The Pacific Northwest is a beautiful place to flatwater kayak. And whether you’re a tourist or a resident, there are many great places to rent a kayak within 1 hour of Portland, Oregon, including the Willamette River, Scappoose Bay, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Tualatin River and Hood River.

Read on to learn about our favorite kayak routes and where to reserve your rental kayak… We’ve rented kayaks from every single one of these locations!

This website may contain affiliate links meaning if you purchase through my link, I’ll receive a small commission at no cost to you.

1. Willamette River - Portland Kayak Company

10 mins away: This is a perfect option for those who want to kayak right through the heart of rose city, and try out different paddling options from singles to tandems to SUPs and canoes.

The Portland Kayak Company offers guided tours for beginners and advanced kayakers, and they rent kayaks to more experienced paddlers who want to explore the Willamette from their near-river rental location.

This Willamette paddling route gives you the chance to see iconic bridges, glittering downtown buildings, beautiful floating homes, and an abundance of wildlife. Note that PKC will set you up with a kayak on cart wheels and give you a lock to secure it at the dock – but the 5-8 minute walk to the water is on you & your party.

We also say this launch point is best suited for experienced kayakers (weather and season dependent). Reservations required. (503-459-4050, Recreational Kayaks $39 for the first 2 hours per adult).

2. Tualatin River - Alder Creek

10 mins away: You get a bit of everything, very much like Rose City herself. Lovely riverfront homes. Stunning nature. A paddle beneath a gritty highway. Historic bridges. Countless cutie ducks.

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? We couldn’t stop taking river photos.

This is not an on-water rental location, but the friendly Alder Creek staff can help you carry the kayak the ~20 yard walk behind the shop, down a short ramp, to the dock. Reservations highly recommended. (503-691-2405, Recreational Kayaks $25 for the first hour per adult).

3. Scappoose Bay - Next Adventure Paddling Center

Less than 30 minutes away: Whether you're looking for SUP, canoe, or kayak rentals, a padding tour or class, Scappoose Bay and the Next Adventure Paddling Center are one of our favorite destinations to rent a kayak and paddle near Portland, Oregon.

Easy parking, affordable rentals, a beautiful flatwater kayaking experience, and the opportunity to see Mt. St. Helens on a clear day and flying osprey, bald eagles, great blue heron, and other wildlife species, make this a destination not to miss.

With your kayak rental, the staff will set you up right there on the dock, so it’s easy, convenient, and stress-free to be paddling water in no time. If you’re new to kayaking, this is a great spot for beginners (weather and season dependent). Reservations recommended, and there’s a nominal parking fee. (503-397-2161, Recreational Kayak $20/1 hour).

4. Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge - Alder Creek

30 minutes away: An easy drive north of Portland, Oregon, takes you to the beautiful Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Washington (there’s a cute little town to grab lunch too).

This location is located on Lake River, a tributary to the Columbia River, and the last time I kayaked there, we spotted several black-tailed deer (even babies and a resting stag!) and several osprey flying overhead.

It’s really a lovely flatwater paddle, with the added bonus of kayaking past adorable floating homes and house boats. Great for kayakers of all experience levels (weather and season dependent - we’ve had some days where the current was a little stronger than others, so check the weather or call Alder Creek for an updated river report). Reservations highly recommended. (360-727-4520, Recreational Kayak $25/1 hour).

5. The Hook - Hood River SUP & Kayak

60 minutes away: The views are well worth that extra bit of driving time. Rent a kayak from Hood River SUP & Kayak and launch right there into the Columbia River.

With Wells Island sheltering the water and protecting the cove, there’s calmer and clearer water here than at other launching points in the scenic Columbia River Gorge.

You also have the chance of spotting many different wildlife species, including heron, osprey, fish, and eagles.

Did we mention the views?! It’s pretty spectacular on a clear day. Great for kayakers of all experience levels (weather and season dependent). And a cute town with craft breweries, boutiques, coffee shops, and more? Reservations recommended. (Book online, Recreational Kayak $25/1 hour).

BONUS: REI Kayaking Classes & Events

If you’d rather rent a kayak with a guide, group, or just want to brush up on your kayaking skills on a new paddling route, check out the classes offered by REI. If you search near Portland, Oregon, you can usually find a kayaking event in Scappoose Bay, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, and the Willamette Narrows.

We can speak from experience that these classes are fun and educational, provide the chance to use some different gear, meet new people, give excellent safety lessons, and are convenient & easy. You can read our posts here of the REI Willamette Narrows Kayak Tour Review, and REI Mt. St. Helens Kayaking Tour Review.

Pro tip: get on the REI email list to score a spot as soon as they become available. These classes tend to fill up quickly (REI Kayaking Events online search, prices vary).

In the market to buy a kayak?

People often rent kayaks because, hey, it’s super convenient, right?

A common pain point to kayak ownership is they can be bulky and heavy to store. Well, if you’re looking for a portable, foldable, lightweight flatwater kayak, see what we think of the Oru Inlet at Flatwater Kayak Club. Two years in, hundreds of paddling miles, and lots of photos – check it out.

If you’re interested in other, more traditional kayak designs, we have a free Ultimate Guide for choosing a kayak.

When is the best time of year to buy a kayak?

Read our post with tips & tricks for buying your first new or used kayak, and how to find a great deal on a flatwater kayak in the Pacific Northwest.

Visiting Portland? Check out these other top-viewed blog posts from Flatwater Kayak Club:

A perfect day in Portland for kayakers

65+ best Instagram kayaking quotes, captions & hashtags

How kayakers can help protect and restore the Willamette River

Rivers near Portland, Oregon

A great place to kayak on the Tualatin River

What to wear kayaking

Everything you need to know about flatwater kayaking

Is kayaking good exercise? Try this workout!

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.