Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe

We did the all day kayak tour from La Pine to Big River. First time for me and my daughter, husband more advanced. Our guide (Ingrid) was fantastic and engaging, particularly with our nine-​year-​old. The provided lunch was tasty. Every single person we encountered at Tumalo Creek was helpful, nice and attentive — from making the reservations to talking about kayaks and the actual tour. In fact we had such a great time, we went again a few weeks later on our own with a pick up and drop off and will be getting our own kayaks before the end of the year. Our interaction with both stores, Bend and Sunriver was equally good and we highly recommend Tumalo Creek.

Price is way too high for kayaking for two measly hours. It’s was $ 120 for three of us out on the water. Not only was the river sectioned off to limited riding due to dam breaking and rapids up high on the river, but we also had to do all of the work when we returned to the site. No attendant was on duty to help us up and gather equipment. I don’t recommend this place at all. I should have know the second we walked in and had a snobby 17 year old kid telling us the «majority of accidents happen due to over confidence» thanks bro but I been kayaking since before u were born. We’re on vacation! Anyway, stay away from the touristy bend kayaking and hit the river somewhere else.

My wife and I were staying in Bend for a couple of days and did not bring our kayaks. With a beautiful day in front of us, we wanted to hit the river. Tumalo Creek had just what we needed. We rented two kayaks and hit the river. Highly recommended if you are in bend and want to go for a paddle.

Great staff and a wonderful location. Tons of fun. A perfect activity for our short visit to bend.

A friend and I had made reservations for paddle boarding on Saturday but the weather took a turn and we had to cancel. Being that we canceled the day of the reservation, I fully expected to have to fight to get a refund but instead was pleasantly surprised that they offered a refund without even asking! Everyone was very friendly and understanding of the situation.
We went back on Monday when the weather warmed up and got setup with our paddle boards very quickly and easily. It was great that they’re located right off the river. If you’ve never been paddle boarding, let me tell you – it’s much harder than it looks! You have to really dig your paddle into the water to get speed going. I fell twice – first time was within a minute of being on the board. Regardless, I had an excellent time and would love to do it again.
I would’ve liked to give them 5 stars but the guys who gave us our gear seemed to really hate their jobs and were not very friendly nor helpful. At best they seemed annoyed with my questions rather than wanting to really help and make sure I had a good experience.

Outstanding experience from start to finish! Staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. Price was excellent especially compared to the rates in Sunriver.
Instruction was easy to follow and the fellas who launched us on our maiden SUP adventure were engaged and super helpful.
We can’t wait to go back!!!

I recently bought my very first kayak at this store. The staff there are extremely helpful and attentive. They helped me learn the basics of recreational kayaking to help me find the right kayak. I bought a kayak from them on special order. During the 7 week wait for the arrival of my kayak John, the manager, allowed me to take out a loaner kayak any time I wanted. That was proof to me that this business understands & knows how to care for the customer. A well deserved 5 star rating for the fine team at Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe!

We went in to buy my wife a comfortable flat water kayak, and left with 2 and a new Thule rack system. No because we’re impulsive, but because the service there is outstanding. From thet moment Katie (sp?) asked if she could help, to the time they finished installing our new rack, we were in great hands. They were very busy with other customers (July, what would one expect!) but never left us hanging, and saw to it that we could demo our chosen kayaks, and made many suggestions along the way. We love REI, but with the proximity to the Deschutes River, it made buying so much easier when we could actually float in our chosen boats.

My husband and I just floated down the river in tubes yesterday (June 22^nd 2014). The shuttle service wasn’t running yet so we just rented tubes, drove to Bend Metro park, floated down, and got out at Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe. If there is a shuttle service, you get out on the left side of the river. This shuttle service starts in a couple of weeks. This was a HUGE bummer! So we knew we had to get out on the right side instead because that’s where the business was. It wasn’t very clear where to get out until you were there. We plan to rent a canoe or kayak next time. Would have given it a 5 except we didn’t get any instruction from Tumalo Creek Kayak where to get out at. We asked a bystander before we got into the river. The float was shorter than 2 hours. We hiked back to our car which was about a 20 minute hike.
Recommendation:
1. If you tube, bring your own or wait until there is a shuttle service. The float was really quick.
2. If you do decide to tube and there is no shuttle service, make sure they give you a map and tell you where to park and get in. I think the staff person we were working with initially is used to locals. Another employee came up and gave us a map which helped.
3. Also good to know that the buoys in the river that read «stay left» don’t apply if you are getting out at the business (the right side). We didn’t know that until afterwards. It would have been a little easier to make it to shore if we knew that ahead of time. My husband had to jump off his tube into the water and swim to shore to get out at the right spot.

The customer service was terrible. The lady helping us at the counter inside was super pushy and rude. She put a big damper on our first time paddle boarding experience. I’m giving two stars rather than one because the guys outside that have us the gear were friendly and helpful.

Awesome folks with great local advice for kayaking, canoeing or stand up paddling. If you are in the market to purchase, shop local and get the best information for the exact type of paddling you will be doing. Rentals, trips and tours with ease and a smile.

We went on the all day 10 – 3 p.m. kayaking and canoeing the Upper Deschutes. These guys were so willing to make our experience a good one from the very start. We met at La Pine because we were staying in Sunriver, no need to go to Bend to go to La Pine. When we arrived we found they had brought four kayaks instead of two kayaks and one canoe. I didn’t want to kayak on my own. Jim quickly called John, the owner, and he met us at the drop site with his personal canoe and paddles. It was wonderful equipment. They also provided lunch, which was very good and much more than we could ever eat. We have eaten a lot of meals on these adventures in the past but this was far and away better than we have ever experienced. We highly recommend these folks for a wonderful experience and interesting stories along the way.

We rented a kayak last summer and tubes this year, both fun experiences. The kayaking is quite tame and a city experience if you launch right from the rental dock. The most exciting part is making sure you don’t get sucked into the spillway when you first start out. After that, you’re pretty much coasting right through Bend the whole way, although we did catch a glimpse of some otters.
Tubing was more fun, like Waterworld’s «Lazy River» ride, but the real deal. It cost $ 10 for two hours, which was just the right amount of time for us. Wear your bathing suit and bring flip flops that can get wet. You have to carry your tube over or under the highway to avoid the spillway. Then you can launch your tube and float to Drake Park. There, you get out and catch the shuttle, throwing your tube in the trailer. The shuttle costs $ 1.25 for one ride or $ 2.50, unlimited. When you exit the shuttle, listen carefully to the bus driver about how to get back in the river. We just followed the people in front of us, which got us all turned around and stuck after crossing a rocky, dirt parking lot. The barefooted members of our party were in pain!
Once you get back in the Deschutes, it’s heaven! A relaxing float for at least a half hour with nice views of Bend on both shores. Your flip flops become excellent navigating paddles. Your rear end is in the water, keeping you cool, while the rest of your body is warmed by the sun. Just pay attention, when you see Tumalo Creek’s red barn structure, that you cling to the right bank in order to dock and avoid the spillway. You can repeat the process or turn your tube back in.
I would give this more stars but the Tumalo Creek folks weren’t all that helpful when we kayaked, and were even less interested in tubers. Both times, they left us waiting around unnecessarily. For tubing, they did not tell us we needed shoes, were sketchy about the whole in and out of the river process, and were wrong about the bus prices.
If you have your own tube, park at Drake Park, and do the whole thing on your own. It’s a LOT of fun!

$ 10 for a two hour float seemed very reasonable. So we each bought in, and the next two hours were quite wonderful, to say the least.
The person who got us set up was very knowledgeable, but then some other random employee showed up and tried to point us in the right direction as we were heading off, but it soon became apparent after asking for his advice that I knew more about the rafting situation, which was off-​putting, as the sum total of my experience with the Deschutes River was eating lunch at the Red Robin 15 months before, and a brief conversation with another employee. But that didn’t really detract from the convenient location, reasonable prices, and otherwise extremely helpful staff.
If you’re an out-​of-​towner without a float, this is the place to stop.

This is a solid place to go if you are visiting Bend and want to enjoy the river. It’s pretty conveniently located right near the Old Mill district. There is a parking lot or iit’s a long walk or quick bike ride from downtown.
You can rent tubes (2 hours for $ 10 and there is a shuttle). You can also rent Stand Up Paddleboards (SUPs) for 2 hours for $ 40. We did the SUPs, and had a great time. We were on bikes, so they took our purses and kept them behind the register for us while we were out. The employees were all very nice (and some were a little cute too), and the river is an awesome place to spend an afternoon.
Warning: Paddling upstream isn’t so easy!

The staff is very friendly here, I have rented both kayaks and tubes from them. The price is not too bad for rentals. Floating or paddling up or down the river is an amazing time no matter how you do it!!! It is way relaxing and I highly Recommend it!!! On the last Wednesday of the summer months, they let you try some of their equipment for free, I am going to try the stand up paddle board next month. I would go back again and again!!! what a blast!!!

These guys are awesome. Geoff, the owner is super cool, and always willing to go out of his way to help. Drew, Hank, Travis and the whole crew are super knowledgeable and always friendly and helpful. They have a huge selection of every kind of canoe, kayak and stand up board you could want. They are also located right on the river. What more could you want? I could not possibly recommend them more highly.

«Hey, you go for a float yet?»
Uh… a beer float?
«No… you go for a float down the river?»
Oh… totally dude.
$ 10 for a two hour float!
Saweeeeeeeet!

In the old mill area of Bend. Rented a Hobie yak and paddled to the rapids. Sat there in an eddy and watched people walk or run by. That was the greatest feeling just sitting in that eddy.
Kayaks are 50 bucks a day. You can take them to other lakes or rivers or just paddle up the Dechutes.
Keep yakking.