Rivers near Portland, Oregon
If you’re an avid kayaker, you’re likely always on the pursuit of new destinations to explore. After all, flat water kayaking is not just an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon, but also a great way to take in our state’s natural beauty.
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Whether you are an Oregonian or a visitor, there are many rivers near downtown Portland where that you can explore by water, providing unique sights and experiences. Some of the most popular ones include the Willamette River, Tualatin River, Clackamas River, and Sandy River.
Recreational river kayaking is particularly enjoyable as it often provides a bit more scenery from the water, offering a special viewpoint for waterfowl, bridges and buildings, floating homes, Pacific Northwest trees and plants, and land wildlife.
If you’re wanting to explore our local waterways, let’s take a look at the best rivers near Portland, Oregon for recreational kayaking…
Tualatin River
The Tualatin River ranks among one of our favorite rivers near Portland to flatwater kayak for many reasons. One is its proximity – the Tualatin River is extremely close for city and suburb residents or tourists visiting the Rose City to enjoy by water. Regardless of where you live in Portland, it’s quite easy to drop by and spend a few hours on the Tualatin River Waterway or make it a full day paddling trip.
This Portland area river is also a great place for novice flatwater kayakers as it has a very light current, making it very easy to navigate even for beginners or families with children on a tandem kayak. It’s also easily accessible in many places – a personal favorite is Cook Park.
On nice days, the Tualatin River is a popular spot for water sports, and you will likely see many fellow kayakers as well as people canoeing, stand up paddle boarding (SUP), fishing, or floating on tubes. With all the activity on the water, it makes for a fun social activity or a great place to people watch from your boat.
Even on the most popular days, you will likely still see some wildlife, particularly waterfowl. On quieter days, you may catch a glimpse of a rare treat such as a river otter, deer, or bald eagle. This could easily become your favorite river route near Portland for kayaking, as there are so many spots to launch from along the water way and interesting sights to see.
We recently rented a kayak from Alder’s Creek at Brown’s Ferry Park in Portland and had a lovely time kayaking the Tualatin River. With a convenient little shop near the Tualatin River, you can reserve a single or tandem kayak for your outing.
Sandy River
Another excellent river near Portland for kayaking is the Sandy River. This 56-mile river begins near Mount Hood and weaves its way until it reaches the Columbia River. The most popular place near Portland for kayaking in it is around the suburb of Troutdale.
Like the Tualatin River, its proximity to the city is one of the things that makes this tributary popular for kayakers.
You can easily reach the river in 20-30 minutes from downtown Portland. There are a few different places that are popular for accessing this river. The most frequently used is probably the Dabney State Recreation Area.
As you kayak down this river, you’ll see hills, beautiful scenery, lush forests, and bridges. While it may be quite similar to the Tualatin River in terms of beautiful views, it is much different in terms of the degree of difficulty.
Thus, this is not the best option for beginners, flatwater kayakers, or novice kayakers as there are some fairly swift rapids as the river goes through Troutdale. Keep this in mind as you plan your trip to ensure your skill level matches the challenge of the river route you’re hoping to explore.
A great way to better understand if you’re ready for this experience – again, not always suitable for flat water kayakers – is to call a local paddle shop, like Next Adventure in Sandy. Talking to local kayak experts about the important safety considerations you should know (or better yet – rent a kayak and go on a guided tour with a knowledgeable industry professional).
Clackamas River
Another great option for Portlanders wanting to explore the area on their kayaks is the Clackamas River, which can also be accessed in a short drive from downtown Portland. This river is an 83-mile tributary that runs into the Willamette River near Oregon City. This is a very popular river, and you will likely see many people on it on spring, summer, and fall days.
The best place to access the Clackamas River is Milo McIver State Park, which has several different boat ramps. This river is another place near Portland where you can see a wealth of nature and variety of animals that call the Pacific Northwest home. One of the wonderful things about living near downtown Portland is the number of options for exploration by water.
When taking your kayak out on the Clackamas River, you’ll definitely want to do a bit of research on where you want to explore.
There are some areas that are great for kayaking with slight currents and smooth water while others have whitewater and rapids.
While planning your route is always important, it is even more so for this river given the difference in currents over its course. Another key factor is weather, wind, and rain – so we highly recommend calling up a local paddle shop to get some advice before you head out on the Clackamas.
Willamette River
While many people take the short drive to one of the many great rivers near Portland, many others decide to do some flat water river kayaking without leaving the city’s downtown area.
This is possible due to the famous and beloved Willamette River running through the heart of the city. We feel that the Willamette is really an underrated asset for those looking to spend some time on the water – it’s one of the true natural gems of Bridge City.
While the river itself runs from Eugene to Portland, the area you’ll have the fastest access to is that immediately in the city, making for some of the best urban kayaking in the nation.
A great local nonprofit called Willamette Riverkeepers is helping encourage education and action to restore and protect this vital Oregon river. You can learn more about Willamette River conservation for kayakers here.
Flatwater kayaking on the Willamette River is a unique experience as you will be able to see the lively city and many of its most iconic points as you paddle along. There are a lot of spots to launch from, each with advantages and disadvantages, for kayakers.
We personally really love the local paddle shop, Portland Kayak Company, located on Macadam Avenue. It’s easy to find parking in that area and reserve a single or double kayak. The knowledgeable staff are great!
And while this isn’t an on-water local for an area kayak rental, they set you up with a kayak on wheels (kayak transport cart, also called a kayak dolly) and a lock with a passcode.
All you need to do is wheel the kayak a couple of blocks to the park and river’s edge and you can easily lock up the cart on the dock and launch your boat into the water with an easy dock access. (It’s not nearly as hard as that sounds, I did it by myself).
From this route, you can also paddle around Ross Island, which we personally really enjoyed recently. You’ll get a mix of beautiful nature views, charming floating homes, and the glistening bridges that make Portland famous on the map.
Due to some currents, boat traffic, and potential for windy conditions, we’d say this route is best for an intermediate kayaker versus a novice – but give Portland Kayak Company a call, and they’ll answer all your questions so you feel confident before taking your boat out.
Multnomah Channel
The Multnomah Channel splits off from the Willamette River north of Portland, eventually connecting with the Columbia River. This 21-mile waterway forms the western coast of Sauvie Island, with the eastern boundary formed by the Columbia River.
You may know Sauvie Island as a fantastic place for hiking, pumpking and fruit picking, and taking the kids for a corn maze or sunflower maze experience (a shout out to Topaz Farm for this, by the way).
Kayaking the Multnomah Channel gives you access to some of this beauty from the water. While navigating this area, you’ll likely see many birds such as herons, cranes, and hawks.
It’s important to note that the currents and weather here can be a bit unpredictable, often shifting unexpectedly. As such, you should ensure that you have at least one or two seasoned kayakers with you. If you’re a novice, you’ll likely want to spend some time exploring some of our other areas first to more confident and capable in your kayaking skills. However, this is definitely a place worth checking out when up to the challenge.
Not sure if you’re ready to kayak this spot yet? Another idea is to rent a floating home or house boat, as there are many in the area, and you can enjoy the beautiful river sights from a deck, and likely try out the owner’s paddle board or recreational flat water kayak right around the moorage location.
Bonus Local Water Destination: Columbia Slough
Any environmental scientist purist may point out that a slough is not a river but really more of a swamp. However, we felt compelled to include it on this list of the best rivers near Portland, Oregon as it does provide a fairly good approximation of a river along with being an excellent spot for kayaking.
Columbia Slough is roughly 19 miles long, running through Portland, just south of the Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area, and even crossing beneath I-5. Talk about a great “river” for kayaking right in your back yard! There are a number of places to access this area, most near the airport although Kelley Point Park is another option.
While it does run through Portland, you’ll be surprised at the vibrant nature you see in Columbia Slough which includes more than 150 different species of birds and sprawling cotton woods. This is an enjoyable trek for any flatwater kayaker as it should be a fairly smooth trip.
Enjoy Our Amazing Rivers Near Downtown Portland
One of the things people love most about living in Oregon is the easy access to nature, something that each of these rivers provides. In fact, we even wrote a post about a perfect day in Portland for kayakers because we get so many questions about traveling to our amazing Rose City.
Want to know the best spots for flat water kayaking in and around Portland, Oregon?
Check out these top-visited blog posts on Flatwater Kayak Club, a free online resource library for beginner and recreational kayakers in the Pacific Northwest:
Here are 5 top places to rent a kayak in Portland, Oregon, with tips on where to paddle on your Rose City kayaking adventure.
Our kayaking experience on the Tualatin River trail and renting a kayak from Alder’s Creek in Lake Oswego.
A two-mile flat water kayaking journey on the Willamette River around beautiful Ross Island (plus - we saw a wild river otter for the first time ever on this route!).
A unique kayaking experience through the Willamette Narrows in Portland, Oregon (definitely a bucket list local paddling trip!).
Planning a trip to Portland, Oregon? We planned out the perfect day for kayakers visiting our beloved city.
