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McKay Park

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December 14

Holiday Food Drive at Recreation Facilities & District Office

Saturday, December 14 - Sunday, January 05

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Bend Park and Recreation District is hosting our annual Holiday Food Drive to help fill the shelves at the NeighborImpact […]
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December 22

Winter Community Celebration / Celebremos en comunidad

Sunday, December 22

3:30PM - 5:30PM
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Free! Celebrate our community by joining us for an afternoon filled with activities, connections, ice skating and more at The Pavilion!
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December 23

Holiday Hangout | Bend Senior Center

Monday, December 23

1:00PM - 3:00PM
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Come melt away the winter chills and enjoy a free social event at Larkspur Community Center, home of the Bend […]
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Support our local food bank this holiday season

Donation bins available at participating BPRD facilties. Learn More

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Join us for daily Holiday Skate sessions
Dec. 21 - Jan. 4 at The Pavilion. View Schedule

A group of people sitting down at McKay Park.
McKay Park and the Bend Whitewater Park from above.
People standing on the banks of the Deschutes River at McKay Park.
Three people and a dog watching surfers at McKay Park.
A man sitting on a bench at McKay Park.
Aerial view of McKay Park.
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McKay Park

166 Southwest Shevlin Hixon Drive, Bend, OR, United States

Directions



BWP Surf Fest 092517 - People and Dog (229)

Named for Clyde McKay, the park opened in 2000 and quickly became a very popular addition to the district’s collection of riverfront parks.

It is an excellent choice for taking a break from the work day to enjoy your lunch and watch the action at the Bend Whitewater Park. It also includes a life-like sculpture of Canadian Geese donated by Art in Public Places.

Easily accessible by car and on foot via the Deschutes River Trail, the park has become an oasis for dog lovers, surfers and those wanting to take a dip in the Deschutes River. Dogs must be on leash.

There is limited parking spots and on-street parking at the park and surrounding blocks is 4-hours. During summer months, consider parking during daytime hours one-block up the street at the Park & Float parking lot on Simpson and Bradbury – where you’ll also find tube rentals and a river shuttle service.

A river access project in is process for McKay, Miller’s, and Columbia Parks. To learn more, visit the project page here.

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5 am to 10 pm

166 Southwest Shevlin Hixon Drive, Bend, OR, United States (Directions)

Street Parking

3.9 acres

Click here for Park Rules and Guidelines

Trail, park or property information:

For feedback on the parks, trails or facilities, email Park Services.

Click here for Lost & Found.

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. 

River-goer floating the ladder at the Whitewater Park in Bend, Oregon
Learn More
Floating Safety
Stewardship
River Survey

McKay Park was acquired in 1997 from Brooks Resources and was part of the master plan for the area. It opened in 1999 and was redesigned in 2014 with the support of a local government grant. The Deschutes River Trail work was supported in 2003 by a Recreational Trails Program grant. Additional grants were received in 2022 from the Oregon State Marine Board for design work, and in 2023 additional support was received from a Future Fund Grant.

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. 

River-goer floating the ladder at the Whitewater Park in Bend, Oregon
Learn More
Floating Safety
Stewardship
River Survey

Park History

McKay Park was acquired in 1997 from Brooks Resources and was part of the master plan for the area. It opened in 1999 and was redesigned in 2014 with the support of a local government grant. The Deschutes River Trail work was supported in 2003 by a Recreational Trails Program grant. Additional grants were received in 2022 from the Oregon State Marine Board for design work, and in 2023 additional support was received from a Future Fund Grant.

Contact

Trail, park or property information:

For feedback on the parks, trails or facilities, email Park Services.

Click here for Lost & Found.