Floating the Deschutes from Sunriver means putting in at Big River, Harper Bridge or Besson and taking out at the Sunriver marina, the Canoe Takeout or Benham Falls Day Use, all above Benham Falls. The Sunriver Chamber lists the routes from 1.8 to 8.6 miles and 45 minutes to 6 hours. This is the plan for 24 people from an 11-bedroom house with a dock, a hand-launch and the Big River ramp 2.5 miles up the road.
Updated October 2026 · First published October 2026
Floating the Deschutes from Sunriver at a glance
The Chamber calls floating a Sunriver summertime tradition, the water seldom exceeds 60 degrees, and every float ends above Benham Falls. The river through Sunriver is Class 1 moving water with riffles, minor waves and minimal obstructions, and the Chamber warns that the current can be deceptively swift. The general river guide, with fishing, wildlife and seasons, is the Deschutes River near Sunriver. This page is the logistics only.
- Craft: tubes, kayaks, canoes, rafts and paddleboards. None are provided at the house; rent or bring them.
- Permit: a Waterway Access Permit carried by the operator of each non-motorized boat, $6 a week or $20 a calendar year plus a $1.50 portal fee. Children 13 and younger are exempt.
- Law: a Coast Guard-approved wearable life jacket for each person on every paddlecraft, worn by children 12 and under whenever the boat is underway. A whistle on each boat.
- Launches: Big River and Besson are Forest Service sites; Harper Bridge is a Chamber-listed put-in; the marina for its renters; the SROA launch for Sunriver owners and their guests only.
- Hard stop: Benham Falls, 3.5 miles north of Sunriver, 25 feet high and Class 5 for watercraft.
Put-ins and take-outs on the Deschutes near Sunriver, with river miles
Five access points matter, and the river miles tell you how long each float is. The Sunriver Chamber lists Big River at river mile 199.2, Harper Bridge at 191.7, Besson Day Use Area at 189.9, the Sunriver Resort marina and the SROA launch at 188.2, and the Benham Falls Day Use Area at 182.0. It places the resort's Canoe Takeout at 183.1 in its route list and at 182.0 for the shuttle, so confirm the take-out with the marina when you book.
| Access point | River mile | Who can use it | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big River Boating Site | 199.2 | Public | Forest Service site 2.5 miles up the road from the house; no fee, no restroom, day use only; a campground across the road |
| Harper Bridge | 191.7 | Listed by the Chamber as a put-in | Three of the Chamber's routes start here |
| Besson Day Use Area | 189.9 | Public | Forest Service site with a boat ramp; day use $5 per vehicle per day |
| Sunriver Resort marina | 188.2 | Marina renters | Commercial marina; a boat rental is required to use the facility and its shuttle; phone 541-593-3492 |
| SROA boat launch | 188.2 | Sunriver owners and guests with a card | Not open to the general public; the gate takes an SROA card |
| Sunriver Resort Canoe Takeout | 183.1 (route list) or 182.0 (shuttle) | Marina renters and SROA shuttle users | Floaters must reach it by 5 PM for the SROA shuttle |
| Benham Falls Day Use Area | 182.0 | Listed by the Chamber as a route end | The end of the Chamber's 7.9-mile route from Besson |
| From | To | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big River | Harper Bridge | 7.5 miles | 3 to 5 hours |
| Harper Bridge | Besson Day Use Area | 1.8 miles | 45 minutes |
| Harper Bridge | Canoe Takeout | 8.6 miles | 4 to 6 hours |
| Besson Day Use Area | Canoe Takeout | 6.8 miles | 2 to 4 hours |
| Besson Day Use Area | Benham Falls Day Use Area | 7.9 miles | 3 to 4 hours |
The Sunriver Owners Association gives its own float times: Harper Bridge to the SROA launch or the marina in 1 to 2 hours, the launch to the Canoe Takeout in 2.5 to 3.5 hours, and Harper Bridge to the Canoe Takeout in 3.5 to 5 hours. Apart from the SROA launch and the resort marina, SROA says there are no other river access or exit points in Sunriver proper. River-access parking, drop-offs and waiting are prohibited on Sunriver roads and pathways, at Cardinal Landing Bridge and at Mary McCallum Owner Park.
The Sunriver marina float and shuttle for a group
The marina is the simplest option for a group that does not own boats, because the rental and the shuttle come as one package. The Sunriver Chamber says Sunriver Resort operates a commercial marina at river mile 188.2, a boat rental is required to use the facility, and a shuttle returns rental users from the Canoe Takeout. The marina's number is 541-593-3492, and Sunriver Resort is five miles and about ten minutes from the house.
The marina's own page was not opened for this guide, so its hours, float lengths and prices are not stated here. The Deschutes River guide carries what the marina published when that page was written: the six-mile float, the summer tube float from Harper Bridge, and the season dates. Call before you count on a date, and ask about group size; the SROA shuttle caps a group at 12, and a marina group of 24 is a question for the marina.
Sunriver owners and their guests have a second option. The SROA river shuttle runs pickup only, from the Canoe Takeout back to the SROA boat launch, for hard-sided canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, rafts and similar craft under 17 feet. It takes groups of up to 12, needs a valid SROA membership card presented at the marina office for a ticket, and floaters must be at the take-out by 5 PM. It does not drop at Harper Bridge. Treat the SROA launch and shuttle as unavailable unless you are an owner's guest.
Kayak, paddleboard and tube rentals in Sunriver and Bend
Rent boats in Sunriver or in Bend. The Sunriver Chamber says watercraft rentals, life vests and gear are available at shops in the Village at Sunriver and the Sunriver Business Park, and it lists 4 Seasons Recreational Outfitters at 541-593-2255, Sunriver Sports at 541-593-8369 and Village Bike & Ski at 541-593-2453. Call before you count on a kayak or a tube from them.
In Bend, Tumalo Creek's kiosk at Riverbend Park rents kayaks and paddleboards, with life jackets and paddles provided with each rental; for tubes, its listing points to the Bend Park and Float two blocks away. Guests at the house have put rented kayaks in the river right from the dock, as one review below says. Ask every renter whether the Waterway Access Permit is included, and count the life jackets against the headcount before you leave the shop.
The Sunriver Chamber also lists Central Oregon Adventures, at 541-593-8887, for guided and unguided Deschutes River and Little Deschutes River trips with a shuttle. For a group of 24 that is the one phone call that can solve boats, shuttle and guide at once; its own site was not opened for this guide, so ask what it includes.
A sample float day for 24 people from the house near Sunriver
The float day for 24 splits the group into a long float and a short one. The dock sits on 450 feet of private frontage, small boats can be hand-launched there, and the Big River ramp is 2.5 miles up the road. Parking for up to 15 vehicles, with room for vans and trailers, means the shuttle cars stage in the driveway.
The long float: Harper Bridge to the Canoe Takeout, 8.6 miles
- Twelve people in marina rentals. Book the marina ahead and confirm group size and the day's last launch.
- Lunch in dry bags, a life jacket on each person, a whistle on each boat. The Chamber's time is 4 to 6 hours.
- The shuttle brings marina renters back from the Canoe Takeout. No one floats past it; Benham Falls is downstream.
The short float: from the dock
- Eight people with kids, in rented or owned tubes and kayaks, hand-launched at the dock.
- Big River to Harper Bridge is 7.5 miles and 3 to 5 hours by the Chamber's figures. The distance from the dock to any take-out is not published here, so ask the marina or an outfitter before you plan the short float.
- An adult in the water with every tube that has a child in it. Children 12 and under in life jackets the whole time.
Shore crew: four people
- Stage the cars and keep the float plan: who is on the water, which take-out, and when they are due.
- Dinner on the gas grill for 24 at the four 8-foot picnic tables and the 12-foot table inside. The covered hot tub is where cold floaters go first.
- Quiet hours start at 9 PM.
The rules on the Deschutes: permits, life jackets and where you may launch
Three things cover almost every float: a permit per boat, a life jacket per person, and the launch and parking limits in Sunriver. The Oregon State Marine Board requires a Waterway Access Permit to be carried by the operator of a non-motorized boat, at $6 for a week, $20 for a calendar year or $35 for two, plus a $1.50 portal fee; children 13 and younger are exempt, and failing to show one is a Class D violation with a $115 fine.
- Paddlecraft carry a properly fitting Coast Guard-approved wearable life jacket for each person. Children 12 and under wear theirs whenever the boat is underway. The Chamber's phrasing: state law mandates life vests for all occupants of watercraft, regardless of the type of vessel.
- A boat under 39 feet 4 inches carries a whistle or a compressed air horn.
- Never boat under the influence of alcohol, drugs, marijuana or inhalants.
- Dress for the water temperature, not the air; the river seldom exceeds 60 degrees. Expect to get wet.
- Leave a float plan with someone at the house, and call for help if the group is overdue.
- In Sunriver, river-access parking, drop-offs, pickups and waiting are prohibited on roads and pathways, at Cardinal Landing Bridge and at Mary McCallum Owner Park. Use Big River, Harper Bridge or Besson instead.
- Big River is free. Besson is a Forest Service fee site, $5 per vehicle per day.
The cold-water and children's rules are spelled out in Deschutes River safety for groups.
Where to eat after a float near Sunriver
Feed 24 at the house, or head to the Village at Sunriver. Sunriver Brewing's pub is the big-table option, and Blondie's Pizza is the easy one; the full list is in where to eat near Sunriver. Make reservations for larger groups, especially on summer weekends, which is also float season. The Sunriver Country Store covers the essentials and last-minute items; the big grocery run is in Bend, about 30 minutes away.
Where to stay near Sunriver for a float weekend with 24 people
Stay at Deschutes Riverfront Retreat, an 11-bedroom, 6-bath estate on the Deschutes in the Three Rivers area near Sunriver. It sleeps up to 30, with a maximum of 24 adults. The three acres have 450 feet of private river frontage, a dock with Adirondack chairs and a hammock, and the Big River ramp 2.5 miles up the road. The six-bedroom Lodge sleeps up to 18 and can be booked on its own; the five-bedroom Cottage comes with the whole estate.
Wet gear dries in the mudroom, with its built-in bench and coat hooks by the glass door, and on the gear racks in the game room. The covered hot tub, the 6-hole disc golf course, bocce and the seasonal fire pit fill the afternoon for anyone who stays off the water. The renter must be 30 or older, quiet hours run 9 PM to 8 AM, and occupancy limits are enforced because the home is on well and septic. Every booking has a 2-night minimum.
Rooms, beds and floor plans are on the whole estate page; the bed-by-bed plan for 24 is on large group rentals near Sunriver. Booking direct saves the service fees that Airbnb and VRBO charge, and the live calendar on Book Now shows the current rate. Summer dates book far in advance.
What groups said about floating from the dock
“The river setting venue for this house was great! It is so private but close drive to everything in the village. We were able to put the rented kayaks in the river right from the boat dock! The house plus cabin were big enough to accommodate all our family members ( 16 adults). The pool table downstairs provided great fun during the evenings.
This will be a great memory for all our family.”
“Large group stayed in the home for 3 nights. We spent the majority of our time on the River. The kids loved riding kayaks and tubes taking in the sunshine.. The house was great and everyone felt comfortable. The kitchen was well equipped and nicely labeled making things easy to find. Plenty of outdoor space to sit out and enjoy the beautiful outdoor surroundings. Would recommend. Scott was great to work with.”
Frequently asked questions
Where is the closest public put-in to the house?
The Big River boat ramp, a Forest Service site at river mile 199.2, is 2.5 miles up the road. It has no fee and no restroom and is day use only. Small boats can also be hand-launched at the dock at the house.
Can a group of 24 use the Sunriver marina?
Ask the marina at 541-593-3492. The Sunriver Chamber says a boat rental is required to use the marina and its shuttle from the Canoe Takeout. The separate SROA shuttle, for Sunriver owners and their guests, caps a group at 12 and serves Sunriver owners and their guests.
How long is the float from Harper Bridge?
The Sunriver Chamber lists Harper Bridge to Besson at 1.8 miles and 45 minutes, and Harper Bridge to the Canoe Takeout at 8.6 miles and 4 to 6 hours. The Sunriver Owners Association puts Harper Bridge to the marina at 1 to 2 hours.
Do tubes need a Waterway Access Permit?
The Oregon State Marine Board's permit page names kayaks, canoes, rafts, stand-up paddleboards, catarafts, pontoons and drift boats, and it does not address inner tubes. The permit is $6 a week or $20 a calendar year, plus a portal fee, and children 13 and younger are exempt. Ask the rental shop.
Where must a float from Sunriver end?
Above Benham Falls, 3.5 miles north of Sunriver. It drops 25 feet and is rated Class 5 for watercraft. The Chamber's last listed take-out is the Benham Falls Day Use Area at river mile 182.0; marina renters take out at the Canoe Takeout.
Sources
- Sunriver Area Chamber of Commerce: Water Recreation (access points, river miles, distances, times, marina, outfitters, Class 1, 60 degrees, life vest law)
- Sunriver Area Chamber of Commerce: Floating the Deschutes (routes, marina, hazards, rentals)
- Sunriver Area Chamber of Commerce: Guides and Outfitters (Central Oregon Adventures river trips and shuttle)
- Sunriver Owners Association: Boat Launch and River Shuttle (eligibility, craft, group size, float times, take-out deadline, parking rules)
- Deschutes National Forest: Besson Picnic Area (boat ramp, $5 per vehicle day-use fee)
- Deschutes National Forest: Big River Boating Site (directions, no fee, no restroom, day use)
- Oregon State Marine Board: Go Paddling (life jackets, whistle, Waterway Access Permit prices, exemptions, fine, float plan, alcohol)
- Oregon State Marine Board: Life Jackets (children 12 and under)
- Wikipedia: Benham Falls (location, height, class)
- Visit Central Oregon: Tumalo Creek kiosk at Riverbend Park (kayaks and paddleboards, life jackets and paddles included, tubes at Park and Float)