Flatwater trips don’t get any closer to downtown Portland than the river that cuts through the heart of it. The paddle around Ross Island is an urban favorite for a fistful of reasons, not the least of which are convenience, stunning city views, and a surprisingly vast array of wildlife.
County: Multnomah
Put-in: At either Sellwood Riverfront Park or Willamette Park
Takeout: Same as put-in
Distance: Self-dependent
Float time: 0.5 to 2 hours
Difficulty rating: Easy
Rapids: None
Waterway type: Wide, deep river; lots of boat traffic
Current: Minimal
River gradient: N/A
River gauge: N/A
Land status: City park (Ross Island)
Nearest town: Portland
Boats used: Canoe or kayak
Season: Spring through fall
Fees and permits: None
Schedule: N/A
Maps: Oregon Road & Recreation Atlas: Page 106 E4-5
Getting there: If you’re starting on the east side of the river, it’s probably easier to put in at Sellwood Riverfront Park. Take Mcloughlin Boulevard to SE Tacoma Street and follow SE Tacoma west to SE 7th Avenue. Turn right onto SE 7th, followed by an immediate left onto SE Spokane Street. Make a right onto SE Oaks Park Way and turn left into Sellwood Riverfront Park. Park and follow the path down to the water and the put-in at the dock. GPS: N45° 27.966' / W122° 39.849'
If you’re starting on the west side of the river, put in at Willamette Park. Head south on SW Macadam Avenue to SW Nebraska Street. Make a left here and then a quick right onto SW Beaver Avenue. The parking and put-in areas are on the left. GPS: N45° 28.532' / W122° 40.133'
THE PADDLE
The Ross Island paddle is an urban favorite among canoers and kayakers. A contingent of stand-up paddlers favor the trek as well. Sitting smack dab in the middle of the Willamette River where the waterway bends around downtown, Ross Island, like many of Portland’s natural areas, is teeming with wildlife. Over one hundred species of birds inhabit the island during migration, including bald eagle, osprey, and blue heron, as well as black-tailed deer, river otter, and beaver.
From either put-in, paddle downriver, which in this case happens to be north, toward the island. The island itself sports a rather large lagoon. The 100-foot-deep lagoon is the result of mining that ceased in the 1990s. Though the mining has stopped, sand and gravel are still being processed on parts of the island. How you make your way to the island is entirely up to you, but the Holgate Channel on the east side of Ross Island is your best bet. The south end of the channel is a no-wake zone and is much more scenic as it squeezes between the island and the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge. However, a sizable barge makes its way to and from the island daily through the channel. So keep your head on a swivel when paddling through that section. The best paddling and scenery are in this area, so nobody will fault you if you stay on this side of the island. Alternatively, you can make a complete loop of the island and back to the put-in.
A number of different organizations have their hands on Ross Island in one form or another. The island is the site of an extensive urban restoration project, and you are welcome to explore its beaches as long as you stay below the “ordinary high water mark.”
If you go before work, you can go flatwater paddling on a mighty river, around an island that pretty much guarantees a handful of nonstandard wildlife sightings, and still make it to the office on time. If you go after work, you can get the same nature rush and be home before dinner.
Local Information
Post-paddle food and drink: Jade Bistro & Patisserie, 7912 SE 13th Ave., or Sellwood Public House, 8132 SE 13th Ave., on the east side; Buffalo Gap Saloon & Eatery, 6835 SW Mac-Adam Ave., or McMenamins Fulton Pub & Brewery, 0618 SW Nebraska St., on the west side