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DESCHUTES RIVER TRAILS SYSTEM
WELCOME TO THE DESCHUTES RIVER TRAIL!
or donating time or money to the Bend Park and Recreation
Bend Metro Park and Recreation District Adopt a Trail Program
Consider helping to maintain a section of trail through the
ADOPT A TRAIL PROGRAM disposal bags and trash cans. removed. Dog “rest stops” along the trails provide you with
No camping, smoking or fi res.
Do not litter. If you pack it in, please pack it out.
Dogs must be on leash at all times and their waste properly observe pedestrian-only trail sections.
Bicyclists are not allowed on all sections of the trails. Please safe and pleasant for all users:
No motorized vehicles are allowed on the trails.
Stay on the trail. Please don’t trespass on private property.


















P ea s e o o w t h es e s m p e g u d e n es t o k e e p t h e t ai e x p e e n c e


TRAIL USE REGULATIONS
The Deschutes River Trail portion of the Bend Urban Trails System allows nearly uninterrupted access to the beautiful waterway that is the heart of the community. The trail system is divided into fi ve “reaches,” defined by landscape characteristics.
The Bend Park and Recreation District is at work building a fully connected river trail between Tumalo State Park and Meadow Camp. Once complete, the trail system will encompass nineteen miles of trails. This map shows existing trails open to the public.
AWBREY REACH
Visitors can access the River Trail at its northernmost point at Kirkaldy Court off of Putnam Rd. This section of the trail, constructed on top of the buried Tumalo irrigation canal, consists of soft-surface and unimproved surfaces, and includes a few moderate hills. Along the middle stretch of this reach, the river drops into a deep canyon but the trail stays high on the canyon wall, offering spectacular views of the river below and the Three Sisters in the distance. A steep climb up the Archie Briggs Canyon Trail connects to Mt. Washington Dr.
RIVER
Run Reach


This section, favored by many locals, is also built over the Tumalo canal and was the first section of river trail to open in 1989. The surface is both soft-surface and unimproved, and is wide and relatively flat. The trail runs between the river and a high canyon wall, and passes through the River’s Edge golf course and adjacent neighborhoods. There are several wetlands in this reach, inhabited by songbirds, trumpeter swans, otter and beaver. Osprey frequently nest and fish here.
PIONEER REACH
This reach passes through the oldest and most established sections of Bend. The trail isn’t always right on the river, but instead follows sidewalks through neighborhoods and downtown. It passes through beautiful Drake Park on Mirror Pond and ends in McKay Park. There are several footbridges along the way offering opportunities to cross the river.
OLD MILL REACH
Once the site of two large ponderosa pine lumber mills, today the Old Mill Reach is a mix of river parks, the Shops at the Old Mill, and areas yet to be developed. Three footbridges connect trail legs on either side of the river, providing convenient walking loops. On the east side, the trails are hard surface from the Old Mill District to the Bill Healy bridge. The trail on the west side offers a mix of hard and soft surfaces. Farewell Bend Park provides two developed boat landings for paddlers using the Deschutes River water trail. The east side trail passes through Farewell Bend Park, which also provides two developed boat landings for paddlers using the Deschutes River water trail.
SOUTH CANYON REACH
This reach has trail legs on both sides of the river, connected by a new footbridge approximately 1 1/2 miles upstream of the Farewell Bend Park bridge. The river flows fast here through a beautiful canyon, cascading over rocks and logs.
West side: This reach’s west-side leg is known as the Mt. Bachelor Village Trail. Here the soft surface trail is open to pedestrians, but cyclists are not allowed. An alternative cycling route connects from the Bill Healy Bridge to the Haul Road Trail along Century Drive.
East side: The east-side trail at the northern end of this reach is unimproved surface, narrow and rocky in places; the southern end is on the gravel ditch road which runs above the river and next to the COID siphon pipe. There are several connections to nearby neighborhoods along the way.
DESCHUTES RIVER FLOWS SOUTH TO NORTH
Discover natural landscapes, wildlife, and scenic byways. Discover exceptional places to exercise, play, relax, or commute. Discover the Bend Urban Trails System.
Points Of Interest Along The Deschutes River Trail
Included in the Oregon Cascade Birding Trail system, Sawyer Park offers the opportunity to spot a variety of birds.
The historic Radamacher House and Plaza overlook Mirror Pond and Drake Park, with the Three Sisters visible in the background. This site includes a sign interpreting Bend’s founding.
Located across the foot bridge from Drake Park, Pageant Park was named in commemoration of the Bend Water Pageant, a favorite community event that ran from 1933-1965. An interpretive sign describes the event highlight, the launch of large lighted floats on Mirror Pond.
The Drake Park interpretive sign (located directly in front of the public restrooms) describes Bend’s early sense of community spirit.
McKay Park is the site of the Oregon Trunk Railroad interpretive sign, which describes Bend’s early railroad history.
Across the river from Farewell Bend Park is the new Riverbend Park, acquired in 2004 as community park space. The first phase of park development is planned for fall of 2005.
Farewell Bend Park, Bend’s newest community river park, honors the history of the logging industry at this site with two interpretive signs. Two additional signs explain a riparian restoration project and other steps being made to care for the health of our river and its ecosystem. The park includes a playground and restrooms.
The boardwalk here offers a view of Central Oregon Irrigation District’s Hydro site, where irrigation water is dropped back to the river through two turbines, generating electrical power. The public has access to this trail section thanks to an agreement with COID—please stay on the designated trail.
Mt. Bachelor Village Resort, in partnership with Brooks Resources and the High Desert Museum, has provided a series of informative signs along this section of trail which describe the native habitat, foliage, and other points of interest.
At this point along the trail, visitors can see the COID irrigation diversion which At this po nt the rai , vis tors can see the COID rr gat on diversion wh ch sends river water into the canal system to support agricultural and power production needs. Fish are directed back to the river by an elaborate fish screen. Danger: This area is not open to the public.
Food Trucks/Carts
https://www.visitbend.com/food-drink/restaurants/food-carts/ https://www.google.com/search?q=food+carts+near+me&rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS874US875&oq=food+cart s+&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0i512j0i457i512j0i402j46i175i199i512l2j0i512l4.9132j0j15&sourceid=chrome&i e=UTF-8 https://www.menupix.com/oregon/cn/158/370037/Food-Trucks-Prineville https://www.google.com/search?q=food+trucks+in+sisters+oregon&rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS874US875&ei= nMxVYpS4Ns2dkPIPufeDoAg&oq=food+trucks+in+Sisters&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAEYADIFCAAQgAQyB
QgAEIYDMgUIABCGAzoLCC4QgAQQxwEQrwE6BggAEBYQHkoECEEYAEoECEYYAFAAWPcKYNAiaABwAXgA gAHRAYgBugmSAQUwLjYuMZgBAKABAcABAQ&sclient=gws-wiz https://www.google.com/search?q=food+trucks+in+madras&rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS874US875&ei=nMxVYp S4Ns2dkPIPufeDoAg&ved=0ahUKEwiU9pOLm4_3AhXNDkQIHbn7AIQQ4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=food+truc ks+in+madras&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBggAEBYQHjIFCAAQhgMyBQgAEIYDOgcIABBHELADOgoIABB HELADEMkDOggIABCABBDJAzoFCAAQkgM6BQgAEIAEOgsILhCABBDHARCvAUoECEEYAEoECEYYAFDeEliM GmDVHGgBcAF4AIABrQGIAZoHkgEDMC42mAEAoAEByAEHwAEB&sclient=gws-wiz https://www.google.com/search?q=food+trucks+in+culver+oregon&rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS874US875&ei=b M1VYqjDC_bTkPIP_Zuj2AY&ved=0ahUKEwioqYDum4_3AhX2KUQIHf3NCGsQ4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=foo d+trucks+in+culver+oregon&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBQghEKsCOgoIABBHELADEMkDOgcIABBHELAD OgYIABAWEB46BQgAEIYDOgUIIRCgAUoECEEYAEoECEYYAFD2BljNDmCFEGgBcAF4AIABswGIAcQJkgEDMC 43mAEAoAEByAEEwAEB&sclient=gws-wiz https://pdx.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-bend-oregon-guide
Central Oregon Healthy Food
https://www.visitbend.com/food-drink/restaurants/vegan-vegetarian-gluten-free/ https://www.google.com/search?q=healthy+eats+in+central+oregon&rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS874US875&ei =Vs5VYo6xJp_TkPIPjIqV4AI&ved=0ahUKEwiOtOXdnI_3AhWfKUQIHQxFBSwQ4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=heal thy+eats+in+central+oregon&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAM6BggAEAcQHjoICAAQBxAFEB46BQgAEIYDSgQI QRgASgQIRhgAUABYjyhg6D5oAnABeAGAAe8DiAHND5IBCjIuMTAuMS4wLjGYAQCgAQHAAQE&sclient=g ws-wiz
Kid Friendly Attractions
https://forgetsomeday.com/things-to-do-in-bend-oregon-with-kids/ https://www.cascadiakids.com/things-do-kids-bend-oregon/ https://oldmilldistrict.com/things-to-do-with-kids/ https://www.visitbend.com/things-to-do/activities/kid-family-friendly-activities/
Farmers Markets in Central Oregon
https://visitcentraloregon.com/dining/food/farmers-market/ https://www.localharvest.org/prineville-or/farmers-markets https://hdffa.org/its-farmers-market-season/ https://redmondoregonfarmersmarket.com/ https://www.sistersfarmersmarket.com/ https://www.localharvest.org/redmond-or/farmers-markets
Central Oregon Breweries
https://northwestmicrobreweries.com/central-oregon https://www.google.com/search?q=breweries+in+central+oregon&rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS874US875&oq=& aqs=chrome.0.69i59i450l8.68566434j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 https://visitcentraloregon.com/dining/drinks/breweries/redmond/ https://beermebend.com/bend-oregon-brewery-locations/
Private Schools in Central Oregon
https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-private-schools/c/deschutes-county-or/ https://movingtobend.com/relocation-blog/2021/a-guide-to-public-and-private-schools-in-bendoregon/ https://www.countyoffice.org/bend-or-private-schools/
Central Oregon Winter Activities
https://www.visitbend.com/things-to-do/activities/winter-fun/ https://visitcentraloregon.com/things-to-do/activities/winter/ https://www.google.com/search?q=central+oregon+breweries&rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS874US875&oq=cent ral+oregon+breweries&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i390j69i60l2.8009j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Central Oregon Trivia and Bingo Nights
https://www.riversplacebend.com/games https://beermebend.com/bend-oregon-brewery-locations/ https://www.bendsource.com/bend/bingo-with-bren-supporting-saving-grace/Event?oid=16320982 https://www.visitbend.com/food-drink/astro-lounge/ https://theyardfoodpark.com/events/
Calendar of Events for Central Oregon
https://visitcentraloregon.com/calendar-of-events