Willamette River: The Narrows
Getting There: West Linn / Willamette Park (Parking lot is at the corner of 12th and Volpp St.)
Food / Supplies: West Linn
Crowds: Light during the week, on weekends expect increased boat activity and paddlers.
This is the gem of the Willamette River. It took four years paddling but I finally made it here! And what a discovery…you won’t find better paddling on the Willamette River. The Narrows is a channel series of rocky islands, beautiful trees, and cliff outcroppings approximately a mile south of Willamette Park in West Linn. The most logical put-in is at the park, from the pebbly beach adjacent to the parking lot at the corner of 12th and Volpp St. The Tualatin River enters the Willamette here, and its murkier waters mingle in with the clearer body of the larger river creating slimy patches of algae on the surface.
Once launched, my paddling companion and I headed south for about a mile until we reached Rock Island on the right. There is a channel between the island and the right bank that narrows considerably but has plenty of water to paddle confidently through.
The channel was quiet and calm. Granted it was a Tuesday around 3pm, so there weren’t any weekend warriors about. I imagine the boat traffic on this section of river is fairly light most days, though, as Willamette Falls is to the north and the Narrows can be a bit tricky to pass through for a powerboat depending on water levels. Not to mention that the majority of the many channels are inaccessible to most powerboats.
At the southern end of the Rock Island channel the river widens again. To the left you will notice a few smaller channels that lead into secluded coves and inlets. Choose your own adventure and explore away, just know that not all of them will have enough water at certain times to make it very far or all the way through to the other side of the river. There are also a number of large boulders protruding from the water at the southern end. I witnessed a couple people climbing them and enjoying a jump and a swim. Always be sure to check the depth where you are jumping if that is part of your adventure!
Paddling out into the main channel, keep an eye out for wake and ski boats as they charge through the very narrow passageway. They may or may not slow down here for paddlers!
For my paddling companion and I, a quick swim was just the ticket. We were both surprised at how swiftly the current runs through these narrow channels as we ended up about a hundred yards downstream from where we had slipped in for our dip, in only five to eight minutes!
Heading back, we chose the east side of the river and explored it’s myriad of rocky nooks, fingers, and hidden coves.
We saw a blue heron that was too shy to hold still for a picture, and a beautiful bald eagle swooped overhead, lighting on an old snag high above.
As the river widened and we re-entered the main body of the Willamette, we were blasted with a somewhat manageable headwind that required some extra paddling effort on our part.
Living so close to this exquisite paddling adventure I know I will be back very soon to discover again the “gem” of the Willamette River!
