On a hot late afternoon in Bend, families and friends pulled inner tubes from the Deschutes River after a lazy float. Many people drove two personal vehicles to be able to float the river from point to point, but starting this week, they’ll have the option to take public transit to help them get back upriver.

Cascades East Transit launched two seasonal shuttle services on June 17 as Bend’s busy summer tourism season gets underway. The service offers three routes in Bend and Sunriver, to help locals and tourists access some of the most popular destinations in the region — including trailheads and river runs — without needing a car.

“Central Oregon is built around outdoor adventure, and these services make it easier for everyone to enjoy it,” said Andrea Wasilew, CET Outreach & Engagement Administrator.

The Trails to Transit Shuttle Service, Ride the River Floating Shuttle, and a Lava Butte Shuttle are scheduled to run until Sept. 7. Fares run from $5 to $10.

The Ride the River service is one of Cascades East Transit’s most popular summer shuttle services and was conceived over a decade ago, said Wasilew.

The mid-sized bus, outfitted with a trailer to carry a mountain of inner tubes, transports people between a 1.5 mile stretch of river that is often thick with water users during summer. About 300,000 people floated or paddled the river last summer, said Julie Brown, Bend Park and Recreation District’s communications and engagement director.

The agency would get complaints about parking in adjacent neighborhoods during summer as people flocked from near and far to enjoy the body of water, she said.

River levels are consistent with previous summers, said Brown, but this year’s drought could pose issues for recreators if water levels dip later in the summer. Metal scraps left in the river from old logging operations could pose a hazard if flow levels drop, she said.

Cascades East Transit also ferries mountain bikers and hikers to higher elevation trailheads.

Mo Elwefati rode his titanium mountain bike to catch the shuttle to the Wanoga Sno Park for an afternoon ride. He chose the shuttle because he said, it’s a cheap way to get to upper trails in the Deschutes National Forest without climbing almost two thousand feet in elevation.

“I’ve been taking the shuttle for the past two or three years, so I’ve been looking forward to this day,” he said. “It’s just easier and overall better for the environment if less people are driving around.”

Before the shuttle service started, Elwefati, 26, would either ride to trails from his house or use multiple cars with friends to drive between trailheads.

The Transit to Trails service began in 2023 and is outfitted with a 20-bike trailer. Wasilew said it’s one of Oregon’s few dedicated public bus routes that help people hit the trails without needing a car.

The public transportation option is a win for the mountain biking community and the forest, said Casey Andrews, executive director of Central Oregon Trail Alliance, a local non-profit that promotes access and stewardship of mountain bike trails.

“I do think (the shuttle) will provide an alternative, an environmentally sound alternative, and something that is a little bit more accessible for people that don’t have easy access to a vehicle,” Andrews said.

Shuttle schedules, fare information and how to purchase passes can be found at Cascades East Transit’s website.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/06/19/central-oregon-popular-seasonal-shuttle-services-return-this-week/