6 Lazy Rivers In Oregon That Are Perfect For Tubing On A Summer’s Day
Summer is officially here, and we couldn’t be more excited about it. One fabulous way to spend a hot summer day is soaking up sun rays atop a gently bobbing inner tube as you float down one of Oregon’s cool, clear rivers. There are lots of lovely places to float in the Beaver State. Here are 6 of our absolute favorites:
During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.
If you're looking for an awesome place to float near Portland, the Sandy River is always a great choice. This lovely river is a popular place for inner tubing 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.
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. 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. Find out more about floating the Deschutes here.
There are numerous places to float along the Willamette River, though one of the most memorable outings is the yearly Big Float event, in which hundreds of people grab their inner tubes and other floatation devices and set off on a massive floating celebration of the Willamette River. In 2017, the Big Float will be taking place on July 15, but you'll want to sign up online in advance.
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.
If you're looking for a river float near Eugene, one fantastic option is taking a trip down the McKenzie River. One of the more popular floats leads from Hayden Bridge to Armitage Park. There are a couple rough spots you'll want to navigate around, but otherwise it's quite an easy ride.
Located near Lebanon, the South Santiam River is 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 ziplock bag for your car keys, and a life jacket. I’d recommend taking as little as possible with you, since objects are really good at getting lost (and getting wet) during river floats.
Have you floated down any of these rivers? Which one is your favorite? Are there any we left out? Let us know in the comments. If you’re looking for more awesome things to do this summer, check out our list of unbeatable summertime activities in Oregon here.
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