Oru Inlet folding kayak: your companion for Mt. Hood lakes kayaking

See a photo journey of our picturesque paddling adventure at Trillium Lake, navigating the waters with our sleek new green Oru Inlet folding kayak, and learn tips for a seamless paddling adventure amidst the tranquil alpine lakes of Mt. Hood National Forest…

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Yesterday afternoon we drove out to the beautiful Mt. Hood territory in Oregon, with my folding Oru Inlet kayak in tow. One of my favorite lakes to paddle out that way is Trillium Lake. It’s less than 90 minutes from Portland, I’ve had good luck with parking over the years, and on a clear summer day, you have an incredible view of Mt. Hood. Seriously, it’s breathtaking.

Even “good” parking at Trillium can require a bit of a walk – and over some sand and stone – to get to the water’s edge. I’ve found my folding kayak to be quite useful for this, because it’s easy to transport my gear from the car and doesn’t end up being a gear lugging headache.

At weighing just 20 pounds, the Inlet kayak is lightweight (less than half the weight of traditional hardshell kayaks). And when I’m paddling at this alpine lake by myself, I can carry my collapsible kayak, Oru kayak paddle, Oru PFD, and dry bag with no help, no problem.

Trillium Lake has a little pebbly sand beach that provides a nice, flat space to assemble the Oru folding kayak and launch. While this Mt. Hood lake can be quite busy in the prime kayaking season months, people are friendly and make space for other paddlers and swimmers.

Couple of helpful tips to note: Be prepared for onlookers and questions (this is a unique boat design that attracts a lot of curiosity) and wear proper water shoes, because there are sharp rocks on the beach and in the water.

The weather was glorious for flat water paddling yesterday, and there were lots of families and folks out on their stand-up paddle boards and kayaks. There was someone (with no business signage) renting out kayak boats for an hourly rate of $20 for a single boat and liability waiver signatures, but I can’t speak to this on-lake rental experience. It’s also the first time I’ve seen an on-lake rental available for Trillium Lake visitors.

The Oru carbon paddle has worked well during my testing at all the mostly-flat lakes and river routes in the Pacific Northwest. It also breaks down into handy, smaller pieces, which makes it easier to carry, stick in the car trunk, and store at home.

While we didn’t see any Oregon mountain and alpine lake wildlife on this trip, these Mt. Hood area lakes are a great place to go birdwatching and fish (or watch the anglers, if that’s more your thing).

Interested in more Pacific Northwest x Oru kayak content? Check out some of our top-viewed articles below — and if you’re looking for great kayaking quotes and kayak captions for your social media posts and videos, check out our kayak quote round-up and list of great summer, kayak, and wildlife songs.

About Flatwater Kayak Club

Flatwater Kayak Club is a leading woman-owned online platform dedicated to supporting beginner and intermediate kayakers in the Pacific Northwest. Our company founder, a former writer for The National Geographic Channel and a current ACA member, guides our mission with her passion for kayaking, nature, and storytelling.

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