This canoeing destination piece originally appeared in the ACA section of Canoeroots and Family Camping magazine.
The Deschutes Paddle Trail is an ACA Recommended Water Trail that includes the navigable sections of the Deschutes River and Little Deschutes River in Deschutes County, along with nine of the largest Cascades lakes in the county.
The river portion of the Deschutes Paddle Trail includes:
• 26 miles of the Little Deschutes River, from LaPine to the river’s junction with the Deschutes River near Sunriver.
• 95 miles of the Deschutes River, from Wickiup Reservoir in the south to Lower Bridge in the north, which is the last take-out before leaving Deschutes County.
Although the Deschutes Paddle Trail has sections that everyone can safely enjoy, the levels of difficulty include everything from placid easy sections (class I) to very difficult (and dangerous) sections (class V) that are for experts only. Be sure to consult ACA Safety information to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the section of the Deschutes that you are planning on paddling.
Because the Deschutes River is the source of water for agricultural irrigation in Central Oregon, its flow levels are seasonal. Consult the Bend Paddle Trail Alliance for maps or to check seasonal flows before planning your trip.
See www.deschutespaddletrail.info/index.html or www.bendpaddletrailalliance.org for more information.
This article appeared in Canoeroots & Family Camping, Early Summer 2012.
