One of the nicest Santa cleanest parks I've ever been to. There were lots of people out and about…read morewalking, walking their dog, bicycling, or just hanging out, but it didn't feel like it was too packed. We sat by the waterway for a little bit and watch some bicyclists go by. It was very peaceful out there. Very happy we found this park and that we could enjoy some downtime under the trees on a warm day.

Love this park it's also part of the Deschutes River Trail, which spans over 15 miles along the…read moreriver.

Pretty little park on the side of the ever. Some nice views and a decent sized green space too. The…read moreplayground is for smaller kids in my opinion, as if they're over 7 it may be slightly bored. The park itself is nice with nice views and a lot of space.

Kids had a blast! Well kept and lots of people throughout the hour or two we were there. The grass…read morewas nice and green and the fact that is on the river front makes for an very relaxing surreal experience with the ss minnow and the awesome swings that can go higher than the tree tops if you ain't careful... I recommend it to anyone looking for a quick hit of child like running and yelling and jumping and ducking and just all around acting like a 4 year old high on pixie sticks and capriSun 100% Pure Juice!

Cute little park…read more Note there's no shade on playground in morning. We ended up hanging out more on the grass field where there was a ton of shade. A cool feature of the playground: It's shaped like a pirate ship, and it includes a bouncy plank! There's a small shaded picnic table area with maybe 3-6 tables. There is a water fountain and port-a-potties. Parking was not easy on 4th of July. There was no dedicated lot, and the park's located in a busy residential area.

Great park and playground! We stopped by to let the kids get some energy out and they have a…read morereally nice pirate ship-themed playground. There is also a slide that goes down the hill right alongside the banks of the river, and just a few yards away is a neat wooden bridge that crosses the Deschutes. It was so cool to see tons of people floating down the river, right from the park. Kids had fun and we'd come again.

This is for the dog park: we were visiting Bend and wanted to give our pup a chance to blow of…read moresteam and play with other dogs. There is an area for smaller dogs, and an area for larger dogs. All is fenced in, and includes quite a few benches for humans to sit. My biggest gripe is that there is a dog bowl, but no way to fill it with water. Being high desert, I'd expect that there would be a way to get the dogs some water. Luckily I brought my own, and suddenly became really popular with all the other thirsty dogs begging for water. I realize that's a luxury, but with a dry climate, I guess I thought there'd be some way for them to stay hydrated. There are lots of trees, so the area is well shaded, but completely dirt.

This review is for the new skatepark only. My son frequents this place, he's 14, so I'm the…read morechauffeur. I am pleasantly surprised every time I bring him here that there are lots of kids all skating. Meaning, no kids lurking, or loitering. I think that the kids using this skatepark are there to do just that, skate. Great. Definitely mixed ages, a few parents supervising the younger kids, all in all I think it's a pretty decent place. From a skateboarders perspective, it's great. There is an older skatepark on the other side of the park and that's where the scooters are. Perfect. Skateboards and scooters are a tough mix, so nice that the kids themselves have decided to keep things separate. Nothing wrong with skaters, or scooters, but it's easier logistically to keep it separate. I haven't checked out the park in earnest, but know that the part I can see that it's a street skating park. I haven't seen any bowls. Plenty of parking, plenty of seating for those parents who want to watch. Clean.

The park has plenty of space, some decent equipment, and a good location, but the main drawback is…read morea lack of a drinking fountain and the restrooms are closed for much of the year. We call it the "Turtle Park."

We visited this park while in town on our road trip. The staff member at the nearby Sun North…read morerecommended it to us because we have dogs and small kids. What a cool park! Plenty of space for your little ones to run and parks for them to play on. There was also a small and large dog parks so your furry friends could run out their energy. There were also some picnic areas that looked available to reserve as we noticed some families throwing birthday parties. Very nice park and area to take a stroll if in the area. Pro Tip: Grab a waffle from the secret waffle society at Sun North to enjoy in the park : )

Such a fun splash pad!…read more Tons of parking on Friday 7/5 at 1:10pm. But 95% of the spots aren't shaded. Real flushing bathrooms, water fountains available. Our kiddos (aged 3.5 to 6.5) loved the splash pad. We let them use our tupperware from our picnic to catch the water or cover the spigots, and they loved doing that. Most of the kids playing in the water ended up being temporary friends. Besides the splash pad, there is also a music section (with a xylophone) and some fancy swings. All very sun-exposed. There are several grass areas in the shade. There's also a shaded picnic table area, about 6 picnic tables.

Great place for a peaceful walk…read more We love Riley for getting some exercise in a serene setting. There are a couple of loops running the upper perimeter of the ranch...flat and easy for anyone. Then there's the gorgeous canyon loop below, through the trees and along the river. Both are great, but canyon loop is my favorite, just a beautiful space...large boulders, sweet trees, and the constant sound of rushing Deschutes. Apparently you can take the canyon trail to Tumalo State Park, although we haven't done that yet. Love having this space for nature and animals. Although we saw deer on the way in, we didn't see any while inside, but we did spot lots of tracks...as well as lots of birds. Great preserve!

Riley Ranch is a wonderful nature area operated by Bend Parks & Rec that probably many Bendites…read moredon't know about yet. It hasn't been open long. - Scenic views of the Deschutes, where the river runs fairly fast and has carved a canyon through the lava. Above the canyon wall on the east side lies Gopher Gulch air field (private property). - Lots of riparian areas here. People are instructed to only approach the river at designated access points. There are several, so that isn't too much of a restriction. - Junipers and ponderosas abound. - Trails are easy walking on mostly level terrain in the higher elevation areas (Juniper and Sage Loops). Robin's Run is a short segment which drops down somewhat steeply but there are rock steps installed to make it easier. The Canyon Loop trails along the river are much like you'd encounter along the Deschutes River Trail south of Bend. - This is a well-marked hiking area. Directional signs at key intersections, a very good overall map at both entrances (and mini-versions on some intersection markers), river access points identified. - If you keep going north past the Canyon Loop, the trail will take you out of Riley Ranch and towards Tumalo State Park. Along the way is the confluence of Tumalo Creek and the Deschutes River, which is pretty cool. - There are a couple of old (~1900) cabins fenced off along the Canyon Loop trail (one is actually a short distance down the trail towards Tumalo SP). - A Bend Parks & Rec person was stationed at the parking lot on a Sunday to remind people not to bring their dogs. - Medium-sized parking lot. As Rick J suggests, maybe its not larger on purpose. There's certainly room for a bigger lot. Bend has a surplus of great in-town and nearby casual walking trails. Riley Ranch is one.

This park is such a great place. It's part of the Deschutes River Trail. It covers over 15 miles…read morealong the Deschutes River, that pass through numerous parks along the river. And it also serves as the launching area for people SUP and tubing down the river itself.

Riverbend Park is beautiful and right next to the Old Mill District. You can float the Deschutes…read moreRiver here in the summer (season ends on Labor Day), and the views are gorgeous year-round. The walking path has signs that share cool history about Bend, which makes it fun to explore. There's also a dog park and a spot nearby to rent all kinds of bikes, so it's easy to make a full day of it. Sometimes you can even hear live music from Hayden Homes Amphitheater in the evenings. Such a great park to hang out, relax, and enjoy Bend.