I recently went on a short hike at the First Street Rapids along the Deschutes River. This nice little section of river near the downtown Bend area is a great place for just a long enough hike to stretch your legs and see the beauty the out town has. Parking is the main problem with the small park, but you can usually find a spot along the 1st st on your way to the park. Ounce parked you can check out the class 1 and 2 rapids at the park and chill for a few. Then just follow the trail down river as it is a great walking path. Dogs are welcome as long as they are on a leash and you pick up their piles. So as you hike the trail you may see some wild life along the way. I saw a pair of Swans and there young as well as a Osprey fighting with a Red Tail Hawk. That was probably a rare siting, but it was totally awesome! After a little bit the trail will go up hill along side of the Rivers Edge golf course and stop at the road. You may want to continue from here and explore although I decided to stop and turn around.  I did the hike in about 45 min at a very leisurely pace. At the end when I got back to the park I hung out by the rapids for a bit and then I was on my way back home.

     So if you don’t have much time or you want to hike somewhere close in town. Even if you have family or friends in town this is the perfect short hike to show off what Bend, OR has to offer. Check out the First Street Rapids park and hiking trail for a great break from the day.

To start your going to want to drive to the Bill Healy bridge and park along the river on reed market rd and unload you water craft there. If there isn’t any parking in this area there is more parking on the other side of the river where you’ll have to walk back across the river on a nearby bridge, only a 10 minute walk. Then make sure you got your supplies what ever they may be and hop on the river with you friends. As you meander down the river you eventually pass the shops in the old mill district and the Les Schwab Amphitheater. Ounce past the shops you’ll eventually come to the first take out which is on the left side of the river and very well marked. This first section of the float is about an hour long depending on the wind that day. You can portage you craft around the Colorado St. bridge and continue on to the lower section of the float. From here you will launch into the river again at a beach right next to the bridge. Soon you will start passing some of the older houses along the beautiful riverside. When you reach the Columbia foot bridge you should pull over if you want a little fun. Even though its post as no diving off the bride I see no harm in doing a big back flip off the 15 foot bridge. After that you will get to Drake park in the Mirror Pond section of the Deschutes River, this lower section should take you another 30 minutes or so. Some people will have a shuttle vehicle waiting at the park for them or you may choose to use the raft shuttle by the local transportation service.

I’ve done this float many times with friends and family. It’s always fun and a great way to enjoy our awesome river. In the middle of the summer its like a party out there with hundreds of others have fun in the sun. So get out there and chill on the river and have a great day!

The boys chillin on the river.

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