Deschutes River Rambler (DR2)

Bikepacking Route / Central Oregon, Oregon / Published: Mar 2026 / Updated: Aug 2026 / Directions

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This route was impacted by the 2026 fires.

Headwaters of the Deschutes at Little Lava Lake

The first twists and turns of the Deschutes River

The first crossing of the Deschutes on the route on South Century Dr.

Wickiup Reservoir from the top of the dam

Cliff faces in LaPine State Park

Singletrack in LaPine State Park

Fall River falls

Swan Song trail into Sunriver

Crossing the Deschutes into Sunriver

Crossing the Deschutes just before Benham Falls

Benham Falls

Gravel cyclist on dirt path next to Deschutes River.

Riding along the Deschutes River Trail south of Bend

Twin Bridges just north of Tumalo

View of the Deschutes River from the Maston singletrack section

Deschutes River Canyon just south of Mecca Flats Campground

Route:

Point to Point | 305 mi

Gain:

14,000 ft

Surface:

47% Gravel, 53% Paved

Technical Difficulty:

Very Demanding

Navigation:

Challenging

Locale:

Extremely Remote

Tire Suggestion:

55 mm+

Options:

Credit Card Tour, Bikepacking

The Deschutes River Rambler (DR2) is a challenging 305-mile bikepacking route that traces one of Oregon’s most iconic rivers from its source at Little Lava Lake to its confluence with the Columbia River. With hike-a-bike segments and long stretches between water sources it is not for the faint of heart, but will mightily reward those who tackle it with some of the most scenic canyon and river views in the state!

Following the Deschutes as closely as possible—and on as much gravel as possible—the route winds steadily downstream through a remarkable cross-section of Central Oregon landscapes. From the cool forests of the Cascade Mountains, the Rambler rolls through volcanic plateaus and river-cut canyons toward the Warm Springs Reservation.

Here, with minimal access to the riverside, you climb high up into the dry Oregon Outback and gain a healthy reminder of the importance of water in central Oregon, before a cruising descent back to the river again in Maupin.

From there, the final leg brings the route’s most adventurous challenge. Riders follow the gentle downhill grade of a historic rail line toward the Columbia River, but the path is interrupted by seven steep gullies once crossed by wooden trestles, requiring short hike-a-bike crossings. After the final gully, about 14 miles from the mouth of the Deschutes, the route returns to a smooth, double-wide path that rolls easily through the canyon with spectacular views all the way to the Columbia River.

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Caution, this is a Development Route. It has not been fully vetted or ridden by the Dirty Freehub Team. Go prepared and expect a bit more adventure. Any feedback you have would be much appreciated. You can leave it in the comments block.

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Map

Brown = gravel / dirt road

Blue = single track

Red = paved road

Purple = paved bike path

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Days

Tier 1: The Upper Deschutes

Little Lava to Trout Creek

Tier 2: The Oregon Outback

Trout Creek to Maupin

Tier 3: The Lower Deschutes

Maupin to the Columbia River

Notes & Options

Route Notes

This route had some impact due to the 2026 fires.
We have tagged the route as very demanding due to the 7 trestle crossings. We have tagged it remote because of this section, most of the route is not significantly remote. We have also tagged the navigation as challenging, due to this section. People have seen rattlesnakes along this section, and lots of sharp rocks and goat-heads (puncturevine) to puncture tires, so there are lots of reasons to be mindful of where you step during this hike-a-bike segment. The mandatory hiking section coming down into Lake Billy Chinook is also notable for its steep drops and tight turns, making the whole route more amenable to a bikepacking setup than a traditional touring rig with panniers.
There are a few short sections of highway/faster roads along this route, 4 miles on O.B. Riley Rd north of Bend, 2.5 miles along Cline Falls Rd north of Tumalo, most notably 2.2 miles into Warm Springs on hwy 26, and finally a crossing and short stretch of hwy 97. All of these sections have a consistent shoulder that is wide enough to ride safely. We recommend a red blinky light, a white headlight for any dawn/dusk riding, and perhaps a rear-looking radar detector for the paved sectors of this route, something like a Garmin Varia.
Miles 165 to 252 depart significantly from the Deschutes River due to private property restrictions and enter the Oregon Outback. This segment is demanding, with approximately 6,000 feet of climbing and 6,500 feet of descending. Water sources are limited. The most reliable places to find water are the towns of Ashwood, Antelope, and Shaniko. Do not filter or drink water from other sources in this section, as it may be contaminated by agricultural runoff. It is highly recommended to carry a minimum of 4L of water from where the route departs the river at Trout Creek Campground to get up to these much higher elevation towns, especially since the honor fridges are not always open in the shoulder seasons.
Parking
Here are a couple of options we have researched. If you find other options, please let us know.

At the start, you may be able to park at Little Lava Lake Campground. Check with the Forest Service.

Another option is to park a car at the Centennial Parking Garage (pay for parking) in Bend and ride to the start via this. route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54266046

At the finish, at the Deschutes State Recreation Area, you can park a car for a fee. See this link for more details. Scroll down to: “Can I park my vehicle overnight in the park? Is there a fee?”
Camping

There are many campgrounds scattered along the route. Please note that many of the state park campgrounds require prior reservation, and that all of the BLM campgrounds along the northern section of the Deschutes have switched to a cashless system with kiosks to pay for first-come first-serve sites.
Water can be scare along the route, so we recommend carrying at least 4L capacity and filling at all the available opportunities, namely: LaPine State Park bathrooms, Downtown Bend, Tumalo, The Cove Palisades state park campgrounds (both should have water), Warm Springs, Trout Creek Campground (filter from river), Ashwood honor fridge, Antelope honor Fridge, and Maupin.

Route Options

Bikepacking

Day	Hard Tempo	Slightly Less Hard Tempo
1	Tumalo State Park (80 mi)	Tumalo State Park (80 mi)
2	Mecca Flats Campground (156 mi)	Crooked River Campground (133 mi)
3	Antelope (217 mi)	Trout Creek Campground (163 mi)
4	Done(300 mi)	Antelope (217 mi)
5	—	Mack’s Canyon Campground (276 mi)
6	—	Done(300 mi)

Credit Card Tour
Sunriver mile 50
Bend mile 72
Madras mile 145 (~ 5 mile off route)
Warm Springs Casino mile 150
Antelope mile 215
Shaniko mile 225
Maupin mile 250
End mile 300

Comments

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Collaborate With Dirty Freehub

At Dirty Freehub we welcome collaboration with local tourism committees, other non-profits, and land managers. So, if you’d like to be involved in the further improvement of this route, or future Grand Departs, then please email us at [email protected].