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On every sunny day of the summer, literally thousands of floaters ride down the river in rafts and tubes to escape the oppressive heat and enjoy the refreshing glacial waters of the Deschutes River. Most people put in at Farewell Bend Park or Riverbend Park, about a ½ mile upstream from the Old Mill, and float down to the Colorado Bridge by Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe. Here you must EXIT THE RIVER on the left, portage around the spillway and enter the river again at McKay Park on the other side of the bridge.
After a short section of water passing by some beautiful riverside houses, the river empties out into Mirror Pond, where floaters can make their way to the side of the river and wait for the Bend Area Transit (BAT) bus to take you back to Riverbend Park to your car. Or you can catch a ride and float the river again! The bus is run by BAT on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and costs $2.50, and it is run by a private company Monday - Thursday who charges $3.00.
Tumalo Creek rents high-quality NRS tubes at $10 an hour or $20 for the whole day.
Happy floating!
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