Deschutes River Trail: What to Know Before You Go

The Deschutes River Trail is one of the best ways to experience Bend without really leaving Bend.

Following the Deschutes River for more than 12 miles, the trail connects riverfront parks, quiet neighborhoods, downtown Bend, the Old Mill District, forests, canyon scenery, and some of the city’s most popular places to get outside. Depending on which section you explore, you might walk beneath ponderosa pines, watch river otters near the rapids, grab lunch downtown, or continue all the way toward Bend’s southern river canyon.

And if you’re staying at Bend Riverside Rentals or Pioneer Park Rentals, getting onto the Deschutes River Trail is especially easy. The trail winds right by our riverfront properties, so you can walk from your condo or cottage and onto the trail without getting in the car first.

Here’s where the Deschutes River Trail goes, what you’ll see along the way, and how to explore it during your Bend vacation.

How long is the Deschutes River Trail?

The Deschutes River Trail is more than 12 miles long through Bend. Rather than functioning as one uninterrupted wilderness hiking trail, it’s made up of several connected sections called “reaches.”

From north to south, the main sections are:

• Awbrey Reach
• River Run Reach
• Pioneer Reach
• Old Mill Reach
• South Canyon Reach

Together, they take you through dramatically different parts of Bend.

Some sections are paved and pass directly through city parks. Others use gravel, natural surfaces, neighborhood streets, or sidewalks. Keep going south, and the surroundings become increasingly natural as the river cuts through pine forest, basalt formations, and canyon terrain.

You certainly don’t have to walk all 12-plus miles.

In fact, one of the best things about the Deschutes River Trail is how easily you can turn it into whatever kind of outing you want: a quick morning walk, a stroll into downtown, a few miles along the river, or a much longer Bend adventure.

The Deschutes River Trail runs right by Bend Riverside Rentals

This is where staying on the river comes in handy. Bend Riverside Rentals sits directly along the Deschutes River near Pioneer Park, with easy access to the Deschutes River Trail from the property area. Instead of driving to a trailhead, finding parking, and then beginning your walk, you can simply leave your condo and head toward the river.

The trail is right there.

Guests staying at our neighboring Pioneer Park Rentals can also easily walk from their unit to Pioneer Park and connect with the Deschutes River Trail. That means the trail isn’t necessarily a separate activity you need to schedule into your vacation. It can simply become how you get around.

Take it for a morning walk before breakfast. Follow it toward downtown. Walk along the river after dinner. Or see how far you feel like going before turning around. Your car is welcome to enjoy the vacation, too.

Where does the Deschutes River Trail go?

This is where the trail becomes especially useful for visitors.

The Deschutes River Trail isn’t simply a scenic path that goes out for a few miles and comes back. It passes through and connects many of Bend’s best-known riverfront areas.

Depending on how far you follow it, the Deschutes River Trail connects you with places including:

• Pioneer Park
• First Street Rapids Park
• Sawyer Park
• Pacific Park
• Drake Park
• Mirror Pond
• Downtown Bend
• Columbia Park
• Miller’s Landing Park
• McKay Park
• Bend Whitewater Park
• The Old Mill District
• Riverbend Park
• Farewell Bend Park
• The South Canyon section of the Deschutes River

That makes it part hiking trail, part neighborhood path, and part extremely scenic way of getting around Bend.

Walk north to First Street Rapids Park

From the Bend Riverside area, heading north takes you along the River Run Reach toward First Street Rapids Park.

This stretch of the Deschutes River Trail runs primarily along the west bank between Pioneer Park and Sawyer Park. It’s relatively wide and flat, making it popular with walkers, runners, and people out with their dogs.

The surroundings quickly start feeling more natural. The river picks up speed as you approach First Street Rapids, and wetlands along this portion of the trail provide habitat for wildlife.

First Street Rapids Park itself spans both sides of the river and has a pedestrian bridge connecting the trail. It’s also a popular river access point for canoes and kayaks.

If you’re looking for a relatively short outing from your condo that still feels like you’ve gotten away from town, this is an excellent direction to go.

Keep going to Sawyer Park

Continue north beyond First Street Rapids and the Deschutes River Trail eventually reaches Sawyer Park. The River Run Reach passes between the river and a high canyon wall before traveling through River’s Edge Golf Course and nearby neighborhoods.

Yes, part of your peaceful riverside walk goes through a golf course. And yes, Bend Park & Recreation District actually warns trail users to watch for flying golf balls. Nature has hazards. Apparently, so does golf.

Sawyer Park sits along both sides of the Deschutes River and has its own network of trails. It’s also an excellent place for birdwatching, with more than 140 bird species documented in the park.

From Sawyer Park, trail connections continue farther north into the Awbrey Reach.

Walk south through Pioneer Park

Heading the opposite direction from Bend Riverside brings you toward Pioneer Park.

Pioneer Park is one of Bend’s oldest parks and sits directly along the Deschutes River. It has open lawns, mature trees, a rose garden, riverfront woods, and a section of the Deschutes River Trail running through it.

For guests staying at Pioneer Park Rentals, this is your neighborhood entrance to the trail. From here, you can continue south toward Pacific Park, Drake Park, Mirror Pond, and downtown Bend.

Follow the trail to Drake Park and Mirror Pond

Keep heading south and you’ll eventually reach one of the most recognizable parts of Bend: Drake Park and Mirror Pond. Drake Park has nearly half a mile of Deschutes River frontage and sits right beside downtown Bend.

The Deschutes River Trail travels through the park, including a section that runs beneath Newport Avenue and connects Drake Park with Pacific Park.

This is where a walk on the Deschutes River Trail can easily become a downtown Bend outing. Walk along the river, wander through Drake Park, and then detour into downtown for coffee, lunch, shopping, or drinks.

Then walk back along the river when you’re done. No parking-space scavenger hunt required.

Can you walk from the Deschutes River Trail to downtown Bend?

Yes. The Pioneer Reach of the Deschutes River Trail passes through the central portion of Bend and provides easy connections into downtown.

Drake Park is directly adjacent to downtown Bend, making it one of the easiest places to leave the river trail and explore the city center on foot. That’s one of the biggest advantages of this section of the trail.

You aren’t choosing between a hike and going downtown. You can do both on the same walk.

Continue toward Miller’s Landing and McKay Park

South of the downtown and Drake Park area, the Deschutes River Trail continues toward Miller’s Landing Park and McKay Park.

Parts of the Pioneer Reach use neighborhood streets and sidewalks rather than staying directly beside the water, so don’t expect every single step to be on a riverbank trail.

Eventually, you’ll arrive back beside the Deschutes River near one of Bend’s most interesting recreation areas. And this is where the river gets considerably more active.

See the Bend Whitewater Park

Near McKay Park and Miller’s Landing, the Deschutes River flows through Bend Whitewater Park. If you’ve ever seen a photo of someone surfing a river in Bend and wondered what exactly was going on, this is probably where it was taken.

The Whitewater Park includes river channels designed for recreation and river passage. Depending on conditions, you may see surfers and kayakers playing on the waves while walkers watch from shore.

Even if you have absolutely no intention of voluntarily surfing a river, it’s worth stopping to watch the people who do. The Deschutes River Trail passes through this area, making the Whitewater Park an easy point of interest on a longer walk.

Walk into the Old Mill District

Continue south and the Deschutes River Trail enters the Old Mill Reach. The Old Mill District was once home to two enormous lumber mills. Today, the riverfront area has been redeveloped with shops, restaurants, trails, parks, and entertainment.

The trail runs on both sides of the river in this area, and three footbridges make it possible to cross back and forth and create different walking loops. This is another place where the Deschutes River Trail becomes more than a hiking trail. You can walk along the river, stop for lunch, browse shops, and continue into one of several nearby parks.

The Old Mill Reach stretches approximately 2.7 miles and is almost entirely paved, relatively level, and well suited to walking and casual biking.

Continue to Riverbend Park and Farewell Bend Park

South of the Old Mill District, the trail connects with Riverbend Park and Farewell Bend Park. Both parks are popular places to access the Deschutes River, particularly during Bend’s warmer months.

Riverbend Park is one of the major starting areas for people floating and paddling the river, while Farewell Bend Park sits directly across the water. A footbridge connects the two sides, making this another easy place to create a walking loop rather than simply turning around and retracing your steps.

If you’re exploring Bend in summer, expect this section of the river to be considerably livelier than the quieter stretches near First Street Rapids.

Keep going into the South Canyon Reach

If you want your walk to feel more like a hike, keep heading south. The South Canyon Reach extends roughly three miles beyond the Farewell Bend and Riverbend Park area.

This is where the Deschutes River Trail starts leaving the urban feel of Bend behind. The river rushes through canyon terrain surrounded by ponderosa pine, basalt, and more natural scenery. The trail includes paved, gravel, and natural-surface sections, with some areas narrower and rockier than the trails around downtown and the Old Mill. A bridge farther south allows hikers to cross the river and create a loop.

It’s impressive how quickly the scenery changes. One minute, you’re near restaurants and a few miles later, Bend seems to have disappeared.

Which section of the Deschutes River Trail is best?

That depends on what kind of walk you want. For a convenient walk from Bend Riverside Rentals, head north toward First Street Rapids.

For parks, downtown Bend, and Mirror Pond, head south through Pioneer Park toward Drake Park. For restaurants, shops, river surfing, and an easy paved path, continue toward Bend Whitewater Park and the Old Mill District. For a longer hike with more natural scenery, head toward the South Canyon Reach.

There’s no single section you have to complete to say you’ve experienced the Deschutes River Trail.

Sometimes the best route is simply walking out the door and seeing where the river takes you.

Is the Deschutes River Trail paved?

Parts of it are paved. The Deschutes River Trail includes paved paths, compacted gravel, natural surfaces, sidewalks, and street connections.

The Old Mill Reach is one of the easiest sections for visitors looking for a mostly paved and relatively level route.

The River Run Reach between Pioneer and Sawyer parks is primarily compacted gravel, while the South Canyon Reach includes a combination of paved, gravel, and natural trail surfaces.

If accessibility is important, check the individual trail section before heading out. Bend Park & Recreation District notes that trails at Pioneer, Farewell Bend, and Riverbend parks are among the better options for visitors using mobility aids.

Can you bike the Deschutes River Trail?

Bikes are allowed on many sections of the Deschutes River Trail, but not everywhere. Certain portions are pedestrian-only, including the west side of the South Canyon Reach. Other trail segments may have restrictions based on surface, location, or use.

Watch the signs as you go rather than assuming every section has the same rules. The wide, paved Old Mill Reach is particularly friendly for casual cyclists and families with children on bikes.

Didn’t bring your own bike? Check out our guide on Bend bike rentals.

Are dogs allowed on the Deschutes River Trail?

Dogs are allowed on many portions of the Deschutes River Trail and generally need to be leashed unless you’re in a designated off-leash area.

There are exceptions. For example, dogs aren’t permitted on trails within Riley Ranch Nature Reserve farther north.

Pay attention to signs along the route because rules can change between trail sections and natural areas.

What wildlife can you see along the Deschutes River Trail?

You can see quite a bit of wildlife along the trail. The river corridor provides habitat for birds and mammals even as it passes through the middle of Bend.

The wetlands around the River Run Reach and First Street Rapids are particularly good places to keep an eye out for wildlife.

Bend Park & Recreation District notes that the area is used by river otters, beavers, ospreys, songbirds, trumpeter swans, bald eagles, and migratory birds.

Sawyer Park is another particularly good birdwatching area.

You don’t necessarily have to go deep into the wilderness to see wildlife in Bend. Sometimes you just have to leave the condo and walk down the trail.

When is the best time to walk the Deschutes River Trail?

The Deschutes River Trail can be enjoyed throughout the year, but each season feels different. Spring brings greener riverbanks and warming temperatures. Summer is ideal for longer walks, although exposed sections can get hot during the middle of the day.

Fall may be one of the prettiest times to explore the trail as the vegetation along the river changes color and temperatures become more comfortable for walking.

Winter brings a quieter version of the trail. Snow and ice can affect conditions, but sections around downtown and the Old Mill remain popular for walking throughout the colder months.

If you’re visiting during hot weather, morning and evening walks are particularly pleasant.

What should you bring?

For most walks on the central portions of the Deschutes River Trail, you don’t need serious hiking gear.

Bring:

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Water
• Sunscreen
• Layers
• Sunglasses
• A leash if you’re bringing your dog
• Your phone or camera
• Binoculars if you’re interested in wildlife

For longer walks into the South Canyon Reach, bring more water and footwear appropriate for natural and rocky trail surfaces. And remember that Bend’s high-desert temperatures can change quickly, particularly between morning, afternoon, and evening.

Do you need a car to visit the Deschutes River Trail?

Not if you’re staying with us. That’s part of the point.

At Bend Riverside Rentals, the Deschutes River isn’t something you have to drive across town to see. It’s outside your condo.

And the Deschutes River Trail isn’t something you need to drive to a trailhead to experience. It winds right past the property and connects into Bend’s larger riverfront trail system.

Guests at Pioneer Park Rentals have similarly convenient access from their cottages through nearby Pioneer Park.

From there, your own two feet can take you toward First Street Rapids, Sawyer Park, Pioneer Park, Drake Park, downtown Bend, the Old Mill District, Bend Whitewater Park, Riverbend Park, Farewell Bend Park, and beyond.

Stay right on the Deschutes River Trail

There are plenty of places in Bend where you can drive to the river. Or you can stay on it.

At Bend Riverside Rentals, your condo puts the Deschutes River outside your window and one of Bend’s best trail systems practically outside your door. At Pioneer Park Rentals, cozy cottages put you close to both Pioneer Park and the trail, with downtown Bend within easy reach.

Walk north toward the rapids. Head south toward Drake Park and downtown. Keep going to the Old Mill District, or turn the whole thing into a longer river hike.

And when you’re finished? Walk home.