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, one of the main rivers near Portland.
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Where to kayak on the Willamette River
Kayaking from Willamette Park, around Ross Island, and back to the park is really a fun paddle route for kayakers who have a little experience and skill under their belt.
Depending on the weather conditions and water levels, this route might be best for more experienced kayakers, as you’ll deal with boat wakes and some waves ‘n winds now and then.
Kayaking on the Willamette River is one of those bucket list items for any paddling fan visiting or residing in the Rose City. You’ll also enjoy views of downtown, bridges, boats, and more.
And, just in case no one’s told you yet, the pronunciation for Willamette is “will-AM-it.” The word’s origins are a little muddy, but it’s believed to have come from the colonized pronunciation of Wallamt, which is an indigenous word meaning “spill water,” referring to the falls in Oregon City. This area was inhabited by Kalapuyans (members of the Kalapuya Tribe) as well as Molalla, Clackamas, and Chinook peoples.
For this Oregon kayaking experience, we rented our gear from Portland Kayak Company (do you need tips on where to rent a kayak in Portland?), and wheeled our hardshell down to Willamette Park, where we locked up the cart on the dock and pushed out on the river.
Our route on this day was crossing the river towards the floating homes, flatwater paddling around Ross Island, and U-turning back to the park just before crossing under the first bridge in downtown PDX.
The rental shop estimated this journey at about 2 hours for ~6 miles, and this seems about right, if you take some breaks along the way.
All in all, we completed the journey closer to an hour and forty minutes of paddle time, with little stopping along the route, and got our kayak back to the business right on the two-hour rental mark.
“The Willamette River is the 13th largest river by volume within the United States.”
Kayaking on the Willamette River in downtown Portland, Oregon
What wildlife can I observe on the Willamette River?
Well, we saw our first river otter in the wild, and it was pretty unexpected and spectacular! But other Pacific Northwest wildlife you can look for include osprey, bald eagles, fish, beavers, and deer.
Where should I park to rent a kayak from Portland Kayak Company?
There’s a nominal daily fee ($10 max) for a single car (no trailer) at Willamette Park. You can also look for street parking around Portland Kayak Company. Note, don’t park in the few parking lot spots the business has, unless you’re shopping the store.
Discover more breathtaking kayaking experiences in Portland, Oregon
Check out our posts on kayaking through the Willamette Narrows, renting a kayak on the Tualatin River, how kayakers can help promote Willamette River conservation, and the Scappoose Bay kayaking experience.
We’ve also planned out the perfect day for kayakers in Portland, if you need ideas for traveling or paddling around our amazing city.