PNW 2022, Columbia River and San Juan Islands

[colbysmith]

I'm planning to bring C-Traveler out to the PNW in June this year, but before heading out to the San Juans, maybe spending a week on the Columbia River near Portland, OR. Anyone have any suggestions for launching the boat, and then parking the pickup and trailer rig for a week? Rogers Marine was mentioned to me, but they don't have room for the trailer. Port of Camas-Washougal marina only allows parking 4 out of 10 days, and I'm not even sure if that included the trailer. Other thoughts would be to check with marinas like Cathlamet to see if they have safe parking, and an easy cruise to and back from Portland area. Either direction from Portland would be fine. Colby

 

[TyBoo]

I might have some thoughts on it.

 

[pcg]

You are welcome to park your truck and trailer at my house for as long as you like. My rural property isn't gated, but where I live is as about as safe as you can get. I'm 30 minutes from Portland and am happy to shuttle you. PM me for more info if interested...

 

[colbysmith]

Sounds like I've got two possibilities if I stick with my plans to spend any time on the Columbia! Colby

 

[hardee]

You are welcome to park your truck and trailer at my house for as long as you like. My rural property isn't gated, but where I live is as about as safe as you can get. I'm 30 minutes from Portland and am happy to shuttle you. PM me for more info if interested...

Paul, how far are you from Willamette River Park, which is close to under the Ross Island Bridge, West side of the river? Just thinking it might be shorter shuttle, and it sure looked like a nice launch facility.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[pcg]

Yes, that would be shorter and a pleasant trip up the Willamette River through downtown Portland. I'm 20 miles away from Willamette River Park - about 30 minutes.

 

[bshillam]

Call port of St. Helens that runs Scappoose Bay, awesome boat launches, clean and great to access Columbia or the channel. You're also welcome to park the truck/trailer in front of my house. I am about 25 minutes from that boat launch. With increase crime in downtown I wouldn't park my truck/trailer anywhere in down town unless it was a secure moorage. Beacon Rock is one of my favorite spots on the Columbia, Government Island, Sand Island, Down town St. Helens, Kalama, Astoria, just to name a few.
Bryrick, 503-781-9967

 

[colbysmith]

Bryrick, thanks for your offer as well. C-Brats are great!!! I'm still looking at some options and desires. I may end up launching in Astoria instead of Portland. If the whole Columbia River thing works out for me, I'd be launching on June 4th, +/- a day, but need to be loading back out late on the 13th or early on the 14th, so I can pick my wife up at either PDX or SEA later in the day on the 14th. (Airport is still undecided, and will probably depend upon time of flights available.) While we will be visiting with my brother at his home in Graham on the 15th and 16th before my wife and I head out to cruise in the San Juans, I thought it would be cool to meet him one night in Camas, with the boat, where he works the first half of the week. Timing may not work out for that, launching from Astoria, unless I burn fuel running fast up to Camas/Portland, then slow down to see stuff on the way back. In any case, there are some sights I'd like to see. I ran the Snake and Columbia Rivers with a group that Jim from Pounder put together a number of years ago, but it was a pretty fast trip, so while we saw a lot along the main River channel, I'd like to slow down this time and take in a bit more. I hear St. Helens and the Multnomah Channel are a worthwhile side trip. And I plan to do more anchoring out this trip, rather than pulling into marinas every night. If this trip works out for me, anyone that would like to join is welcome to. Along with my AIS, I learned of a new App, NEBO, that works pretty nice using cell phone coverage. I'll be more definitive of my plans as it gets closer to June. Colby

 

[pcg]

You should tie up at the dock at Beacon Rock and enjoy the classic hike up
to the top.

 

[colbysmith]

You should tie up at the dock at Beacon Rock and enjoy the classic hike up
to the top.

I thought that was a cool “rock” when we flew by it at 16 kts. But didn’t know you could stop and climb it. That’s the kind of stuff I want to slow down and do if this trip pans out!

 

[DayBreak]

A great place to stay on a dock is Sand Island Marine Park across from St Helens. Moorage is free and you can use it as a base camp as you visit the area.

 

[colbysmith]

Thanks Gary. You're about the third person that has suggested that, so sounds like something I need to put down to stop at! Colby

 

[Boater Rob]

We have left our pickup and trailer at the St Helens Marina and not had any problems. It is on a dead end St and several people live right there. The boat launch can be a little low when the river levels are down and the tide is out, but we never had a problem getting enough water to float off. I think the cost is $5 to launch and that much a day to leave pickup and trailer. Its also right across from Sand Island. THe island campground can get a little noisy on the holiday weekends or even regular weekends during the height of camping season. Going up Multnomah channel is nice and there are some areas to anchor out or even tie up to a floating dock.

Enjoy your trip out.

Rob

 

[colbysmith]

Thanks Rob. I think at this point I'm planning on parking and launching out of Astoria. Of course my plans as usual, are pretty flexible. lol. I'll start looking at my charts for all the specific sites that have been listed in this thread. Regarding my cruising the San Juans, I'm looking at launching out of Cap Sante on June 17th, and loading back out on June 26th. Nothing specific for an itinerary there yet either, other than bouncing between the islands. Colby

 

[pcg]

I'm looking at launching out of Cap Sante on June 17th

This might not interest you, but the Race to Alaska starts from Port Angeles on June 13. Makes for a very exciting early morning spectator event.

 

[colbysmith]

Somewhat finalizing my itinerary for my trip out west. Specifically I"ll be launching and retrieving in Warrenton near Astoria. Either on June 3rd or 5th. Then cruising along the Columbia River, mostly at hull or displacement speeds (5 kts) up to Portland and back, pulling out on the afternoon of June 13th. Anyone that wants to join me is welcome. I'll likely cruise upstream through the Multnoah Channel, (did I even spell that right?), and then stay on the Columbia going back down. Any advice/suggestions about going down the Williamette River to the Falls? I read the locks are closed, but is it worth a trip down to see the Falls? At hull speeds my plan is to go no more than about 30nm a day. I'll mostly anchor out, or tie up at any of the free docks. Perhaps stop at Cathemet Marina or any other recommended marina's a few of the nights.
I'll pick my wife up at SEA on June 14th, then spend two days with my brother in Graham. Then Rosanne and I will launch at Cap Sante Marina on June 17th, and likely spend that first night there in the marina. No specific itinerary, other than to cruise throughout the San Juan Islands. Back to Cap Sante on late afternoon on June 26th to sling out, and then start our drive back home. Again, anyone that would like to join us is welcome. We'll likely again just be cruising at hull speed, unless we need to move a little faster to see a little more. (I don't plan to take on marina fuel. :wink: ) I'm looking forward to my time in the west. Sorry it didn't work out with the planned Friday Harbor gathering. Colby

 

[hardee]

Colby, You might enjoy the ride UP the Willamette River toward the Falls. It goes right through main downtown Portland. Kind of a City Scenic route. (Watch for the WWII submarine at OMSI, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry on the east shore). You should be able to clear all the bridges unless you are on a very high tide -- might need to dip some antenna.

I will be working the SEVENTY48 people powered, 70 mile race, Tacoma to Port Townsend on your launch dates, but will consider a freshwater dip after that. Maybe launch at Kalama.

Gas on the river; you won't want much of that. Remember, from you launch site, half your trip is going UP stream. There will be some interesting stuff going on. Big ships doin lifeboat drills, tugs, barges and big commercial traffic in close proximity. Hard to say what the wildlife status will be but there will probably still be Sea lions and bald eagles.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

 

[hardee]

I'm looking at launching out of Cap Sante on June 17th

This might not interest you, but the Race to Alaska starts from Port Angeles on June 13. Makes for a very exciting early morning spectator event.

Actually, the R2AK ( Race to Alaska ) has 2 starts. From the R2AK website:

https://r2ak.com/r2ak-explained/

Stage 1 Race start: June 13, 2022, Port Townsend, Washington
Stage 1: The Proving Ground
Port Townsend to Victoria BC (40 miles)
R2AK starts with an initial race across open water, two sets of shipping lanes, and an international border. The first stage is designed as a qualifier for the full race and as a stand-alone 40 mile sprint for people who just want to put their toe in.

Stage 2 Race start: June 16, 2022, Victoria, BC
Stage 2: To the Bitter End
Victoria, BC to Ketchikan, AK (710 miles)
Racers start in Victoria at high noon on the Thursday after the Stage 1 start, and continue until they reach Ketchikan

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[mstrpo]

We recently motored up the Willamette to Oregon City which is just below the falls (no transit around them) and had no trouble with bridge height. There are some impressive properties (private homes/mansions!) along the way upstream from downtown Portland.

Another area for consideration is the Multnomah Channel which connects the Willamette to the Columbia (creating Sauvie Island) just above the town of St. Helens. The lower 2/3 or so of the channel is very peaceful with lots of wildlife. Coon Island has a free dock in a fairly protected area for over-nighting. The upper 1/3 has many floating homes and no-wake speed.

There is fuel at the St. Helens marina and about 1/4 mile down the channel from the Willamette at Fred's Marina.

 

[hardee]

We recently motored up the Willamette to Oregon City which is just below the falls (no transit around them) and had no trouble with bridge height. There are some impressive properties (private homes/mansions!) along the way upstream from downtown Portland.

Another area for consideration is the Multnomah Channel which connects the Willamette to the Columbia (creating Sauvie Island) just above the town of St. Helens. The lower 2/3 or so of the channel is very peaceful with lots of wildlife. Coon Island has a free dock in a fairly protected area for over-nighting. The upper 1/3 has many floating homes and no-wake speed.

There is fuel at the St. Helens marina and about 1/4 mile down the channel from the Willamette at Fred's Marina.

Thanks Pat, Yes, there is fuel at Freds. I went buy there to check. I am really curious what other Portland area on the water fuels are available. Freds was $7.00 and it was ETHANOLIZED. I didn't do the Mult Channel this trip but have and it is always fun.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon