kayak tour bend oregon

Tumalo Creek

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Making your water adventures epic since 2000.

Need a Kayak or Canoe Rental for the Pole Pedal Paddle? Call 541 317-9407

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Best Kayaking Spots in Central Oregon, from Bend to the John Day River

• Pacific Northwest

Central Oregon is a hiker and kayaker’s paradise. The area is known for its pristine waterways, stunning landscapes, and diverse wildlife. Kayaking opportunities are available year-round, thanks to the region’s varied weather patterns and climate. It’s not ALL desert (I know that’s what you’re thinking).

The different seasons bring their own unique set of kayaking challenges and rewards. In the winter, kayakers can enjoy views of snow-capped mountains while paddling through rushing rivers. In the springtime, the melting snow swells the rivers and creates Class III and IV rapids.

Summers are hot but offer moderate temperatures in the early morning and evening hours, making it an ideal time to paddle one of Central Oregon’s many lakes or reservoirs. And in autumn, the leaves on the trees turn beautiful shades of red and orange, providing a picturesque backdrop as kayakers paddle by.

Easy Kayaking Spots in Central Oregon

Home to many tributaries and lakes, the opportunity for beginners or those seeking a leisure paddle are endless. Basing yourself out of Bend, there are options such as Mirror Pond, Sparks Lake, and the Deschutes River.

Deschutes River in Bend

The Deschutes River is a great place to kayak for beginners. The river is wide and slow-moving, making it a great place for kayakers of all levels of experience. There are plenty of areas to stop and take in the scenery and the wildlife viewing. The area is also home to the Bend Whitewater Park which is a kayakers paradise.

Where to launch:

• Bend Whitewater Park  

Willamette River in Eugene

I know this if more of western Oregon, but it’s NOT the coast, so I’m including Eugene here. The Willamette River is a beautiful kayaking spot that runs through the city of Eugene. The river is calm and plenty of places to stop and explore along the way. The wildlife is plentiful, and kayakers often see bald eagles, ospreys, and herons along the river.

The Willamette River actually continues on through Oregon Wine Country and then eventually through downtown Portland. It’s one of the best places to kayak in Portland , so you might as well try it out here too!

• Marshall Island Boat Ramp  

Mirror Pond

Located in the heart of the city of Bend, Mirror Pond is a convenient place to launch a kayak. The area is home to the Bend Kayak School, and the waters are perfect for beginners and those with small children. Mirror Pond is also a great place to SUP.

DID YOU KNOW: Deschutes Brewing

• Bend Kayak School and Rentals

Sparks Lake

Sparks Lake is a quick 20-minute drive west of Bend and is a popular destination for those interested in wetland ecosystems. The area is teeming with wildlife as it is classified as marshlands. We recommend going to see the meadows blooming wildflowers in late spring or early summer. In winter Sparks Lake may freeze over (temporarily) so plan accordingly if you’re visiting December through March.

• Sparks Lake Day Use Area  

Difficult and Technical Kayaking in Central Oregon

Of the 81 wild and scenic rivers managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Oregon has 34.  With over 1,000 miles of WSRs, there are plenty of opportunities to tackle whitewater rapids. 

Breitenbush River

Breitenbush River is a very popular river in Central Oregon. The area is filled with class III-IV runs with tons of pool droop rapids and beautiful gorges. Breitenbush River Rafting & Kayaking | Whitewater Guidebook outlines what to expect on the 8-mile section from Cleator to Gauging Station. This is a VERY EXPERIENCED run so approach with caution and CURRENT INFORMATION . At any given time there are at least four Class IV rapids on the Breitenbush River.

• Cleator Bend Bridge – launch
• Detroit Lake Marina – haul out

Crooked River

For those looking for a challenging IV-V run, check Lone Pine Bridge to Lake Billy Chinook. This run isn’t consistent and depends on timing on the river, so check for conditions ahead. Other parts of the river are slow-moving and are suitable for beginners and intermediate paddlers. 

For the mellow kayaker (like me) you can paddle through Smith Rock State Park , which we also love for hiking. Depending on the water level, bring your own PVC kayak and haul it down to the river to enjoy kayaking through this beautiful Central Oregon icon.

• Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint from turnaround area
• Hike down with kayak from Smith Rock Amphitheater

White River

White River is a beautiful waterway that takes paddlers through forests, a desert canyon with some class III and IV rapids in the 12-mile section between White River Crossing and Tygh Valley. Alternatively, a section between Keeps Mill to White River Crossing is fed by melting snow in the spring. Rapids here reach class IV.

This is a very technical paddle with lots of boulder and swift water. Because snow melt directly affects the water lever, late spring brings raging water and extra safety consideration. BE SURE TO BE OFF THE RIVER BEFORE THE FALLS.

• Keeps Mill Campground  for the longest paddle (25+ miles)
• White River Crossing Rd – launch
• Tygh Valley Road – haul out

North Fork John Day River 

North Fork John Day River is an excellent trail for those wanting an overnight trip. Surrounded by ponderosa pines and desert landscape, the scenery through the 40+ miles makes for a great Pacific Northwest paddle.

We love this area for all of the geologic history and fossil hunting too. Plan extra time to get your science on when you visit any of the forks of the John Day River.

• Tollbridge Campground  

National / State Park Kayaking Spots near [City/Region Name]

The central region of Oregon is home to many state parks and national forests. Waterways run through the LaPine State Park, Tumalo State Park, and many others. Facilities and infrastructure are well suited for paddlers and local outfitters dot the area; otherwise, simply check Bend for outfitters.

LaPine State Park 

LaPine State Park is home to Ponderosa pine forests, expansive meadows, and the beautiful Deschutes River. The area has excellent camping and is ideally situated on the banks of the Deschutes River, perfect for paddling. Check out Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe for rentals.

Note: “Tumalo” is a local word and Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe is NOT on Tumalo Creek or at Tumalo Falls in the Deschutes National Forest, but is in Bend.

• LaPine State Park Boat Launch

Tumalo State Park

Tumalo State Park is just a few miles north of Bend. A 2.4-mile section of the Deschutes River trail is commonly used for float trips. The riverbanks are also famous for rainbow trout.

• Tumalo State Park Campground  

Ochoco Lake and Prineville Reservoir State Parks

Prineville Reservoir State Park is a wildlife-protected area home to golden eagles, bald eagles, osprey, and deer. The park is characterized by waters flowing from the Ochoco Mountain Range into the Crooked River.  There are two campgrounds in the area which are popular on the weekends and in the summer.

Also nearby is Ochoco Lake. This beautiful man-made lake is great for kayaking, SUP and just enjoying swimming. It’s located between Prineville and the Painted Hills.

• Jasper Point (Prineville Reservoir State Park)  
• Ochoco Lake State Park

Cove Palisades State Park 

Cove Palisades State Park is located in the heart of Oregon and has two major waterways. The Deschutes and Crooked River carved out canyons and empties out into Lake Billy Chinook. The park is most popular in the summer, especially for swimming and beating the heat. Fishing is popular, and for those wanting a panoramic view of the lake, there’s a 6-mile loop on the Tam-a-Láu Trail.

The scenery here is EPIC! It’s the Central Oregon kayaking spot you must plan for to get in some canyon views.

• Cove Palisades State Park boat launch
• Crooked River Day Use Area  

Recommended Guided Tours in Bend

Deschutes River Kayaking Tour from Bend (seasonally available) – Explore the high deserts of Oregon on the upper Deschutes River. Your options are a half-day or full-day trip on the beautiful tributary that gives excellent viewpoints of the Cascade Mountains. Keep your eye out for eagles, otters, or elk.

Guided SUP in Cascade Lakes, Oregon – Just to the southwest of Bend lies Cascade Lakes. This beautiful area is great to explore via SUP. Enjoy a guided tour with happy hour for some of the prettiest scenery and paddling in Central Oregon.

Need to Know for Central Oregon

Central Oregon is an excellent place to kayak, but it’s also great to eat! The region is home to many farmers’ markets, breweries, and restaurants. There’s something for everyone in Central Oregon, and you’re sure to find a favorite dish or beverage.

The culture in Central Oregon is also very unique, in that it’s very outdoorsy/artsy/rough/refined all at once. There are a variety of events and festivals that take place throughout the year (including brew-fests) and the locals are always friendly and welcoming. Central Oregon is the perfect place for you if you’re looking for an adventure kayaking and dining.

If you’re looking for more than kayaking in Central Oregon, the Ochoco National Forest and John Day Fossil Beds National Monument are also here. You may have heard of Oregon’s Painted Hills ? Hiking and geeking out on geology are highly recommended when you plan your visit.

When to Visit Central Oregon

Central Oregon is a popular tourist destination for kayakers and other outdoor enthusiasts. The area has a wide variety of kayaking routes that offer something for everyone, from beginner to experienced kayakers. In addition to the kayaking routes, Central Oregon is also home to many popular annual events, including the Bend Brewfest in August, the Sisters Folk Festival in September, and the Bend WinterFest in February. 

The region is also home to several kayaking festivals and events, which offer kayakers a unique opportunity to explore the area. One of the most popular kayaking festivals in the region is the Deschutes RiverFest, which takes place each year in Bend, Oregon. The festival offers kayakers a chance to paddle the Deschutes River and take in the incredible scenery of Central Oregon. Other popular kayaking events in the region include the Cascade Lakes Swim-a-thon and the Bend Whitewater Festival.

Weather in Central Oregon

The climate in Central Oregon is dry and temperate, with average temperatures ranging from the low 40s to the mid-80s. The area experiences four distinct seasons, with cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Spring and fall are short but mild, with temperatures that can vary widely from one day to the next. Because of the area’s diverse climate, kayakers can find a route that suits their level of experience and comfort year-round.

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THE 5 BEST Bend Kayaking & Canoeing

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Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe

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Tumalo Creek

Tumalo Creek, your resource for all things paddling in Central Oregon! Located in the Old Mill District in Bend Oregon right on the Deschutes River. This access to the river allows our customers an immediate and stress free experience to go play on the water. Whether you choose kayaking, paddleboarding, tubing or playing in the Bend Whitewater Park, which is located only feet away from our backyard, you can do it all from our retail location or one of our other seasonal river locations also available for services in the summer. Check out our Riverbend Park Kiosk, or Park and Float information and locations. 

Wanting to beat the crowds, learn a new paddling discipline or take your paddling to another level? We offer a wide variety of classes, tours and overnight trips that are sure to get your paddle blood flowing. All classes and tours are taught by our passionate ACA-certified instructors and we provide all technical paddle and safety equipment needed.

River Float Tubes • Stand Up Paddleboards • Kayaks • Whitewater Kayaks • Canoes • Raft • Rentals • Sailing Kayaks • Group Rentals

San Juan Islands Kayak Tour • Half Day Deschutes River Kayak Tour • Upper Deschutes River • Kayak Tour • Fall Foliage Deschutes River Tour • Sundowner Standup Paddleboard Evening • Sunset Kayaking at Lake Billy Chinook • Old Mill District Full Moon Tour • Private Group Tours

Lessons and Classes:

Flatwater Kayaking: 

Basic Skills Kayaking Class (BSK) • Intermediate Skills Kayaking Class

Whitewater Kayaking:

Full Immersion Whitewater Kayaking Weekend • Women’s Whitewater Kayaking Weekend • Intermediate Whitewater Kayaking Weekend • Lower Deschutes Whitewater Kayaking Camp • Brace and Roll at Tumalo Creek • Independent Kayak Roll Practice

Stand Up Paddleboard- SUP

Basic Skill Standup Paddleboard Class • Intro to Whitewater SUP • Yoga SUP

Tumalo Kids:

Kids Paddle Sports Adventure Camp • Kids Whitewater Kayaking Camp • Kids After School Paddling Program

We have been in business for 20 years. That’s 20 years in Bend and integrating ourselves into the community. Our community is what drives our company and our team . That means supporting our local business neighbors, and also putting the natural environment that surrounds us and makes Bend the epicenter for everything outdoors our number one priority.  Our staff is passionate about spreading information and practicing river stewardship. We encourage questions about what efforts we are implementing and what YOU can do to help ensure our rivers are as beautiful for future generations as they are for us today. 

Tumalo Creek Promise!

  Try Before You Buy

Our shop is located on the Deschutes River so you’ll be able to try everything before you buy it, and go home with the confidence that you’ve found the perfect piece of gear to fit your needs.

Price Protection

Purchase with the confidence in knowing that if you find the same product for a lower price, Tumalo Creek will match that price.

We Give Back

Tumalo Creek gives 5% of our profits to environmental organizations dedicated to the preservation of Central Oregon’s precious waterways.

Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe

Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe

Review Highlights

“ Instruction was easy to follow and the fellas who launched us on our maiden SUP adventure were engaged and super helpful . ” in 4 reviews

“ We met at La Pine because we were staying in Sunriver, no need to go to Bend to go to La Pine. ” in 2 reviews

“ Awesome folks with great local advice for kayaking , canoeing or stand up paddling. ” in 3 reviews

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

Located in:

Old Mill District

805 SW Industrial Way

Bend, OR 97702

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Amenities and More

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About the Business

Business owner information

Business Owner

Experience. Excitement. Adventure. Community. That's what we're all about here at Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe. We're your locally owned and operated paddling shop creating life-long paddlers for over a decade. Visit us at our retail store and learning center, located right on the banks of the Deschutes River, just downstream from the Old Mill. Sign up for classes, take a full-day river tour, or browse the largest selection of kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, canoes and rafting gear in Central Oregon. Our staff has over a hundred years of combined experience exploring remote coastlines, leading sea kayaking tours from Mexico to Alaska, and navigating some of the world's most challenging whitewater. And while we love to share our stories, we're most interested in hearing yours: Let's get you out on the water with the knowledge, skills and gear you need to enjoy a safe and comfortable afternoon paddle or a full-on sea expedition. And then make sure to come back and tells us all about it. …

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Recommended Reviews

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• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

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Overall rating

Excellent customer service from the front door back to the rental counter. Employees were very friendly and curious what brought us to them. Provided all the information we needed for our 2 hr excursion. Very helpful when we returned also. Equipment boats and paddles were in great shape, clean and ready to go. We asked to move to a tandem Kayak and they were very accommodating. We really enjoyed our time on the water. We chose to rent vs bringing our kayaks and this was a great option.

Very worthwhile experience, especially for the price. I believe its $24/adult and the float is about 2 hours. Its super relaxing and very chill, but with a little bit of excitement at the rapids. We have floated some rivers in Washington and they are cold and short. This one was so warm and so chill and slow. It was a blast. Highly recommend.

Great experience and helpful staff. Excellent day and was worth the money! Great people do th! All

The rafting itself is refreshing but very crowded during peak times. The shuttle driver was the best part of the check in and return process - friendly and professional. But they book way more walk ins than they can manage with any semblance of organization. We waited an hour to get checked in and on a shuttle with a reservation. Do not purchase the water proof pouch. It was defective and they would not replace/return.

My friend and I had a terrible experience with this company. We rented two tubes to float the river. After renting the tubes and purchasing protective cases for our phones and keys, we each spent approximately $60 on this activity. No instructions were given from Tumalo Creek employees regarding safety measures, warnings about weather, explanation of how to navigate the optional rapids, precautions such as wearing a life jacket, etc. One employee told us to "go left at the third bridge and go right at the fifth bridge," and called this the safety talk. Because of strong winds pushing our rafts away from the appropriate currents, my friend ended up needing to paddle both of us forward throughout multiple points of our journey, and paddled for approximately an hour. If she had not done so, we would have been completely stuck without a way to get back on course. This required her to flip onto her stomach and paddle us forward, a dangerous endeavor that she was only able to complete because of her background as a collegiate swimmer. As a small woman, I would not have been strong enough to get myself out of this situation on my own had my friend not been with me. The lack of communication and organization from Tumalo Creek employees put a huge damper on what should have been a fun activity. I would not recommend Tumalo Creek to anyone looking to float the Deschutes.

Just because you make a reservation and prepay doesn't mean your kayak will be there when you get there at the kiosk location ! Reserved a tandem kayak for Grandson and I and after a drive from Eugene.,no kayak! No reason! DONT USE THEM!!

Great place right on the water. I was intimated by finding parking, how to get into the water, if they'd have a board, and NONE of this was an issue! Very nice people too.

we rented tubes with this company. For $24 per person It also includes a ride to the river and they pick you up downstream and bring you back. Very well run efficient. We didn't even need to make reservations. We just walked up. Really enjoyed the experience.

Caitlyn (sorry if I spelt it wrong) helped us today and her service was so sweet and amazing! We are visiting bend and she made us feel welcomed! Also the price for $40 for two hours was not a bad price after the experience! :)

had such an awesome experience renting kayaks for two hours here. $40 for two hours, covid clean and friendly. beautiful area to kayak in , loved the views and nature. i'd def recommend a stop in for a few hours of easy kayaking , once you get to the end of the river you see class two rapids :) easier to float back

See all photos from Monika K. for Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe

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