How to see the leaves changing color from a kayak in Portland, Oregon
Flatwater kayaking fans, have we got a great spot for you to paddle. Perfect for intermediate recreational kayakers. 10 minutes from downtown Rose City. A fun, 2.5-mile round trip adventure around a volcanic island. The ease of on-site kayak rentals. And the best part? It’s the perfect calm Willamette River paddle to admire the changing Autumn leaves, right from aboard your boat.
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Kayak in Lake Oswego
Pop this address in your GPS - It’s George Rogers Park in Lake Oswego. In our experience, parking was easy (and free), and there are restrooms on-site. A winning experience already.
611 S State St.
Lake Oswego, OR 97034
After you park, head to the beach area. You can launch your own kayak right from there, or rent one (season dependent) from the on-site Alder Creek rental shop location (2 hours, single kayak, $35). Give them a call at 541-705-0283 or book your Lake Oswego kayak rental online.
I brought my Oru Inlet kayak on this trip, so I cannot speak to the rental experience at this location, but when we chatted with the Alder Creek employee, he was extremely helpful and friendly.
Alder Creek offers kayak rentals (season dependent) right at George Rogers Park, Lake Oswego.
What are the kayaking route details?
This great flat water route on the Willamette River will take you around a small volcanic island and old industry remnants from which the city of Lake Oswego, Oregon, was founded.
From the beach at George Rogers Park, you want to paddle out to the right - and look for the orange-red flags in the distance. Those markers indicate the location of Hog Island (note: it’s also called Oak Island, depending on who you talk to).
Pro tip: check out our full experience video below on this post, to see what the route markers looked like for us on our paddle. We traveled counter-clockwise around Hog Island, to follow the current. That means the orange-red flags were on our left (port side) as we kayaked.
The bright orange flags were on our left (port)side when we kayaked counter-clockwise around Hog Island.
Depending on your paddling speed, skills, and the water and weather conditions, the total round trip route takes roughly 2-2.5 hours to kayak.
Something else to keep in mind: In addition to following kayaking safety best practices, be aware that while this route is generally a very calm and flatwater Portland paddling experience, there are occasional boats.
Make sure you’re comfortable paddling through/against boat wakes before you make the trip out and around Hog Island. Boat traffic will vary based on the day/time/season of your paddling adventure. On our weekday afternoon kayaking trip, for context, we dealt with a total of two boats.
Fall foliage around Hog Island
The Autumn leaves are just starting to change in this area. Hog Island would be a stunning place to kayak around and leaf peep in Portland over the next month or so. The cooler temperature and beautiful colors really made this a lovely paddling outing.
While we didn’t stop on Hog Island, some people choose to land and explore this 10-acre island, but remember to follow outdoor activity best practices – don’t litter, pack out what you pack in (including human waste), pick up any trash you might see, don’t feed wildlife, don’t build/make a fire, don’t sleep there overnight. Clackamas County owns the land, and we’re lucky to be able to explore around freely – and without fees – enjoying the splendor that the Willamette River trail has to offer. Let’s keep Oregon beautiful! (Interested in learning more about protecting Hog Island?).
What wildlife should I look for while kayaking around Hog Island?
This is an incredible place to observe Pacific Northwest bird species, such as bald eagles. We were struck by the incredible majestic beauty of a stately great heron.
Fun fact - these birds have benefitted from the recovery of beaver populations across the US, and they’re one of the most widespread waterbirds in the state of Oregon.
“The Great Blue Heron is the largest heron in North America, standing approximately four feet tall.”
Interested in seeing if this paddling experience near Portland, Oregon is right for you? Check out our kayaking experience in under 60 seconds from George Rogers Park, out and around Hog Island, and back to the little park beach.
Want more Autumn kayaking ideas near Portland, Oregon?
Check out our post on renting a kayak and experiencing the changing Autumn leaves on the Tualatin River Water Trail.
Interested in more great places to paddle in the Pacific Northwest?
Explore more kayaking routes in our Flatwater Kayak Club library of resources. New posts are added every week!
Need more suggestions for a place to rent a kayak near Portland, Oregon?
We’ve got you. Check out our top recommendations here.
Want to learn more about the folding kayak that we’ve been using?
Read all our Oru kayak posts.
