Tier 1: Paddle to the Willamette Narrows & Picnic Lunch on an Island

Sunday forecast calls for a nice warm day, so let's take advantage of it and explore the Narrows. We will gather around 10:30 AM in the grassy parking lot on Volpp Street just to the RIGHT as you come down the hill on 12th Street. Do NOT go to the boat ramp; that is NOT where we are meeting. We will inflate the kayaks in the adjacent grassy area and hopefully hit the water before 11:00. We will land on one of the islands to stretch our legs and have a picnic lunch before the return trip. We should be out of the water between 1:30 and 2:00.

Located about 3 miles upstream of Willamette Falls, the Willamette Narrows features some of the most unique geology and habitat along the entire mainstem river! Most of the property in this area consists of scenic natural areas owned by Metro or the Nature Conservancy.

Hard-shell kayaks are welcome. I do not recommend a SUP due to the cold water conditions, but you are welcome to use one if you are confident in your abilities.

What to bring:

• A kayak or SUP
• Personal Flotation Device (PFD) and whatever else you need to keep safe
• Weather-appropriate clothing
• Water and snacks
• A picnic blanket
• Lunch
• Sun protection

Please support our group: Please consider helping us run the group by making a small (~$10) donation once per season, more if you are using our equipment. All collected funds will be used for the annual Meetup fee and for purchases of loaner equipment. To donate, please give cash to the event host, or send it via Venmo to @JackBaikov (if it asks for last 4 digits of phone number, they are 7191). Thank you!

A quick reminder that Meetup organizers are unpaid volunteers and claim no special expertise or knowledge. We will paddle as a group but ultimately you are responsible for your own experience, safety and decision-making.