A great place to rent a kayak on the Tualatin River
Rent a kayak from Alder Creek at Brown’s Ferry Park in Portland, Oregon, and discover easy river access for a beautiful kayaking trip on the Tualatin River Water Trail. Views include historic bridges and riverfront homes, and you can paddle at your own pace to enjoy this unique natural area.
Read on to learn tips for renting a kayak at this location and experiencing the Tualatin River…
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What makes this kayaking route a great Portland experience?
You get a bit of everything, very much like Rose City herself, when you explore the Tualatin River by kayak. Lovely riverfront homes. Stunning nature. A paddle beneath a gritty highway. Historic bridges. Lots of ducks. Flat water to paddle at your own pace. And so many gorgeous Pacific Northwest leaves in vibrant fall color.
Can we also add how incredible the tree and bridge reflections are on the calm Tualatin River? I think it was my favorite thing. We couldn’t stop taking photos.
There are good reasons that the Tualatin River is one of the most popular rivers near Portland, Oregon!
Rent a kayak from Alder Creek
Of course you’ll need a kayak, and if you’re not bringing your own, you can rent one from Alder Creek to enjoy this flatwater kayaking experience. With a convenient little shop in Brown’s Ferry Park near the Tualatin River, you can reserve a single or tandem kayak for your outing.
Location address:
Brown's Ferry Park
5855 SW Nyberg Lane
Tualatin, Oregon 97062
Compared to some of the other Alder Creek locations this one has easy river access, but just know that this one isn’t exactly on-water. There’s a quick walk and short ramp — about 20 yards total — from the back of the shop to the dock.
Ask the staff if you need assistance in carrying your kayak down to the water (like I did) and give a ring on the phone when you return to the dock if you need help bringing it back up (did that too).
Couple other things to note: this is a busy rental location and parking is limited. While I had no trouble finding a parking spot and reserving a kayak for my paddle, it can get busy depending on the time or year and day, so best to make a reservation in advance and carpool when possible.
Reserve a kayak online now with Alder Creek - Tualatin River or call 503-691-2405.
Paddling on the Tualatin River
While many people interested in kayaking in Portland will often think of the Willamette River first, the Tualatin River probably comes second in mind as a favorite place to kayak. And for good reason – the Tualatin River Water Trail is a beautiful river near Portland to enjoy flatwater kayaking, wildlife viewing, find peace in nature, and launch from numerous river entry points.
From the Alder Creek Tualatin River location, our recommended kayaking route was traveling left off the dock, to paddle beneath the I-5 bridge, and out as far as you want to paddle. Some highlights of this journey including kayaking beneath the Ki-a-Kuts footbridge, and be aware that the water can get very shallow along this little stretch of the river. I chatted with several anglers, who were out catching smallmouth bass and having quite a bit of luck on the Tualatin River.
Another thing to note is if you’re not renting a kayak, there are some other great paddling entry points into the Tualatin River too, and some other locations might be more convenient for you. You can study a full Tualatin River water map here to help you plan more flatwater kayaking adventures in Portland, Oregon.
All in all, I kayaked about an hour and a half. It was a perfect afternoon. Check out the full experience of kayaking from Brown’s Ferry Park in 45 seconds with our newest Flatwater Kayak YouTube series video:
Kayak on the Tualatin River in Portland, Oregon
Another thing I liked about this kayaking route is that while I was kayaking alone, there were a lot of people respectfully enjoying the waterway and so it felt safe and communal. Lots of stand-up paddle boards, kayakers, and fisher folks were on the Tualatin River that day, and Alder Creek is certainly a draw for those needing (or wanting) to rent some kayak gear.
Even though I own a kayak and two paddles, it was fun to rent a kayak (on my own dime, I might add - this is an unsponsored post!) and try out a different model than I’m used to.
If you’re like us and love planning out and reviewing your kayaking adventures, check out our printable instant download kayak trip planner log page, designed by Flatwater Kayak Club and available on our site for less than a dollar!
What wildlife can you see on the Tualatin River?
This is a great place for kayakers to look for birds. There’s a great resource to report your wildlife sightings and observations on the Tualatin River - Water Reporter. This online community helps track and monitor local river conditions.
How does kayaking the Tualatin River compare to the Willamette River?
Check out our post on a great flatwater paddling route to enjoy the heart of Rose City here to plan your 2023 spring and summer weekends paddle trips.
Between these two paddling routes, this one is much easier, the water is calmer (no boat traffic or waves), and better suited for beginners.
Our top picks for renting a kayak around Portland, Oregon
Looking for more ideas on where to paddle this year? Read our library of posts on Oregon flatwater kayaking routes. We use our photos, our videos, and our words - so you can visualize an authentic experience that you can make all your own the next time you hit the water.
More Pacific Northwest flatwater kayaking inspiration
Check out these top blog posts from Flatwater Kayak Club:
5 best tips to see majestic bald eagles while kayaking in the Pacific Northwest.
Read on to discover a great place in the Pacific Northwest to explore by kayak and learn 5 tips for increasing your chances of observing our incredible national symbols during your paddling adventure.
Kayaking in the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington.
Just north of Portland, Oregon, is the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, where kayakers can observe osprey, bald eagles, black-tailed deer, the American beaver, and more – not to mention lovely floating homes – from Lake River. Learn about this beautiful flatwater paddling route, where to park, and a tip for renting a kayak if you need one (or two – bring a friend!).
Kayak on the Willamette River in Portland.
Where can you go to admire the glittering city lights and iconic bridges of Portland, Oregon, paddle around an island, see incredible floating homes, all with the added chance of observing osprey, eagles, and even river otters? Look no further than the Willamette River.