PILOT Butte FULL MOON (Strawberry Moon) night hike - 1.5 miles RT

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NEW LOCATION!! Bessie Butte area is closed - let's hike up Pilot Butte in the middle of Bend. Park and meet up on the road in front of Lava Lanes Bowling Ally.

THIS IS AN NIGHT WALK UNDER A FULL MOON.
The Full Strawberry Moon will rise in Bend, Oregon, on Monday, June 29, 2026, at 8:32 PM PDT. Sunset occurs shortly before this at 8:51 PM, making it an ideal time to watch the moon ascend over the horizon while the sky still holds a twilight glow.

The June full moon, which is the first full moon of the summer season, is traditionally known as the Strawberry Moon because it coincides with the peak of the strawberry harvesting season.

Because the 2026 Strawberry Moon falls during a period when the moon is at its farthest point in its orbit around the Earth, it is also classified as a Micro Full Moon.

Dress warm, bring TWO light sources, perhaps a tasty adult beverage as we explore the night sky. I prefer hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps, myself!

WELL BEHAVED DOGS ON LEASH ARE WELCOME TO JOIN - Although this is an off leash area, let's keep Fido close by on a leash for this event so nobody gets knocked down or tripped in the darkness.

FILE INFO BELOW FOR NEXT YEAR:
***FROM ALL TRAILS:
Added by Roark Nelson

Beautiful viewpoint of Deschutes National Forest. View of Mount Bachelor and three Sisters. 1.5 mile hike roundtrip. 500 foot elevation gain. Easy Access.

Just a mere 15 minutes outside of Bend, Oregon the Bessie Butte Trail is a wonderfully scenic hike to overlook Bend on one side and the Deschutes National Forest on the other. The butte provides an excellent view of the surrounding mountains of which there are many: Mount Bachelor, The South Sister, The Middle Sister, The North Sister, Mount Hood, and in the distance, Mount Adams. Be aware that the more distant mountains such as Hood and Adams may not be as visible in not so clear skies.

Be prepared for dropping temperatures and high winds, the butte itself rises 500 feet above the valley floor and the wind is chilling in the cooler months.

Possible After hike beverages at Way Off Wall Street Bar