Need a top flat water kayaking spot within 30 minutes from Portland, Oregon? One those staple always-a-good-time paddling experiences, with the ease of on-water kayak and SUP rentals, and a dynamite view of Mt. St. Helens on a clear sky day? Look no further that Scappoose Bay…

Oru Inlet Kayak on Scappoose Bay near Portland, Oregon

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Why flatwater kayak at Scappoose Bay?

This is genuinely one of my favorite spots to kayak near Portland. In fact, it’s one of our paddling routes recommended in our top-viewed blog post the perfect day for kayakers visiting Portland.

There’s a little something for every paddler at Scappoose Bay. It’s easy to get to and hit the water when you need a quick dose of nature in your life. The water is pretty much always calm flatwater. You’re protected from boat traffic. On a clear day, you get an epic mountain view of Mt. St. Helens. It’s quite a little gem of a spot for recreational kayakers.

Scappoose Bay provides a diverse ecosystem that offers great opportunities for wildlife watching and birding, and the lush provide a beautiful and serene setting for paddling (which also makes it a great place for beginners to learn how to kayak.).

It’s a good idea to check the tide schedule before heading out (call the local paddle shop, Next Adventure Paddling Center, if you need help with this), as the tide levels can affect water depth and accessibility in some areas. While you’re on the phone with them, go ahead and reserve a single or double kayak, or ask about their great lessons, workshops, and guided tours!

And who knows? You might just see me out there, on my foldable Oru Inlet kayak. I’m often out there on the water, kayaking with my dog, in the summertime.

Where is Scappoose Bay?

Just north of Portland, Oregon, Scappoose Bay is 85,000-acres, encompassing wetlands, seasonal ponds, intricate tide channels, and rocky islands, with beautiful Mt. St. Helens in the backdrop (and it only takes about 20, 25 minutes from downtown PDX).

The bay flows into Multnomah Channel, just upstream of where it connects with the Columbia River.

Mt. St. Helens in distance over Scappoose Bay

My favorite route is heading south – paddling away from the Multnomah Channel/St Helens – into Scappoose Creek, where there are lovely curving waterways to explore by kayak, with opportunities to see wildlife, arrow-shaped native wapato plants, and push your oars through both open waters areas and thinner, sheltered creeks.

From the main dock at Scappoose Marina (where Next Adventure Paddling Center is), this route can be a little hard to identify. Just ask the friendly staff at Next Adventure if you need some tips on where to paddle (they’re usually out on the dock, helping customers with kayak rentals, or perhaps you’re renting a kayak from them as well).

These local paddling experts are mindful of the weather, wind, current, tides, and all that good safety stuff, so you can explore the bay by kayak with confidence.

“Scappoose Bay is unique because it is a tidally influenced freshwater estuary. ”

— Outdoor Project

What wildlife lives in Scappoose Bay?

This is a great place to look for waterbirds and migrating bird populations (depending on the time of year - but this is an important Pacific Flyway point), so bring your binoculars and keep your eyes peels for great egrets, blue herons, osprey, geese, bald eagles, and more. I always see tons of beautiful birds when I’m paddling around these waters.

There are also amphibians, turtles, and four species of salmon (during migration season). Let us know what wildlife you spot in the comments!

flat water river with kayak rentals on dock oregon kayak

Rent a kayak at Scappoose Bay

Call up the Scappoose Bay Paddling Center - Next Adventure at 503-397-2161 to rent your kayak.

And I’d recommend putting Scappoose Bay Marine Park’s address in your phone GPS:

57420 Old Portland Rd
Warren, OR 97053

Here’s a handy map from Google:

Need to see even more photos and videos before you make the trip? You can check out live cameras of the launch ramp, kayak loading zone, and parking lot online. Watch Scappoose Bay live cameras now.

When you arrive, there’s ample parking (daily rate of $3 - you pay with a credit card on a machine and put the ticket on your windshield), clean public bathrooms, a great paddle shop & a dock to launch your kayak from. (And, bonus tip, if you need quick refreshment on your drive back home to Portland, there’s a drive-thru Starbucks in the little town of Scappoose).

Interested in a “origami” folding kayak to easily carry your kayak boat from your car or SUV trunk to the water? Check out my model, the Oru Inlet kayak, and other folding kayaks here. I can easily carry it the distance by myself while wearing my life jacket PFD, with my folding Oru kayak paddle and my dry bag with essential safety gear tucked in-hand too. I also did a full, two-year Oru Inlet kayak review on this site.

Check out these photos by our team at Flatwater Kayak Club to help you visualize your paddle experience at Scappoose Bay in Oregon….