Ride the River

Ride all day for $4

Toss your tube in the back

Let us take care of driving

Ride the River has ended the Summer 2023 season! September 4th - Labor Day - was the last day for our summer recreational services. Ride the River is expected to launch the Summer 2024 season around Juneteenth. Stay tuned for an official announcement in spring.

How to ride the river:

Start at the Park & Float
Take the shuttle to Riverbend Park to begin your float
Caution: There are rapids at Whitewater Park. Be prepared to exit the river and walk around
Continue your float to Drake Park and exit after the Galveston Ave bridge
Take the return shuttle to the Park & Float
Pro tip: Buy your fare in advance for a smoother boarding!

First bus departs at 11:00am

Last bus arrives at 7:30pm

Ride the River is the popular shuttle that transports floaters on the Deschutes River. The shuttle is a convenient option that decreases dependence on parking near Drake Park and the multi-car shuffle.

Floaters can ride the shuttle all day with the purchase of a wristband. CET’s Ride the River shuttle service begins in late-June and runs through Labor Day. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, if there is a higher volume of floaters, buses run every 15 minutes. Service may be reduced or canceled based on inclement weather including cooler temperatures, rain, thunderstorms and poor AQI.

The shuttle begins and ends at the Park & Float with stops at Riverbend Park and Drake Park. Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe and Sun Country Tours offer rental river tubes, stand-up paddle boards, and complementary life jackets for children and adults all summer long.

Get tickets in advance with the app

Use the Umo app to pay your fare.

Please purchase fares ahead of time through the Umo mobile app for the best experience. Here’s how:

Download the Umo Mobility App
Open the app and create an account if you don’t already have one
To purchase fare, click on “Buy Passes”
Choose “Ride the River”
Click “Purchase”
Enter card payment information
Your pass will now be displayed in the “My Wallet” section.
Before boarding, select the fare in your wallet and show the QR Code to the reader upon boarding.
Once the reader flashes green, obtain a wristband from the driver. Wristbands must be worn for shuttle admission.

Purchasing fares for family and friends? Repeat steps 3-8 to purchase additional fare product.

Fares may also be purchased ahead of time at the following locations:

Tumalo Creek Park & Float. 1000 SW Bradbury Dr. Wristbands are $6 (including a $1 river clean-up fee).
Sun Country Tours. 115 SW Columbia St. Wristbands are $5.

Purchasing fare in advance helps keep the buses moving and to keep you floating!

Having a good ride:

Inflatable tubes accepted in the shuttle trailer. Only inflatable kayaks or SUPs that are deflated/compacted accepted.
Please line up in a single file while waiting for the next available bus
If you are in a vehicle, please do not park in or block the bus loading zones
The bus may depart early if the bus or trailer is at capacity before the scheduled departure time
Passengers are responsible for their own flotation device/tubes and must travel on the same bus as the flotation device/tube. CET is not responsible for lost or stolen tubes.

Rainy day service:

Service may be temporarily suspended or delayed due to inclement weather, such as rain, thunderstorms, or poor air quality/smoke.

Please check the service alerts for updates.