Kayaking on the Willamette

Last month we decided to expand our kayaking destinations and decided to try the Willamette-where the Tualatin River flows into the Willamette. We needed to go upstream as downstream leads to Willamette Falls.  The falls are the largest waterfall in the NW United States by volume, not a good idea to go over it.

Our destination 

I read some reviews of other kayakers that made the trip and it sounded like we could do it. We were eager to explore the areas around the islands in the Willamette.

Our trip started out calm. I stuck to the banks of the Willamette. It is a big river, much bigger that I was used to kayaking.

The islands are up ahead and the water looks calmer between the islands and the banks of the Willamette.

The water was great and the area was beautiful.

However on the way back the wind picked up and it made the trip back longer. To reach our destination we were paddling upstream and it wasn't too bad. But this trip back-we were paddling against the wind so even tho we were going downstream, the going was long and the paddling was continuous. We need to remember to check the weather to see if it's going to be windy.

Anyway we made it back. There was calmer water where the Tualatin River flowed into the Willamette.

It's a trip that I would do again, after checking the weather. I hear that there are more places to explore going in this direction. I also read up on many people with our skill level that kayak downstream from the Willamette Falls-some of them paddle up to the Falls themselves. I don't think I'll be doing that any time soon but it would be fun the kayak the other side. Maybe a post for later.