Kayaking the Willamette Falls

Now that we are living back in Portland with older kids, it is a great time to discover new activities. With an adventurous uncle in town, and the wonderful Pacific Northwest summer weather, we decided to book a kayak tour of the Willamette Falls.

Willamette Falls is located in West Linn, Oregon, and is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most impressive natural landmarks—and surprisingly, many travelers still don’t know it’s the second-largest waterfall by volume in the United States. Shaped like a wide horseshoe with the force of the Willamette River, the falls have been central to the region’s history, from Native American fishing traditions to early industrial development. Today, visitors can admire the powerful cascade from viewpoints along the river or from the nearby historic district, with major revitalization plans underway to create even better public access. It’s may not be on all the Portland bucket lists, but it is absolutely worth seeing if you’re exploring the Portland or Willamette Valley areas.

We booked 2 tandem kayaks and 1 single through eNRG kayaking, which provides you with a guide and all the necessary training and equipment to feel safe on your adventure. Our guide was very informative and gave us the history and stories of the falls and the surrounding locks and mills.

We started out finding our rhythm. I was smart enough to put the kids with the boys and took the single for myself. I thought there might be a stronger current being just down from the falls, but the water was calm and the slightly overcast weather made for a really pleasant morning. We slowly made our way under the Oregon City bridge, taking in the grandeur from a different view. I cross that bridge close to every day and it never ceases to be beautiful, no matter which way you are looking at it.

Then we made our way to the locks and the falls just beyond, where we pulled into a calm section and learned about the history of the locks. Our guide prepped us for the crossing over into the falls area and it was a much stronger current, you had to make your way before it pushed you back down stream.

While we were coming up on the falls, we did see some kayakers who had flipped and needed to be recused by the Tualatin Valley Fire Rescue boat, so that was a but unnerving, but a good reminder about the power of the falls, even in the lesser summer months. Everyone appeared fine, so we continued on. The current picked up the closer we got, but it was a nice push back downriver.

We made our way back down river after viewing the falls and it concluded at about the 2 hour total mark. Overall, it was a great experience. The kids had a fun time and it was the perfect way to play the tourist in your own backyard. The Willamette Falls are stunning in every season and when the City of West Linn and Oregon City create easier public viewing, it will be a great win for all.

If you would like to see the Willamette Falls, but kayaking isn’t quite your speed, book a Private 2 Hour River Cruise and let the captain take control while you enjoy the views.

For more Oregon adventures, check out my Central Oregon Coast Guide. It’s a perfect destination for families all year round.