Tualatin River in Oregon

Trip Overview

Put in at Rood Bridge Park, Hillsboro, OR. Nice park with small boat ramp into the gentle flowing (summer) waters. I'm successfully introducing newbies to kayaking here for it's quick and easy access from town and non-intimidating waters.

About 5 minutes upstream there's a 2 foot water drop. It's technical due to all the trees in the water, but not hazardous, again due to the gentle (summer) flow. Lots of birds, some fish jumping near the cleaned waste water discharge, like an underground spring, about 1/2 mile down stream.

Easy to paddle back to put in, making me wish I'd gone farther. Maybe next week.

Accommodations:

The park is worth going to for hiking and family get togethers, with plumbed bathrooms.

Fees:

No fees, gates open dawn to dusk.

Directions:

From Hillsboro: take River Road exit off T.V. Highway, go about 2 miles and turn right on Rood Bridge Road. Curve left at HilHi (Hillsboro High School)to Rood Bridge Park. From Portland, take T.V./Canyon Highway west to Brookwood Ave, about 7 miles west of Hwy 217, 1/4 mile a right onto Witch Hazel which ends at River Road. Go right (west) about 3/4 mile to Rood Bridge Road and take a left, to the park. Also accessible from the south via Farmington Road: take the Rood Bridge Road turn off.

Resources:

www.tualatinriverkeepers.org/