Situated across the Deschutes River from McKay Park, Miller’s Landing is a great park for picnicking, viewing the river and Old Mill District activities or perhaps a game of frisbee. River access is available for water play, floating, paddle boarding, surfing and kayaking.
Accessible via streets and trails, the park also features a section of the Deschutes River Trail, connecting the Riverside neighborhood to the Old Mill.
A community garden is on site and is managed by the Miller’s Landing Community Garden Group. For information about the community garden and seasonal garden plot use, contact millerlandingcommunitygarden@gmail.com.
A river access project in is process for McKay, Miller’s, and Columbia Parks. To learn more, visit the project page here.
This location is ideal for small- to medium-size groups planning to utilize the Deschutes River and trails.
- Seating capacity – 25 people, total capacity 100 people
- 4 moveable rectangle picnic tables
- Open lawn areas and trails
- Restrooms and drinking fountain
- Adjacent to community gardens
- Lighted shelter and electrical outlet
Learn more about this rental.
The park and is richly rooted in our town’s history. In 1877, Stephen Staats (as in Staats St.) filed claim for the land which is now home to the park. The parkland was at one time ranched, home to a hotel and the site of one of Bend’s early post offices. In 1924, Harry Miller, owner of Miller Lumber Company, bought the land. Its location just downriver from the Shevlin-Hixon and Brooks Scanlon mills was an ideal site for a lumber holding area, staging area for delivery wagons and stable for horses. Many years later when horses were replaced with gas engine vehicles, the company no longer actively used the property. In time, the land’s primary use was by locals to access the river.
In 2010, The Trust for Public Land (TPL) led an effort to raise community funds to contribute to the purchase of the land from current property owners, the Miller family and Brooks Resources Corporation, with the goal of preserving the land as a community park for all to enjoy forever. Greg Cushman, TPL board member and local community advocate, led a campaign to raise $700,000 to help the Bend Park & Recreation District purchase the land for what is now Miller’s Landing Park. Over 500 people contributed to see this park come to be.
The Deschutes River is home to many species of native fish and some of the most idyllic fishing spots reside in Bend parks. In addition to river fishing, the District also features fishing ponds at Pine Nursery and Shevlin Parks that are stocked by Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. Shevlin Pond is open to youth 17 years and under. Learn more. Licenses: All state angling licenses and regulations apply at all locations. Fishing is open to youth, 17 years and under, and anglers with disabilities. Youth aged 12 to 17 must have a juvenile fishing license. Limit of two fish per day, eight inch minimum length. Bait: Whether bait and/or fly fishing is allowed depends on location. Please check ODFW’s website for more information as regulations may change.
Parking for Floaters:
Park & Float will open for summer 2024 on Saturday, June 22. Contact Tumalo Creek for rental opportunities, weather-permitting, until June 22.
Park & Float is at Simpson Ave. and Bradbury Way, across from The Pavilion at 1000 SW Bradbury Way, and has free parking, rental services, access to the river shuttle and more. It’s a convenient one-stop location for a day of river fun. Shuttle rides have a $5 fee.
Parking Options:
Park & Float location at Simpson Ave. and Bradbury Way, across from The Pavilion at 1000 SW Bradbury Way. One block south of the whitewater park. (Directions)
Riverbend Park, 799 SW Columbia St. (westside) (Directions)
McKay Park, 166 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr. (westside) (Directions)
Miller’s Landing Park, 80 NW Riverside Blvd. (eastside) (Directions)
Ride the River shuttle service:
The Ride the River shuttle starts and ends at Park & Float, beginning June 22 (weather permitting) and ending on Labor Day. Round trip makes transportation easy for river users with shuttles departing every 15-20 minutes from 11 am to 7 pm. Advanced tickets available at Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe. Reservations for 2024 season are available now. On your reservation date, check-in at Park & Float for the wrist band valid the entire day.
Parking is available at Riverbend Park, Farewell Bend Park, Miller’s Landing Park and Park & Float (across from The Pavilion). It’s only a block away from McKay Park and about a one-mile walk to Riverbend Park. Please respect neighborhoods, businesses and parking time limits.
We don’t recommend parking at Riverbend Park, floating to Drake Park and then walking back. It’s an option, but the walk back will be about two miles. A better option is parking in “the middle” across from The Pavilion and splitting the walk up to one mile before and one mile after instead.
We also don’t suggest shuttling vehicles as parking is extremely limited and may not even be available in the area by Riverbend Park and/or Drake Park. There is also a new neighborhood parking permit required.
features
Rental info
This location is ideal for small- to medium-size groups planning to utilize the Deschutes River and trails.
- Seating capacity – 25 people, total capacity 100 people
- 4 moveable rectangle picnic tables
- Open lawn areas and trails
- Restrooms and drinking fountain
- Adjacent to community gardens
- Lighted shelter and electrical outlet
Learn more about this rental.
History
The park and is richly rooted in our town’s history. In 1877, Stephen Staats (as in Staats St.) filed claim for the land which is now home to the park. The parkland was at one time ranched, home to a hotel and the site of one of Bend’s early post offices. In 1924, Harry Miller, owner of Miller Lumber Company, bought the land. Its location just downriver from the Shevlin-Hixon and Brooks Scanlon mills was an ideal site for a lumber holding area, staging area for delivery wagons and stable for horses. Many years later when horses were replaced with gas engine vehicles, the company no longer actively used the property. In time, the land’s primary use was by locals to access the river.
In 2010, The Trust for Public Land (TPL) led an effort to raise community funds to contribute to the purchase of the land from current property owners, the Miller family and Brooks Resources Corporation, with the goal of preserving the land as a community park for all to enjoy forever. Greg Cushman, TPL board member and local community advocate, led a campaign to raise $700,000 to help the Bend Park & Recreation District purchase the land for what is now Miller’s Landing Park. Over 500 people contributed to see this park come to be.
Fishing in Parks
The Deschutes River is home to many species of native fish and some of the most idyllic fishing spots reside in Bend parks. In addition to river fishing, the District also features fishing ponds at Pine Nursery and Shevlin Parks that are stocked by Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. Shevlin Pond is open to youth 17 years and under. Learn more. Licenses: All state angling licenses and regulations apply at all locations. Fishing is open to youth, 17 years and under, and anglers with disabilities. Youth aged 12 to 17 must have a juvenile fishing license. Limit of two fish per day, eight inch minimum length. Bait: Whether bait and/or fly fishing is allowed depends on location. Please check ODFW’s website for more information as regulations may change.
Float the River
Parking for Floaters:
Park & Float will open for summer 2024 on Saturday, June 22. Contact Tumalo Creek for rental opportunities, weather-permitting, until June 22.
Park & Float is at Simpson Ave. and Bradbury Way, across from The Pavilion at 1000 SW Bradbury Way, and has free parking, rental services, access to the river shuttle and more. It’s a convenient one-stop location for a day of river fun. Shuttle rides have a $5 fee.
Parking Options:
Park & Float location at Simpson Ave. and Bradbury Way, across from The Pavilion at 1000 SW Bradbury Way. One block south of the whitewater park. (Directions)
Riverbend Park, 799 SW Columbia St. (westside) (Directions)
McKay Park, 166 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr. (westside) (Directions)
Miller’s Landing Park, 80 NW Riverside Blvd. (eastside) (Directions)
Ride the River shuttle service:
The Ride the River shuttle starts and ends at Park & Float, beginning June 22 (weather permitting) and ending on Labor Day. Round trip makes transportation easy for river users with shuttles departing every 15-20 minutes from 11 am to 7 pm. Advanced tickets available at Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe. Reservations for 2024 season are available now. On your reservation date, check-in at Park & Float for the wrist band valid the entire day.
Parking is available at Riverbend Park, Farewell Bend Park, Miller’s Landing Park and Park & Float (across from The Pavilion). It’s only a block away from McKay Park and about a one-mile walk to Riverbend Park. Please respect neighborhoods, businesses and parking time limits.
We don’t recommend parking at Riverbend Park, floating to Drake Park and then walking back. It’s an option, but the walk back will be about two miles. A better option is parking in “the middle” across from The Pavilion and splitting the walk up to one mile before and one mile after instead.
We also don’t suggest shuttling vehicles as parking is extremely limited and may not even be available in the area by Riverbend Park and/or Drake Park. There is also a new neighborhood parking permit required.