The Oregon coast stretches for 363 miles, and it offers a varied landscape that includes flat, sandy shoreline, rugged, rocky terrain, and even impressive dunes that soar to heights of up to 500 feet.
Thanks to the Oregon Beach Bill, every single one of the Beaver State's beaches are accessible to the public. Keep reading to learn more!
In the mid-1960s, many Oregonians were surprised to hear that private landowners had the right to keep the public off parts of the beach.
Governor Oswald West had made Oregon's beaches a "public highway" back in 1913, and it was generally thought that the measure kept the beaches accessible to all. That wasn't the case - the law said that only the wet sand portion of the beach was protected.
In 1966, the owner of the Surfsand Motel in Cannon Beach decided that he would block off through-access to the beach by placing large driftwood logs on the dry sand area between his hotel and the ocean. He posted signs informing the public to stay out.
Governor Tom McCall rolled up his sleeves and got ready for a fight. Private landowners wanted the right to develop the dry sand beaches in front of their properties, but many Oregonians wanted the beach access kept public.
After legislators received thousands of letters and phone calls from the public, demanding that access be kept available to all, lawmakers agreed to hold hearings to determine a public right-of-way.
Today, Oregonians and visitors alike enjoy the beaches along the Beaver State's coastline. From the artistic beauty of Circles in the Sand in Bandon, to the haunting beauty of the Peter Iredale's resting place on the beach at Fort Stevens State Park, the beaches of Oregon are accessible to everyone.
If you're looking for the perfect lazy river in Oregon to spend a sunny afternoon, head to the Sandy River. I grew up swimming or floating down this river, and it's still my favorite place to spend a sunny day. There are multiple spots to enter the Sandy River, whether you want to float for a few hours or stay put in one spot to swim. I particularly love Dodge Park, Glenn Otto Swimming Beach in Troutdale, Sandy River Delta Park, Dabney State Recreation Area, Oxbow Regional Park, and Lewis and Clark State Park. Wherever you enter to start your fun, the Sandy is great because it is relatively warm, has a gentle current, and offers lots of beaches and stopping points along the way.
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Dodge Park offers easy access to the water for swimming and other river activities.
For more information about swimming, floating, or playing in and around the Sandy River, visit the Portland Parks and Recreation's Dodge Park website or a park at another access point near you.
If your visit to the park includes a drive, you may want to stock up on car-friendly snacks and/or bring a lunch to enjoy at one of the picnic areas. Or stop in at Sugarpine Drive Inn for fabulous eats along the river.
We'd love to know how you enjoyed your time floating or swimming in the Sandy River, so please leave a comment to let us know about your experience. Also, feel free to share your favorite lazy rivers and swimming spots in Oregon that we should try next.
When summer heat descends upon our corner of the Pacific Northwest, there's only one course of action: tackling one of the many lazy rivers in Oregon! Because really, is there anything better than spending a hot, sticky summer day soaking up sun rays atop a gently bobbing inner tube as you float down one of Oregon's cool, clear rivers? If there is, please let us know! There are lots of lovely places to go tubing in the river in the Beaver State. Here are six of our absolute favorite places to go tubing in Oregon:
If you're looking for an awesome place to float near Portland, the Sandy River is always a great choice. This lovely is a popular place for lazy river tubing in Oregon in the summertime, as there are numerous options for fun, leisurely trips. As with most of these river floats, you may want to pair up with some friends to drop off one car at the place where you'll end your float so that you don't have to hike all the way back upstream to your car. One classic way to float the Sandy River is to start at Dabney State Recreation Area or Dodge Park and float down to Lewis and Clark State Park.
I simply adore Bend, Oregon, as the options for epic outdoor adventure are pretty much endless. One of the most wonderful rivers to float in the Beaver State is the gorgeous Deschutes River near Bend. On a summer day, you're likely to cross paths with numerous other floaters and paddle boarders taking advantage of the warm weather and beautiful scenery. A popular route is floating from Riverbend Park to Drake Park. One awesome perk of taking this route is that after your float, you can walk or take public transit back to Riverbend Park to fetch your car.
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There's also a Sun Country Tours inner tube rental kiosk at Riverbend Park, which will set you up with a ticket for a shuttle ride back after you're done. If you're looking for more reasons to visit Bend when the weather warms up, allow us to convince you!
There are numerous places to float along the Willamette River, and if you're looking to float in the lap of luxury, definitely look into a Yacht Tub! For purists, though, one of the most memorable outings is the yearly River Raft Float event, wherein hundreds of people grab their inner tubes and other floatation devices and set off on a massive floating celebration of the Willamette River. This river is one of the best for tubing in Oregon.
The Clackamas River is a gorgeous place for a fun float under the summer sun. The combination of its natural beauty, lazy pace, and proximity to Portland draws crowds on hot days, so it's unlikely that you'll have the river to yourself. That shouldn't stop you from visiting though! One great way to go about it is to start at Milo McIver State Park and float on down to Barton Park. For a shorter trip, simply float from the McIver Upper Ramp down to the Lower Ramp. Or, ditch the raft and take in the views from Stone Cliff Inn!
A favorite spot for swimming and water recreation near Eugene, the McKenzie River is a perennial crowd-pleaser. One of the more popular floats leads from Hayden Bridge to Armitage Park. There are a couple of rough spots you'll want to navigate around but otherwise, it's quite an easy ride and one of the best places to float the river.
Located near Lebanon, the South Santiam River is one of the most beautiful and underrated places in Oregon and another fabulous place to bob along on an inner tube. One trip option is to climb aboard at Bates Bridge and get off at Waterloo Park.
Be sure to come prepared with a sturdy inner tube, a zip lock bag for your car keys, and a life jacket. We also recommend taking as little as possible with you, since objects are really good at getting lost (and getting wet) during river floats. And because we always like to abide by Leave No Trace principles here in Oregon!
Have you been to any of these lazy rivers for tubing in Oregon? Which one is your favorite? Are there any we left out? Let us know in the comments. If you're looking for more awesome water attractions, get your swimsuit on and go to these wonderful swimming holes in Oregon:
