There you are: Bobbing down the Deschutes in a sun-warmed innertube, toes trailing through icy-cool mountain waters. You’ve got a Hydro Flask of lemonade tucked next to you, and maybe a few friends drifting close by. On everyone’s face? Big ol’ happy grins.

Sounds like a fantasy, but guess what? It’s easy to achieve, once you know how to float the river in Bend, Oregon. Read on to learn how!

Get the right gear

Let’s talk floaties, since that’s the most important tool in your river floating arsenal.

In 26 years of floating the Deschutes, I’ve seen all kinds of floating devices. They range from colorful swans the size of my car to—I swear I’m not making this up—a dude riding his recycling bin downstream. 

Amusing as that sounds, here’s why I don’t recommend either of those options. Pool floaties aren’t sturdy like the ones you rent from Tumalo Creek, and the recycling bin? Let’s just say the captain of that particular vessel didn’t look comfy.

Save Mother Nature from popped plastic and spare your backside the fallout of said popping. As an added bonus, $1 from each Tumalo Creek tube rental gets donated to the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council to help reduce the impact we have on our river.

If you’re determined to bring your own floatie, find a sturdy one with durable seams. Those cute inflatable donuts and pizza slices are fun for pools, but this is a river spiked with branches and sharp lava rocks.

With your floatie procured and your swimsuit cinched up tight, here’s what else you’ll need for an epic day of river floating in Bend:

• Sturdy shoes that strap tight to your feet. Choose snug, well-fitted sandals and not flip-flops. Otherwise, you risk turning your footwear into litter on our beautiful river. True story: I forgot last summer and did a lap wearing flip-flops. Took me ten minutes to dig one out of the mud within seconds of launch. Also, please don’t go barefoot, unless you like scalding your feet on hot pavement.
• Sunscreen, sunscreen, did I mention sunscreen? Don’t underestimate the strength of the sun in our high-altitude desert town. Trust me on this one: Nothing kills your summer vacation plans quicker than getting scorched on day one. Be kind to our waterways and pick an eco-friendly sunscreen like this one from Bend-based AOS.
• Safety gear. Oregon law requires a life jacket or PFD for all boaters, paddleboarders, and kids 12 and under. The term “boat” is broad, and if you lash several tubes together, it’s considered a boat. Play it safe and pack a PFD. If you don’t have one, there’s a kiosk in Riverbend Park with free rental PFDs from Tumalo Creek.
• A sealable dry bag for keys and phone. It’s optional, but you’ll need someplace to stash essentials. Secure it to your person so it doesn’t sink if you drop it or flip. The one I purchased actually floats, so that’s handy if you can find one. Local boat and recreation shops sell watertight pouches to fit all budgets, and most you can wear around your neck. 

Now that you’ve got the right gear, it’s time to prepare.

Nail down your plan

Once upon a time, floating the river was as simple as strolling to Riverbend Park on a Saturday, grabbing a rental tube, and hopping in the river. 

It’s not quite as easy these days. More than a quarter-million humans float or paddle this section of river between Memorial Day and Labor Day, so planning ahead will ensure your river float runs smoothly. 

First, book online to reserve one of Tumalo Creek’s sturdy floaties. Consider a brunch-time float or early evening reservation if you want to avoid the biggest crowds and parking hassles.

While you’re at it, book a spot on the Ride the River shuttle so you’re not stuck walking 1.7 miles from Drake Park back to Riverbend in a drippy bathing suit while awkwardly hugging a floatie.

The Ride the River shuttle starts and ends at Park & Float, beginning June 22, 2024 (weather permitting). A $6 round trip pass makes transportation easy for river users with shuttles departing every 15-20 minutes from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can buy advanced tickets from Tumalo Creek online. You can also snag them from Cascades East Transit using the Umo Mobile app, or from the bus driver (no change provided).

On the day of your reservation, check-in at Park & Float for a wristband valid the entire day.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering what the heck Park & Float is, it’s across from The Pavilion on Simpson Ave. and Bradbury Way. That’s where you’ll find tube rentals and the pick up and drop off point for the Ride the River shuttle. That’s also where you’ll score free parking, so scope out the map here. From June 22 to September 2, Park & Float is open and renting tubes between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. You can return your tubes as late as 7 p.m.

While you can’t rent tubes or catch the shuttle at the Tumalo Creek kiosk in Riverbend Park, you can rent kayaks, SUPs, and life jackets. That cute little trailer is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily (weather permitting) May 25 to September 2.

How do I float the Deschutes?

I promise it’s not a silly question to ask how to float the river in Bend. There are lots of moving parts, but let me break it down for you.

If you’re pressed for time, you want to put in at Riverbend Park, float to the Colorado Avenue Bridge, hop out there, and walk half a mile on Shevlin Hixon Drive back to Riverbend. The whole trip takes roughly an hour, so you may be able to squeeze in more than one trip before walking back to your car at the Park & Float. This is what I do 90% of the time and it’s still fun year after year.

For another short-but-sweet option, consider putting in at the Colorado Ave. bridge and floating to Drake Park from there. This also takes about an hour, and you can walk back to your car at Colorado Avenue when you’re done.

These first two routes are the way to go if you don’t want to hassle with the shuttle or you’re short on time.

If you’ve got more hours to spare, get yourself a Ride the River shuttle pass and do the full float from Riverbend to Drake Park. You’ll be scooped up at the end-point and taken back to Park & Float. If that’s not in the cards, it’s kinda-sorta doable to cover the 1.7 miles from Drake to Riverbend on foot, but it can feel weird walking through busy neighborhoods clutching a floatie and strutting your stuff in a bikini (ask me how I know). 

Just please, please don’t do the dual-car DIY shuttle where one person leaves a vehicle at Riverbend and one at Drake Park. Those limited park-side spots have a strictly-enforced time limit, and the Old Bend Neighborhoods require residential permits to park on the streets. Citations are expensive and strictly enforced, so don’t kill your happy float vibe with a pricey parking ticket.

What should I do at the Colorado Ave. Bridge?

Whether you opt for a shorter float or a longer one, there’s a decision to make on your river float journey, and I promise it’s not a tough one.

At the Colorado Ave. bridge, you’ll see the Bend Whitewater Park. It has three distinct channels including a habitat area for wildlife, a whitewater channel for surfing and whitewater kayaking, and a fish ladder meant for fishies and river floaters. 

When you reach that point, hop off your floatie and walk along the portage trail to scan the series of 12 small rapids that make up the fish ladder. They’re a bit bumpy and could wreck your ride (not to mention your backside) if you’re not on a sturdy floatie. SUPers and anyone in a flatwater boat definitely won’t want to chance it. 

If you decide to ride the fish ladder, do your best to keep your feet downstream and your inflatable in the center of the channel. Try to keep space between you and other users navigating the rapids. Do not attempt to stand or get off your tube in this section of swift water.

If you have small children or would rather walk around, just stroll along the portage trail to the put-in point at McKay Park, where you’ll continue floating into Drake Park. You can also call it quits here and walk the half-mile along Shevlin Hixon to get back to Riverbend Park, or stroll a block up the hill to return to Park & Float.

What else should you know?

In more than a quarter-century of living in Bend, I’ve never missed a summer of river floating. Here are some of the best tidbits I can offer to help make the most of your Deschutes river float day:

• Alcohol is prohibited on the river and in parks. Ditto that for cannabis. The fines are hefty if police catch you using either one.
• Hang on to that can. If you’re enjoying a cold soda on the river, don’t even think about sinking cans or bottles in the water. Police will fine you and your fellow river floaters will give you serious stink-eye for littering Bend’s precious waterways. 
• Don’t tie float tubes together. Not only does it transform your floaties into boats (thereby triggering the legal requirement for a PFD) but it’s tougher to maneuver. Holding your buddy’s hand or the handle on his tube is great, but leave the ropes at home.
• There are no lifeguards on the river. Watch children and non-swimmers closely. Also, remember life jackets are required for boaters, paddleboarders, and kids 12 and under, and generally just a good idea for everyone else.
• Remember it’s a river. While you won’t encounter much swift current on this stretch of water, it’s a good rule of thumb never to attempt standing where the current’s strong. The risk of foot entrapment is real, so save the standing for very slow and/or shallow water.
• The water is COLD. It can feel good on a hot day, but it can shock the bejesus out of you if you’re expecting swimming pool temps.
• Keep out of the middle section of the Bend Whitewater Park. The rapids are meant for skilled whitewater kayakers and surfers, which is no place for a float tube. And don’t worry—it’s easy to spot (and avoid) this area as you approach.
• Don’t jump off bridges. Not only is it illegal, but extremely dangerous. We’ve seen serious injuries and permanent paralysis from botched bridge jumps, so don’t mess with this.
• Plan your day with time to spare. The float from Riverbend Park to Drake Park takes roughly two hours. The float from Riverbend to the Colorado Avenue Bridge is about an hour. Schedule tours and dinner reservations accordingly.
• Go when it’s slow. Timing your float for morning or early evening means smaller crowds and a mellower experience—the ultimate goal with a river float.
• Follow Leave No Trace Principles. That means packing out anything you pack in. If your floatie pops, don’t abandon it at the river’s edge or stuff it into overflowing trash cans. It’s up to all of us to keep rivers and beaches from becoming wastelands of lost flip-flops and garbage bins brimming with punctured air mattresses. Pretty please do your part.
• Watch where you park. There are major fines for overstaying your limit at Drake Park, and permits are required in surrounding neighborhoods. Stick with the free spots at Park & Float, and carpool if you can.

Now that you know what you’re doing, get ready to float the river like a champ this summer. See you out there on the water!