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Because of its size and location Vancouver Lake offers paddlers a convenient and expansive water for sport and recreation. Although heavily used, the lake is large enough to allow paddlers to experience a sense of tranquility and isolation. We recommend either the Airhead Montana Solo or Tandem inflatable kayak although the Tomcats do equally well. And if you just want to float out on the water, check out the River Rambler Float Tube.

Lying high on the western slopes of the Oregon Cascades, Waldo Lake is one of the largest natural lakes in Oregon (9.8 square miles with a maximum depth of 427 feet). It has no permanent inlet to bring nutrients into the lake for plant growth. The lack of plant life contributes to its purity. You can see to depths of 120 feet on a calm day. Waldo Lake is one of the largest natural lakes in Oregon, and the second deepest. The lake is the source of the nationally-designated Wild and Scenic North Fork of the Middle Fork Willamette River.

Lost Lake has been a favorite tourist destination for more than a century. In the early days, the rough road from Hood River led to rustic cabins and camping, with fishing from rowboats. Today, the rowboats are still there — and motorized boats strictly prohibited — but a paved highway winds up the grade from Hood River to the lake. The lake is an ideal introduction to the outdoors for families. The easy Lost Lake Loop Hike features lots of places for kids to poke sticks in the water, collect fir cones, and delight in the extensive system of boardwalks

The Willamette River near Canby feels more like a very long lake than a river. You can paddle upstream as easily as downstream. This makes a shuttle unnecessary, so you can do this trip by yourself. Although houses and boat docks dot the shoreline on both sides of the river, the scenery is lush with trees towering over the river banks. You’ll find a boat launch at the Molalla River State Park, allowing direct access to the Willamette River. The mouth of the Mollala river empties into the Willamette about 1/2 a mile upstream from the boat launch. If you are

North Fork Reservoir is part of a Portland General Electric hydropower complex on the Clackamas River just east of Estacada, in the foothills of Oregon’s Cascade Range an easy drive from the Portland area. Inflatable kayaks provide a great opportunity to explore the far shores of the North Fork Reservior in solitude. Kayak to the perfect fishing spot, or paddle along the shore and do some bird watching. Make it a party and take family or friends along in the Solstice Raft. While the Clackamas is perhaps best known among serious anglers as a close-in steelhead and salmon fishing river