Residents of some of the most remote corners of the Warm Springs Reservation now have a bus to catch. Cascades East Transit's Route 21, which launched on May 5, threads a 50-mile corridor through the reservation, connecting the communities of Simnasho and Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort to Madras — and to the broader transit network that links Central Oregon's communities.

Long-Awaited Service

The new route fills a significant gap. For years, residents of Simnasho — a community in the northern reaches of the Warm Springs Reservation — had no public transit option to reach medical appointments, groceries, or services in Madras or The Dalles. The 50-mile distance made those trips extremely difficult without a personal vehicle, and car ownership in parts of the reservation is far from universal.

"Connecting residents to medical needs from Simnasho to The Dalles" was one of the key goals cited when the route was announced, according to reporting from OPB and KLCC.

How the Route Works

Route 21 serves the Warm Springs market stop at approximately 6:28 a.m., 10:23 a.m., and 2:53 p.m. The route extends to Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort, the cultural and recreational destination on the reservation, and continues to Simnasho.

On its first days of operation, passengers like Deborah Thorton and Patricia Morris were already boarding, with driver Chris Ulibarri answering questions along the way — a scene KWSO Radio described as marking a new era in reservation transit access.

Part of a Broader Expansion

Cascades East Transit, operated by the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC), simultaneously expanded its Dial-A-Ride service area as part of the same May launch. The Route 21 expansion was supported by transit funding and collaboration with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

The route is particularly significant for tribal elders and members without vehicles who have long struggled to access healthcare. Jefferson County as a whole has limited transit infrastructure, and the reservation's vast geography has historically made service provision especially challenging.

Riders can find current schedules and stops on the Cascades East Transit website or by calling CET directly.