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POINTS OF INTEREST ALONG THE DESCHUTES RIVER TRAIL Included in the Oregon Cascade Birding Trail system, Sawyer Park offers the opportunity to spot a variety of birds. The historic Radamacher House and Plaza overlook Mirror Pond and Drake Park, with the Three Sisters visible in the background. This site includes a sign interpreting Bend’s founding. Located across the foot bridge from Drake Park, Pageant Park was named in commemoration of the Bend Water Pageant, a favorite community event that ran from 1933-1965. An interpretive sign describes the event highlight, the launch of large lighted floats on Mirror Pond. The Drake Park interpretive sign (located directly in front of the public restrooms) describes Bend’s early sense of community spirit. McKay Park is the site of the Oregon Trunk Railroad interpretive sign, which describes Bend’s early railroad history. Across the river from Farewell Bend Park is the new Riverbend Park, acquired in 2004 as community park space. The first phase of park development is planned for fall of 2005. Farewell Bend Park, Bend’s newest community river park, honors the history of the logging industry at this site with two interpretive signs. Two additional signs explain a riparian restoration project and other steps being made to care for the health of our river and its ecosystem. The park includes a playground and restrooms. The boardwalk here offers a view of Central Oregon Irrigation District’s Hydro site, where irrigation water is dropped back to the river through two turbines, generating electrical power. The public has access to this trail section thanks to an agreement with COID — please stay on the designated trail. Mt. Bachelor Village Resort, in partnership with Brooks Resources and the High Desert Museum, has provided a series of informative signs along this section of trail which describe the native habitat, foliage, and other points of interest. At this point along the trail, visitors can see the COID irrigation diversion which sends river water into the canal system to support agricultural and power production needs. Fish are directed back to the river by an elaborate fish screen. Danger: This area is not open to the public. Discover natural landscapes, wildlife, and scenic byways. Discover exceptional places to exercise, play, relax, or commute. Discover the Bend Urban Trails System. BEND URBAN TRAILS MAP ©2005 FOR FUN, FOR FRIENDS, FOR HEALTH, FOR LIFE! ™ WELCOME TO THE DESCHUTES RIVER TRAIL! The Deschutes River Trail portion of the Bend Urban Trails System allows nearly uninterrupted access to the beautiful waterway that is the heart of the community. The trail system is divided into five “reaches,” defined by landscape characteristics. The Bend Park and Recreation District is at work building a fully connected river trail between Tumalo State Park and Meadow Camp. Once complete, the trail system will encompass nineteen miles of trails. This map shows existing trails open to the public. AWBREY REACH Visitors can access the River Trail at its northernmost point at Kirkaldy Court off of Putnam Rd. This section of the trail, constructed on top of the buried Tumalo irrigation canal, consists of soft-surface and unimproved surfaces, and includes a few moderate hills. Along the middle stretch of this reach, the river drops into a deep canyon but the trail stays high on the canyon wall, offering spectacular views of the river below and the Three Sisters in the distance. A steep climb up the Archie Briggs Canyon Trail connects to Mt. Washington Dr. RIVER RUN REACH This section, favored by many locals, is also built over the Tumalo canal and was the first section of river trail to open in 1989. The surface is both soft-surface and unimproved, and is wide and relatively flat. The trail runs between the river and a high canyon wall, and passes through the River’s Edge golf course and adjacent neighborhoods. There are several wetlands in this reach, inhabited by songbirds, trumpeter swans, otter and beaver. Osprey frequently nest and fish here. PIONEER REACH This reach passes through the oldest and most established sections of Bend. The trail isn’t always right on the river, but instead follows sidewalks through neighborhoods and downtown. It passes through beautiful Drake Park on Mirror Pond and ends in McKay Park. There are several footbridges along the way offering opportunities to cross the river. OLD MILL REACH Once the site of two large ponderosa pine lumber mills, today the Old Mill Reach is a mix of river parks, the Shops at the Old Mill, and areas yet to be developed. Three footbridges connect trail legs on either side of the river, providing convenient walking loops. On the east side, the trails are hard surface from the Old Mill District to the Bill Healy bridge. The trail on the west side offers a mix of hard and soft surfaces. Farewell Bend Park provides two developed boat landings for paddlers using the Deschutes River water trail. The east side trail passes through Farewell Bend Park, which also provides two developed boat landings for paddlers using the Deschutes River water trail. SOUTH CANYON REACH This reach has trail legs on both sides of the river, connected by a new footbridge approximately 1 1/2 miles upstream of the Farewell Bend Park bridge. The river flows fast here through a beautiful canyon, cascading over rocks and logs. West side: This reach’s west-side leg is known as the Mt. Bachelor Village Trail. Here the soft surface trail is open to pedestrians, but cyclists are not allowed. An alternative cycling route connects from the Bill Healy Bridge to the Haul Road Trail along Century Drive. East side: The east-side trail at the northern end of this reach is unimproved surface, narrow and rocky in places; the southern end is on the gravel ditch road which runs above the river and next to the COID siphon pipe. There are several connections to nearby neighborhoods along the way. DESCHUTES RIVER TRAILS SYSTEM MAP LEGEND �������������� �������� ��������� �������������� ����� ����� ������������������ ������������������ ������� ������������� ���������������� ����������� ������������������� ���������� � ������� � �������� �������� ���������� � � ������������� ����������� �������� ����������� ������������ ������������ ���� ���������� ������ ������������ AWBREY REACH RIVER RUN REACH PIONEER REACH OLD MILL REACH SOUTH CANYON REACH TRAIL USE REGULATIONS safe and pleasant for all users: Stay on the trail. Please don’t trespass on private property. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the trails. Bicyclists are not allowed on all sections of the trails. Please observe pedestrian-only trail sections. Dogs must be on leash at all times and their waste properly removed. Dog “rest stops” along the trails provide you with disposal bags and trash cans. Do not litter. If you pack it in, please pack it out. No camping, smoking or fires. ADOPT A TRAIL PROGRAM Consider helping to maintain a section of trail through the Bend Metro Park and Recreation District Adopt a Trail Program or donating time or money to the Bend Park and Recreation Foundation to help build the river trail. For more information, see www.bendparksandrec.org. Funding for this map provided by a City of Bend grant administered by the Bend Visitors and Convention Bureau. The Bend Urban Trail System and the Deschutes River Trail are managed by the Bend Metro Park & Recreation District. For questions or to report trail concerns please call the Park Services and Development Department of the Park & Recreation District at 388-5435. DESCHUTES RIVER FLOWS SOUTH TO NORTH Photo: Bob Woodward
