver

SHARC stands for Sunriver Homeowners Aquatic & Recreation Center, but this mecca of cool water and warm sunshine is open to people who aren’t homeowners. In fact, the general public is welcome year-round, even if you’re staying in a Bend hotel or vacation rental.

Fun for the whole family at SHARC in Sunriver.

Located just 20 miles south of Bend, SHARC features more than 2.5 acres of grass, indoor and outdoor recreation pools, a hot tub, two water slides, a lazy river, and a tubing hill. The outdoor pool is adorned with a veritable water playground of kid-friendly goodies, while the lazy river makes an excellent spot for folks seeking a more laidback experience. I love being able to sprawl on a lawn chair in the grass with a good book while the young’uns make dizzying loops down the two waterslides. There’s an on-site snack bar offering things like nachos, hot dogs, and plenty of cool drinks. If you get tired of swimming, check out the tubing hill (which is included with your SHARC admission). A visit to SHARC is a bit on the pricy side, at $25 per person 4 and older, but it’s worth it for a full day of cool, watery bliss and kids who’ll sleep in the car all the way back to Bend.

The public pools at Juniper Swim & Fitness

Frugal families are especially fond of this gem in the middle of Bend. Operated by Bend Parks & Rec, the public pools at Juniper Swim & Fitness offer an excellent option for locals and thrifty visitors alike.

Frugal fun in the kids’ pool at Juniper Swim & Fitness.

Out-of-district residents (i.e. vacationers!) pay just $7 a person to access an Olympic 50-meter pool that’s indoors in the winter, outdoors in the summer, plus another indoor 25 meter pool with diving boards and rope swing and an indoor children’s pool. There’s also a seasonal outdoor activity pool complete with waterslide and a kid-friendly aquatic playground. On chillier days, grownups in particular will appreciate the indoor co-ed hot tub, sauna, and steam room. As an added bonus, your admission gets you access to the exercise facilities, or pay $1 more to join a variety of fitness classes including barre, yoga, and more.

The Athletic Center at Brasada Ranch

The bad news: this one’s only open to folks who are staying at Brasada Ranch. The good news: this one’s only open to folks who are staying at Brasada Ranch. The amazing news: holy cow, you have an excuse to stay at Brasada Ranch! If you’re looking for an incredible oasis in Central Oregon, Brasada Ranch is it. The ranch offers championship golf, equestrian trail riding, panoramic mountain views, killer hiking trails, farm-to-table dining, a state-of-the-art spa, and luxury cabins that will make you never want to leave. But the gem in the middle of it all is their 17,000-square-foot athletic center. Besides the fitness facilities, it includes two oversized, seasonal outdoor pools with a fun waterslide, a lazy river, and the coolest design imaginable. The pictures don’t do it justice, and that’s saying something considering the pictures make me do a happy little sigh. There’s even a waterfall you can stand under for a killer shoulder massage, or pick a lounge chair in the sunshine and order one of their gourmet wraps from the on-site snack bar. There’s also a year-round indoor lap pool, indoor kiddie pool, and five year-round outdoor hot tubs. You’ll also find private hot tubs at most of the luxury cabins, which means you pretty much never need to leave the water. Well, maybe to go to the bathroom. Please.  

The hot springs mineral pool at Kah-Nee-Ta Resort and Spa

This one’s a bit of a drive from Bend, but it’s a nice day trip if you want the bonus of some Central Oregon sightseeing. Located on the Warm Springs reservation 69 miles northeast of Bend, Kah-Nee-Tah offers a hot springs mineral pool that’s both soothing and thrilling. It’s heated to 92 degrees in the winter months, and cooled during the summer to make it refreshingly perfect.

Fun times at Kah-Nee-Ta’s enormous hot springs mineral pool.

There are two awesome slides, including a 184-foot enclosed tube and a 140-foot slide with an open top for claustrophobic fraidy-cats like me. There are a couple hot tubs, a kids’ wading pool, and these adorable bear statues that have been squirting water into the pool since my parents first brought me here in a swim diaper. Don’t forget tons of sunscreen and an air mattress, and remember your camera to snap scenic shots of the landscape surrounding the Warm Springs reservation. Rates for the hot springs pool are $15 for those 11 and older, and $10 for kids 10 and under. Unlimited use of the waterslides is $4 extra.

Bend vacation rentals, motels, and hotels with pools

Sure, waterslides and lazy rivers are awesome, but there are tons of other options if you’d prefer the convenience of having a pool within walking distance of your bed.

The pine-fringed pool at Mt. Bachelor Village Resort is one of many places you can splash just a short distance from where you snooze.

There are more than two dozen Bend hotels and motels with swimming pools on-site. Some are indoor, some are outdoor, but all offer the luxury of being mere steps from where you rest your head. Mt. Bachelor Village Resort has a particularly lovely outdoor pool nestled among towing Ponderosa Pines, while the Hilton DoubleTree offers an indoor pool and a convenient location in the middle of Downtown Bend. Check out the grid listing on our Bend Lodging page to find a hotel pool that fits your family’s needs.