Formerly an Oregon State Park dedicated to the district in 1980, Sawyer is a large community park stretching along both sides of the Deschutes River that offers a large variety of activities for patrons.
The park features large green spaces by the parking lot and across the river for play, access to the river, paved and unpaved trails, picnic tables, and abundant natural areas. A drinking fountain and portable toilet are available.
In addition to the internal trails, the park is connected by trail to multiple locations just over the river footbridge. Trails lead to the Deschutes River Trail and connections to First Street Rapids Park, Sawyer Uplands Neighborhood Park and Archie Briggs Natural Area. The site is adjacent to the River’s Edge golf course.
Sawyer is a popular viewing site for migratory and riparian birds and is listed on the Oregon Cascade Birding Tour route. More than 140 species of birds have been spotted in the park including bald eagles, ospreys, Lesser Goldfinches, Violet-green Swallows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Great Blue Herons.
Bait and fly fishing are allowed all year on this section of the Deschutes River with a limit of two trout per day, eight inch minimum length.
An upgrade project for Sawyer is currently underway. Please visit the project page to learn more.
Sunrise to Sunset
62999 O. B. Riley Road, Bend, OR, United States (Directions)
Lot Parking
53.4 acres
The Deschutes River is home to many species of native fish and some of the most idyllic fishing spots reside in Bend parks. In addition to river fishing, the District also features fishing ponds at Pine Nursery and Shevlin Parks that are stocked by Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. View the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife stocking schedule here. Shevlin Pond is open to youth 17 years and under. Learn more. Licenses: All state angling licenses and regulations apply at all locations. Fishing is open to youth, 17 years and under, and anglers with disabilities. Youth aged 12 to 17 must have a juvenile fishing license. Limit of two fish per day, eight inch minimum length. Bait: Whether bait and/or fly fishing is allowed depends on location. Please check ODFW’s website for more information as regulations may change.
Parking for Floaters:
Park & Float is now closed for summer 2024. Contact Tumalo Creek for rental opportunities, weather-permitting, through the rest of September.
Park & Float is at Simpson Ave. and Bradbury Way, across from The Pavilion at 1000 SW Bradbury Way, and has free parking, rental services, access to the river shuttle and more. It’s a convenient one-stop location for a day of river fun. Shuttle rides have a $5 fee.
Parking Options:
Park & Float location at Simpson Ave. and Bradbury Way, across from The Pavilion at 1000 SW Bradbury Way. One block south of the whitewater park. (Directions)
Riverbend Park, 799 SW Columbia St. (westside) (Directions)
McKay Park, 166 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr. (westside) (Directions)
Miller’s Landing Park, 80 NW Riverside Blvd. (eastside) (Directions)
Ride the River shuttle service:
The Ride the River shuttle starts and ends at Park & Float, beginning June 22 (weather permitting) and ending on Labor Day. Round trip makes transportation easy for river users with shuttles departing every 15-20 minutes from 11 am to 7 pm. Advanced tickets available at Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe. Reservations for 2024 season are available now. On your reservation date, check-in at Park & Float for the wrist band valid the entire day.
Parking is available at Riverbend Park, Farewell Bend Park, Miller’s Landing Park and Park & Float (across from The Pavilion). It’s only a block away from McKay Park and about a one-mile walk to Riverbend Park. Please respect neighborhoods, businesses and parking time limits.
We don’t recommend parking at Riverbend Park, floating to Drake Park and then walking back. It’s an option, but the walk back will be about two miles. A better option is parking in “the middle” across from The Pavilion and splitting the walk up to one mile before and one mile after instead.
We also don’t suggest shuttling vehicles as parking is extremely limited and may not even be available in the area by Riverbend Park and/or Drake Park. There is also a new neighborhood parking permit required.
Sawyer Park was first acquired in 1980, with additional pieces of the park being acquired in 1987, 1995 and 2001. Acquisition was through the State of Oregon, Brooks Scanlon, Trust for Public Land and Brooks Resources. After obtaining the park from Oregon State Parks, the district continued to improve on the property. The park is part of a historic site in nature and significance to Indigenous Peoples. Development was supported by grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund in 2003 and 2022. Fun fact: There is a historic apple tree located within the park.
features
Fishing in Parks
The Deschutes River is home to many species of native fish and some of the most idyllic fishing spots reside in Bend parks. In addition to river fishing, the District also features fishing ponds at Pine Nursery and Shevlin Parks that are stocked by Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. View the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife stocking schedule here. Shevlin Pond is open to youth 17 years and under. Learn more. Licenses: All state angling licenses and regulations apply at all locations. Fishing is open to youth, 17 years and under, and anglers with disabilities. Youth aged 12 to 17 must have a juvenile fishing license. Limit of two fish per day, eight inch minimum length. Bait: Whether bait and/or fly fishing is allowed depends on location. Please check ODFW’s website for more information as regulations may change.
Float the River
Parking for Floaters:
Park & Float is now closed for summer 2024. Contact Tumalo Creek for rental opportunities, weather-permitting, through the rest of September.
Park & Float is at Simpson Ave. and Bradbury Way, across from The Pavilion at 1000 SW Bradbury Way, and has free parking, rental services, access to the river shuttle and more. It’s a convenient one-stop location for a day of river fun. Shuttle rides have a $5 fee.
Parking Options:
Park & Float location at Simpson Ave. and Bradbury Way, across from The Pavilion at 1000 SW Bradbury Way. One block south of the whitewater park. (Directions)
Riverbend Park, 799 SW Columbia St. (westside) (Directions)
McKay Park, 166 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr. (westside) (Directions)
Miller’s Landing Park, 80 NW Riverside Blvd. (eastside) (Directions)
Ride the River shuttle service:
The Ride the River shuttle starts and ends at Park & Float, beginning June 22 (weather permitting) and ending on Labor Day. Round trip makes transportation easy for river users with shuttles departing every 15-20 minutes from 11 am to 7 pm. Advanced tickets available at Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe. Reservations for 2024 season are available now. On your reservation date, check-in at Park & Float for the wrist band valid the entire day.
Parking is available at Riverbend Park, Farewell Bend Park, Miller’s Landing Park and Park & Float (across from The Pavilion). It’s only a block away from McKay Park and about a one-mile walk to Riverbend Park. Please respect neighborhoods, businesses and parking time limits.
We don’t recommend parking at Riverbend Park, floating to Drake Park and then walking back. It’s an option, but the walk back will be about two miles. A better option is parking in “the middle” across from The Pavilion and splitting the walk up to one mile before and one mile after instead.
We also don’t suggest shuttling vehicles as parking is extremely limited and may not even be available in the area by Riverbend Park and/or Drake Park. There is also a new neighborhood parking permit required.
Park History
Sawyer Park was first acquired in 1980, with additional pieces of the park being acquired in 1987, 1995 and 2001. Acquisition was through the State of Oregon, Brooks Scanlon, Trust for Public Land and Brooks Resources. After obtaining the park from Oregon State Parks, the district continued to improve on the property. The park is part of a historic site in nature and significance to Indigenous Peoples. Development was supported by grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund in 2003 and 2022. Fun fact: There is a historic apple tree located within the park.
