Bend resident Rue McKenrick completed his last scouting trip of the 14,400-mile American Perimeter Trail. Find out more about his efforts here.

When Rue McKenrick walked into Bend’s Drake Park this past Saturday, his arrival marked the completion of a dream more than three years in the making.

It was the end of his last scouting trip of the 14,000-mile American Perimeter Trail (APT), a path that circumnavigates the continental United States using a combination of existing trails and undefined routes, and the brainchild of McKenrick.

A welcoming party waited for him in the park, celebrating the completion of “Phase 1” of his mission as the executive director of the Bend-based nonprofit American Perimeter Trail Conference (americanperimetertrail.org).

“It was extremely…

The Central Cascade Wilderness Permit System opens this Sunday. Learn more here.

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes and Willamette National Forests want to remind the public that the reservation system for day use permits for the Central Cascade Wilderness Permit System will open on Sunday.

Beginning Sunday, June 5 at 7 a.m., the reservation period for 10-day advance day use permits will open on Recreation.gov for the permit system. The Central Cascades Wilderness permit season begins on June 15 and ends on October 15 annually.

Beginning June 13 at 7 a.m., the reservation period for two-day advance day use permits will open on Recreation.gov for the permit system.

Day-use permits will continue to be available in 10-day and two-day…