First Street Rapids, Davis Park

Davis Park is a tiny pocket park on the east bank of the Deschutes River overlooking First Street Rapids, just north of Bend.  The rapids themselves are fairly modest in nature, a run of class II-III, but because of its downtown location and rock/current pattern, the rapids are very popular with local kayakers.  Kayakers* come here to "surf," riding the river waves without actually ever floating down the river.  For those without a boat, a few pools have been created with rock piles along the riverbank, and these are a great places to take a dip on a scorching summer day.

A pedestrian bridge (completed in summer 2013) connects Davis Park on the east to First Street Rapids Park on the west in an effort to eventually complete the Deschutes River Trail System which will run the entire length of the river from Sunriver to Tumalo State Park.

*Join Tumalo Creek Kayak + Canoe every Thursday afternoon (3:30-5:30) during the spring and summer months to practice some of your whitewater skills.