Bend Whitewater Park

The city of Bend is famous for its endless opportunities for outdoor recreation, including ingenious attractions like Bend Whitewater Park. Taking advantage of one of Bend’s best and most beautiful natural resources, the Deschutes River, Bend Whitewater Park is a thrilling attraction located on the river in the middle of the Old Mill District in downtown Bend. If you’re looking for things to do in Bend Oregon, don’t skip this great attraction. Find out more about Bend Whitewater Park below!

Experience the Thrills of Bend Whitewater Park

Bend Whitewater Park is located at 166 SW Shevlin Hixon Road and is comprised of 3 channels along the Deschutes River. 1 of the 3 channels is dedicated strictly to both migratory and local wildlife, making it off-limits to visitors. However, the 2 primary channels are fully accessible, so you and your guests can partake in water-based recreation of all kinds, including surfing, tubing, kayaking, and rafting. Which of the 2 channels you choose to take will depend on how intense you want your whitewater thrills to be.

The tamer of the 2 channels is the Passageway Channel. Ideal for visitors who want to float and relax on the river with the option of riding on the rapids, Passageway Channel can be easily accessed beginning at River Bend Park. Starting there, you’ll want to follow the river’s left fork at the bridge at Colorado Avenue. If you find that the condition of the Passageway Channel rapids is safe and to your liking, you can take the rapids all the way to McKay Park’s beach. Once you reach the beach, you can re-enter the river and follow the river’s right fork at the bridge at Galveston Avenue, which will take you to Drake Park.

The 2nd channel is the Whitewater Channel. The conditions in this channel are created by a complex man-made system within the natural river that has 4 wave features and 26 underwater bladders. On this channel, you’ll find many visitors taking part in whitewater kayaking, surfing, and paddleboarding, in conditions ranging from challenging waves like Eddy’s Wave that should only be attempted by experienced river riders to Jason’s Wave, which is much more beginner-friendly.

Arrived Now – Your Bend Vacation Experts

Learn more about Bend Whitewater Park and other fun activities and events you won’t want to miss during your time in Bend when you call or email our team of reservation specialists to ask about reserving your stay in one of our gorgeous vacation rentals today!