I recently went on an overnight rafting trip with 2 friends in Oregon, and RiverStone Adventures…read morewas fantastic! Dan (the owner) arranged an "off the books" trip for us when other rafting companies would not, because of the time of year (October). Our guides Lauren and Greg were awesome -- Lauren was our in-boat guide, and Greg was our host who went ahead and set up camp for us. Everything was spectacular, and the food was amazing! We even had fresh-caught tuna for one of the meals, as well as delicious steak for dinner and eggs and bacon for breakfast. I was joking with my buddies that the food we had while camping was better than the meals we'd had in town the days before and after! A truly inspiring experience, I highly recommend camping overnight at least one day to really get to see the dark skies at night and take your time. There was also enough splash and rapids (only class 2-3) to make it fun without being too intense for those afraid of water or with little experience.

WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! We rafted the Deschutes yesterday with Travis as our guide. Here is my take:…read more 1. Trip Organization: These folks have it dialed in from start to finish. They did everything to make this trip a memorable experience. All you need to do is make sure you follow their advice on what to bring with you such as water and sunscreen; simple and straightforward. A 2. Understanding the customer: Travis was very much attuned to how much "adventure" we wanted as a group. This was the first time rafting for several of us. Travis was great; he knew just the right amount of white water we could handle. A+ 3. The River: Holy smokes is it beautiful. A+++++ 4. Other: Travis is a wealth of knowledge. Not only do you get the white water experience but you also get his incredibly informative insights into the geology of the area, the history of the town and his keen eye to identifying all the wildlife on the river. A++ Rafting the Deschutes was a fantastic experience made all the more wonderful by the folks at River Stone Adventures.

Big Eddy Thriller: The ride was short and sweet! The whole thing is dialed in, these folks know…read moreexactly what they're doin. They start on time, so don't mess around and miss the bus (though not sure they'd leave anyone, it's a friendly place). Mikie communicated expectations well from the jump and got us to and from safely. Trevor was a great raft guide, clearly loves what he does, and as far as I could tell, does it well. Would row for him again for sure. Rode a raft with a family my partner and I didn't know, it was a good time all around. Will probably hit up another tour next summer for fun, was worth it. Tips? Kinda? You could easily hit this and another outing in one day. Set your timing right and you could ride and then raft, this is certainly a good time but it doesn't take long door to door. If you care about pics sit in the front. If you're worried about rowing, don't sit on the right for big eddy (the guide will likely seat folks for safety and row power anyhow). Not sure I need to say this but I will, there isn't a dry seat on the raft. The road to the spot is bumpy, sit toward the front if that bothers you. If your kids not taller than an oar, they likely won't get one. There are two spots you'll be offered to jump in.

Had a wonderful experience doing the Big Eddy Thriller out of Bend. The staff were very attentive,…read moreyou can tell they work like a well-oiled machine, and our guide, Hodge, was incredible! He did an amazing job remembering everyone's names, kept the conversation fun and was very clear with his instructions making us feel very safe. The photo package is a little on the spendier side, and the amount of photos you get of your party are random, but we got a few great action shots to show off. Would highly recommend!

Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe is the best! Located right next to the Old Mill District in Bend, it's…read morethe perfect place to start an outdoor adventure and then enjoy lunch or dinner nearby afterward. The staff was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful in choosing the right paddleboard for us. We rented stand-up paddleboards for one hour for $30, with the option to extend to two hours for $40, which is a great value. The river is beautiful, peaceful, and full of interesting scenery. There is always something to see along the way, making the experience fun and relaxing at the same time. And don't be shy about jumping into the water if the conditions allow--it can be part of the fun! Just be sure to follow the safety instructions provided before your adventure begins. We had a wonderful time and would highly recommend Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe to anyone visiting Bend.

On a Sunday morning, after exploring Bend and attending a concert the night before, my husband and…read moreI decided that we wanted to float the Deschutes River. Luckily, we managed to do a walk-up appointment and get our tubes for floating. They do offer online reservations, more than 24 hours in advance, but they had plenty of inner tubes so a reservation was not needed that particular day. From start to finish, they made the entire process extremely easy and seamless. From being able to park your car and get a ride with your inner tube to the drop off point and then being picked back up by the shuttle and returned to the parking lot, and everything in between. They provided us with a good safety briefing as well as the opportunity to leave our car keys since I had not thought about bringing a waterproof pouch. For just about $30 per person, it was well worth the experience and took us about two hours, but we did stop after the rapids and spend some time just swimming before continuing on. If you are a local or just visiting the Bend area, I cannot recommend floating the river enough.

Nate and his crew provided our group with an exceptional four days of river bliss…read more Safety, comfort, and creating lasting memories clearly drive his mission. From the start, Nate was upfront about river safety, setting a clear expectation that all party members listen and work cooperatively to minimize risks. I deeply appreciated this transparency; the guidelines were minimal, easy to follow, and kept everyone secure without taking away from the experience. Every minute of the trip was centered on our enjoyment. The itinerary was excellent--we stopped often at unique, beautiful spots to stretch our legs, swim, relax on beaches, fish, and take short hikes. Camp was highly comfortable, and the meals were an absolute highlight. The crew treated us to exceptional food and drink, including cocktails, appetizers, restaurant-quality entrees, and even desserts. Highly recommend Nate and his crew for an unforgettable adventure.

My daughter and her children had a blast with Nathan on the white rapids. They couldn't stop…read moretalking about all the fun they had. Thanks Nathan. Lucinda Wedge

Have done rafting a few times out of the Inn of the Seventh Mountain while staying in Sunriver. We…read morehave always had a good experience, it a well run outfit and a bit cheaper than the ones run out of Sunriver. The rapids are not huge, but are fun. We took our kids when they were little and they loved it. Just took them as teens (and adults) and they still loved it. Would definitely recommend it for people who are new to rafting. It's a pretty short trip, but it's fun and beautiful. We had Duke as a guide today and he was great!

I love the vibe here. Cute & eclectic. Beautiful outside area with a comfy area inside the…read moreoutfitter bar. Bartender Zach is so charismatic & makes sure you're taken care of! Laid back & homey.

Super friendly staff and easy to book online. Drop off and…read morepick up service was easy and the staff were very nice and helpful. I would rent from them again!

I would like to give a big shout out to Bend Kayak School rentals! Such an amazing and professional…read morebusiness. I had family in town and needed to rent a tandem kayak for the day. I called a popular local rental place and got a quote of $168/day and then called Bend Kayak School and was quoted $95/day. The difference is ridicules wouldn't you say. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND BEND KAYAK SCHOOL if you are in need of river fun rentals. They were such a pleasure to work with!

We were looking for a mountain bike for my wife so she can stop listening to the ride stories and…read morestart being apart of them. We saw a bike there that was exactly what we were looking for and were pretty much ready to swipe that plastic. The owner insisted that we take the bike around the parking lot a few times to make sure the fit was just right. Although the bike fit like a glove we we were glad he was there to build customers and not to just sell bikes. Thank you and we will be back! P.S. My dad is looking for a bike to so see you soon!

We were visiting Bend and looking to float the River. Found this place searching google for float…read morerentals. The owner was working when we came in and was super helpful and friendly. He pulled out a map and explained to us how floating the Deschutes worked and the start and end points and how to get back once our float ended. He even shut down the shop to drive us to the launch spot with our rental, since we couldn't fit it in my car. Costumer service doesn't get better than that!