Where to Paddle Board in Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon is one of the all-time great outdoor destinations.  And that abundance of outdoor adventure is one of the main reasons I moved here!  Kayaking & paddle-boarding are two of the most popular summertime activities in Bend, due to the fact that the city lies directly on the Deschutes River ~ & is also close to numerous lakes up on the Cascade Lakes Highway.  In this article, I’ll detail my top picks for “Where to Paddle Board & Kayak in Bend.”  I’ll start with the most popular spots in town, then work my way out to more remote & typically less crowded, beautiful places to paddle.

Map of Great Paddle & Kayak Spots by Bend

Check out the map below for a quick overview of great places to paddle-board & kayak by Bend.  If you want to take photos while paddling, bring a waterproof Go Pro ~ or simply pick up a waterproof case for your phone…with a lanyard that goes around your neck.  I’ve been able to get a TON of great photos this way!

Best Paddle-Board & Kayak Spots by Bend

1) The Old Mill District in Bend, on the Deschutes River: This is by far the most popular place to paddle-board in Bend, & it also gives you the best people-watching.  Put your board in at one of these spots: at Riverbend Park (with all the river floaters), Farewell Bend Park (across from Riverbend), or if you’re renting paddle-boards at popular Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe ~ just put your board in on their private dock…then paddle to the left, up-river, towards Riverbend Park.  The good news is: you can simply float on the way back! 

GWTW Tip: This section of the river gets SUPER BUSY on hot summer weekends.  If you’re looking for more peace & quiet, or are new to paddle-boarding, rent a board on a weekday, or check out one of the lakes outside of town for a more peaceful experience.

2) Lakes on the Cascade Lakes Highway (Up Century Drive): If you don’t mind a 25-minute drive up the mountain towards Mt. Bachelor, & you have racks or an inflatable paddle-board ~ the scenery up here is INCREDIBLE, & you’ll have a more peaceful experience than at the Old Mill….even on weekends.  The most popular lake to paddle-board is Elk Lake, but it can get really crowded on weekends, so come early!  This is the largest lake by Bend, & one of the only that allows motorized vehicles; plus there’s a restaurant & cabins on the lake, & live music on weekends!

Two more popular lakes to paddle/kayak are Sparks Lake & Devils Lake: both are gorgeous, & you can park very close to both.  Sparks Lake is larger, & you can almost always find your own little private beach ~ but you’ll need to drive on a b-u-m-p-y dirt road for a half-mile.  (Note: Sparks Lake can get really low in late summer; be careful that your paddle board doesn’t get “stuck” in the muck here).  Devil’s Lake is one of my favorite Cascade Lakes for its gorgeous, milky turquoise-blue color.  Park in their parking lot here, or along the side of the highway, & walk just a few steps down to put your board in the lake.

Two more close options to Bend: Todd Lake is the closest lake to Bend on the Cascade Lakes Highway.  The only bummer here is that you need to carry your board about an 1/8 mile to reach the lake from their dirt lot.  But that means you won’t see too many other SUP’ers out here.  Hosmer is just past Elk Lake, & a little hidden: this is by far my favorite place to paddle-board by Bend.  You can’t really see any of this lake from the parking lot ~ which means you have to either kayak or paddle out to see how gorgeous it is here.  This is a local’s favorite spot, but there aren’t many places to camp out on the beach here.

Further afield: if you keep going past Elk Lake & Hosmer, you’ll eventually reach Lava Lake & Little Lava Lake on the left-side of highway.  And even further, Cultus Lake Resort is on the right side; you can paddle-board & kayak at both places.

3) Along the Deschutes River, off Conklin Road: This is more of a “Local’s Spot,” so I don’t want to give too much away here.  And access to the Deschutes here is only off of bumpy dirt roads, FYI.  On this stretch of the river, you have major rapids & falls like Big Eddy & Benham; but between these wet & wild sections are peaceful spots, perfect for paddle-boarding.  My friend & I recently parked at Dillon Falls, inflated our paddle-boards next to the river, & paddled to the right, towards Benham Falls.  Once you see the falls, you’ll obviously want to turn around & head back.

GWTW Tip: If you’re unfamiliar with this stretch of the Deschutes, I’d suggest paddling with a guide or a local, so you don’t mistakenly go the wrong way & end up in dangerous rapids!

4) In Sunriver, on the Deschutes River: The Deschutes River winds its way all through family-friendly Sunriver Resort.  And there are dozens of places where you can paddle peacefully up or down the river.  You can also rent gear at the Sunriver Marina.  This section of the Deschutes is very calm, & perfect for beginners.

 

Where to Stay in Bend

The best hotel for accessing all these beautiful paddleboard spots is Tetherow Lodge Hotel.  It’s located right off Century Drive, close to Conklin Road, & about a 5-minute drive to the Old Mill District.  All the lakes on the Cascade Lakes Highway are also close to this luxurious, pet-friendly hotel with its massive mountain views.  Another good option for families & big groups is to rent a house in Sunriver, which gives you access to loads of amazing paddle & kayaking options on the Deschutes.

Where to Paddle Board & Kayak in Bend

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