A lovely 4-mile paddle!
This is an easy protected canal paddle, good for getting out and enjoying a calm route with water and birds. The water is fairly shallow for most of this paddle.
To get there, go to Autzen stadium. Just across from the stadium, a bit east of the dog park, is the gravel parking lot on the right. You will see a sign near the water that says, “canoe launch.” That’s the spot. Super easy launch. Nice parking lot. Don’t go there during a duck football game.
I picked a cloudy gloomy day to go. I was feeling a bit gloomy anyway, so I decided to immerse myself in the elements. Some rain fell on the canal surface like soft tears. Luckily it was not cold, and super luckily, I did not fall in. I am falling rarely now, but it would not be fun as the water is too cold and the sun is not out, and I am not wearing a wet suit. However, this paddle is so short that I am confident I would just be a little miserable if I fell in, temporarily. More character building than life threatening.
Paddle away from Autzen Stadium and toward the roar of I-5. The paddle ends just before the freeway. There is a concrete area to get off, otherwise you will have to morph into a salmon to jump up and over a small cascading waterfall. I wandered under the bridge to have a look. Artful images of Native Americans in canoes are carved out in the concrete below. There is also a nicely designed rock garden. Too bad it’s all under a whizzing freeway bridge.
On your paddle out, you will be going against a small current. I also had the breeze going against me, but it was still easy to paddle. There are a lot of ducks and geese and red-wing blackbirds. the blackbirds were irritated by my presence and let me know by making some close and noisy fly-overs. If you paddle quietly and smoothly, you can often avoid disturbing wildlife. I saw evidence of beavers, but saw no beavers. You will see runners plodding along on Pre’s Trail, which borders the waterway.
The return trip is swift as you have the current. This is a fine time to sit on your board and chill if you are inclined. I was. Otherwise, paddle back and feel magnificently fast. Getting out is as easy as it was to get in. There is lots of grass around and it’s clean except for some random goose poop.
This is a great way to get some nature in, right in town!