For the first time in memory, residents of the Warm Springs Reservation's most remote communities can catch a bus to Madras.

Cascades East Transit's new Route 21 launched on May 5, 2026, covering approximately 50 miles of road across the roughly 1,000-square-mile Warm Springs Reservation. The route connects the main Warm Springs community to Simnasho and Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort before returning to Madras — serving communities that have long lacked reliable public transportation options.

A Long Time Coming

Much of the Warm Springs Reservation has historically been underserved by transit, leaving residents dependent on private vehicles for medical appointments, grocery shopping, employment, and other essential trips. For elders, people with disabilities, youth, and those without access to a vehicle, the lack of transit has been a genuine barrier to basic services.

The launch of Route 21 has been celebrated by tribal members, healthcare providers, and community advocates as a meaningful step toward equity. Riders on the inaugural days described the service as a relief — and a long-overdue recognition that reservation communities deserve the same transportation access as urban and suburban areas.

The Route

The service runs through the heart of the reservation, passing through Simnasho — a small community north of the main Warm Springs townsite — and continuing to Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort before looping back to Madras. The route gives workers at Kah-Nee-Ta a way to commute from Madras without a car, and gives reservation residents a direct connection to Madras' grocery stores, medical offices, the Jefferson County Library, and other services.

Kah-Nee-Ta's 2026 Expansion

The timing of Route 21's launch coincides with a significant season for Kah-Nee-Ta. The tribally owned resort, which reopened in 2024 after a six-year closure, is undergoing continued improvements in 2026 — including a new entrance project and upgrades to lodging, wellness services, recreation, and dining. The resort is open daily, with day-use hours from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The new bus connection makes Kah-Nee-Ta more accessible to both employees and day visitors from Madras and the surrounding area.

How to Ride

For schedule and fare information for Route 21 and all Cascades East Transit services, visit cascadeseasttransit.com or call the CET information line. The service is available to all riders, not just tribal members.