Top 11 Amazing Places to Go Paddleboarding in Portland OR

A major tributary of the Columbia River, I personally think Willamette River is a great place for paddleboarding in Oregon. It accounts for almost 15 percent of the flow of the Columbia River and is about 190 miles long.

The complete river flows within the state of Oregon. The Cascade Mountain range is located to the east of the river, and the Coast Range is located to the west. It is the 13th largest river in the United States.

The main source of the Willamette system is Waldo Lake, which is one of the purest water sources in the country. I’d personally recommend taking a picnic and making a full day of it, especially during the summer months.

Situated on Hood River, The Columbia River Gorge forms the border between the states of Washington and Oregon.

Also known as The Gorge, The Columbia River Gorge is the perfect place for paddleboarding. You do not need to bring any gear because you can find many rental shops that allow you to rent paddleboarding gear and other essentials. 

From paddleboards to kayaks, you can rent everything there, making it the perfect place for all kinds of water sports.

Situated on State Street in Lake Oswego, Oregon, George Rogers Park covers an area of over 25 acres; it offers one of the safest paddleboarding environments. 

George Rogers Park provides access to the Willamette River, which, as mentioned above, is ideal for water sports. Along with paddleboarding, you can also enjoy other activities in the park, as it also has several baseball and soccer fields.

George Rogers Park is an ideal paddleboarding place for families because it offers a secure experience, free from any dangers.

The Clackamette Cove Trail, located on Clackamette Drive in Oregon City, can be accessed through Clackamette Park. The trail provides direct access to the river, where you can undertake all water sports. 

You’ll have to bring your paddleboarding gear because rental shops in the area might be hard to come by. It is a great place isolated from the rest of the hustle-bustle with natural scenery that provides a paddleboarding experience, which is hard to find anywhere else.

Scappoose Bay is located close to Portland and is one of the places for water sports near the city. 

The Scappoose Bay Marine Park offers fun activities; from kayaking to fishing to paddle boarding, you can do everything you want.

Furthermore, the park is a Certified Clean Marina by the Oregon State Marine Board; it has clean water so you do not have to worry about health risks while having a great time. 

You get several amenities, including a separate launching dock for paddleboards and a reserved picnic area.

Situated in southeast Portland, on Oaks Park Way, the Sellwood Riverfront Park is a great place for paddleboarding within Rip City.

The park offers direct access to the Willamette River and other amenities that make it an excellent place for water sports. You get a boat dock and docks reserved for kayaking and paddleboarding. There is also a dog off-leash area, meaning you can bring a dog along if you want to.

Open from 5 am to midnight, the Sellwood Riverfront Park can be accessed throughout the day.

Located inside Mount Hood National Park, Lost Lake is another calm and peaceful place to paddleboard in Oregon.

The Lost Lake Resort offers a quality place to stay, making it the perfect spot for an outing with the family. The lake was used exclusively in the 19th century by Native Americans but was acquired later by the US Forest Service. 

The scenic beauty of the lake is jaw-dropping, making it one of the most aesthetic paddleboarding places in the state.

Cathedral Park offers another paddleboarding spot, which provides access to the Willamette River and its waters. 

The site is one of the landing spots of Lewis and Clack; it was also used as a fishing and camping site by Indian tribes and has a rich history.

Another interesting thing about Cathedral Park is that 1980 a time capsule was sealed into the Wall of History in the Memorial Garden within the park. 

Cathedral Park is it if you want to paddleboard at a historic location. It stays open from 5 am till midnight.

Located in northwest Portland, Henry Hagg Lake is an artificial reservoir used as a reservoir. 

Part of the Tualatin River system covers an area of over 4.5 square kilometers and has a surface elevation of 93 meters. Scoggins Creek is the source of the water that makes up the lake.

The lake is a preferred paddleboarding and kayaking destination for natives and tourists. 

Because of its proximity to Portland, Henry Hagg Lake attracts many people during the summer.

Located an hour away from Portland, Hood River offers one of the best paddle-boarding spots in the city.

The Hood River Waterfront Park is right by the Hood River and offers all the amenities you need for a paddleboarding session.

A crescent-shaped beach with a separate playground for toddlers is one of the park’s many offerings. You also get picnic tables and a watercraft launch, among other things. The park stays open 24 hours a day.

Created in 1960 by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, Trillium Lake is near Mount Hood. It is almost a kilometer long with a mean depth of 2.13 meters, making it a safe and secure place to paddleboard.

It is an artificial lake that offers more than just water sports, with areas for camping and hiking, along with Nordic Skiing. You can do whatever you want, from kayaking to canoeing and paddleboarding; everything is allowed. 

It is a peaceful place that allows you some privacy and is only a 10-minute drive away from Government Camp in the Mount Hood National Forest.