Recreation
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Nature’s Aquatic Adventures Await
rab your paddle board, kayak, fly fishing rod and canoe and venture to one of the many lakes and rivers near Sunriver. If you are new to the area, start at the Sunriver Resort’s commercial Marina for a canoe, kayak, paddle board or raft float. Pack a few snacks, drinks, lifejackets and suntan lotion for the six-mile float, ending at a takeout before the Benham Falls Day Use Area. A shuttle will bring you back to the Marina. The public and Resort guests must rent equipment from the Marina to utilize the shuttle service. The Sunriver Owners Association (SROA) owns a private launch and parking area next to the Marina. Access to this facility is restricted to Sunriver owners and their guests. Only those with updated Member Preference and Recreation Plus access cards issued by SROA can use this facility. Starting at Harper Bridge and ending at the Marina is another popular option for guests and residents in Sunriver. Other public launching sites include La Pine State Park, Big River and Besson Day Use Area. Please note that there are no public access points within Sunriver proper. If you need to rent river and lake-floating equipment, visit Sunriver Sports, 4 Seasons Recreational Outfitters and Sunriver Toy House Rentals. All three places have
Photo by Lee Stevenson
knowledgeable staff members who can provide you with where to go and take out, float times and shuttle information. A thrilling whitewater rafting adventure awaits you on the Upper Deschutes, McKenzie, North Umpqua or Lower Deschutes river. Contact Sun Country Raft Tours to arrange your whitewater rafting trip that varies from half-day to all-day and high desert scenery to mossy forests. They generally offer trips May through September and encourage people to make reservation early. Elk Lake, Devils Lake, Sparks Lake, Hosmer Lake, Lava Lake and Todd Lake are a few of the nearby Cascade Mountain lakes that offer incredible views of Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top and South Sister. Access to these lakes and others is along the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway, a 66-mile historic highway. Highway 40 from Sunriver takes you to the Byway either directly or by turning off at Highway 45. Wanderlust Tours offers interpreted, guided canoe and kayak tours of the Cascade Lakes. Day, evening and moonlight tours are available as well as transportation starting in Sunriver for families or a large group. Located in the caldera in Newberry National Volcanic Monument, East Lake and Paulina Lake offer a dramatic setting for a paddling adventure. Paulina Lake
is also popular for fishing and pleasure boating, and you’ll find Paulina Lodge on its shores. To get to the monument and the two lakes, follow Highway 97 south from Sunriver and turn east on Road 21 just before you get to La Pine. T h e Pa u l i n a P l u n g e d o w n h i l l mountain bike ride and waterfall tour is another favorite for locals and visitors. Participants ride downhill for six miles on forest trails, while stopping at various points to descend into the Paulina Creek canyon to splash and play in natural waterslides and plunge pools. For any river or lake adventure in the Sunriver area, remember that water temperatures can be cold even in August. A quick dunk may feel good for a few moments, but hypothermia is a real concern for anyone who can’t get out of the water. Life vests, safe boating practices, appropriate clothing, food and drinking water, sunscreen and knowing in advance the distance and float times are all an important part of fun on the water. sunriverstyle.com/riveradventures bendpaddletrailalliance.org
WHERE TO RENT 4 Seasons Recreational Outfitters 541-593-2255 www.4sro.com Good2Go 541-593-0339 floatationnation.com Sunriver Sports 541-593-8369 www.sunriversports.com Sunriver Marina Opens in May each year 541-593-3492 Sunriver Toy House Rentals 541-647-4433 www.sunrivertoyhousetoys.com Village Bike & Ski 541-593-2453 www.villagebikeandski.com 2021-22 | SunriverChamber.com
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