Oregon State Parks Trust takes part in the final dedication ceremony for the Willamette River Water Trail

Oregon State Parks Trust took part in the final dedication event for the Willamette River Water Trail held at Willamette Park on Saturday, June 2.  The celebration was blessed with spectacular Portland sunshine, lively music played by the "Sassparilla Jug Band", and a festive mood given off by the many paddlers and other water trail supporters who attended.  Display booths highlighted aspects about the trail and featured its many supporters.  Event-goers even got the opportunity to take one of the many available canoes and kayaks out for a paddle on the water.

Several honored guests and speakers attended the event, including Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski; US Congressman David Wu; Deputy Secretary, US Department of Interior Lynn Scarlett; Director, Oregon Parks and Recreation, Tim Wood; and Director, Portland Parks and Recreation Zari Santer.

Oregon State Parks Trust is proud to be a supporting partner of the Willamette River Water Trail.  Other lead partners include:  Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department, Oregon State Marine Board, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Governor Kulongoski's Plan for The Willamette River Legacy, Oregon State Parks Trust, Willamette Riverkeepers, Portland Parks & Recreation, GI Joe's, Columbia Sportswear, and American Heritage Rivers.

About the third phase of the Willamette River Water Trail (WRWT) project...

• The third phase of the Willamette River Water Trail completes the 216-mile water-based trail.  The third section stretches 72-miles between Wheatland Ferry and the Willamette River’s confluence with the Columbia River.

• In general terms, a water trail is a stretch of river, shoreline or other waterway that has been mapped out for access and use by—and the education of—canoeists, kayakers, other non-motorized boaters, and related recreational consumers. Just as hikers walk on dirt pathways, the flow of a river-based trail provides liquid pathways for canoeists, kayakers, and rafters. Water trails provide multiple access points, allowing users to choose to travel along it for short or long distances and even choose to spend multiple nights along the trail.

• The WRWT links existing public lands, providing the public with more opportunities to use existing public resources and reconnecting people and communities with the Willamette River.

• The project addresses four primary needs, those related to recreation and wellness, education, economic development, and the environment.

• First, all Oregonians require easily accessed opportunities for healthy, participatory recreation, especially as a means to wellness and fitness. With over 70% of Oregonians living within 20 minutes of the Willamette River, recreation based on and along the river is ideal for addressing this fundamental need. This is especially true in the Portland metro area, where people live more densely and nearby recreational options are already in heavy use.
• Next, all Portlanders—indeed all residents of and visitors to Oregon—need high-quality, learning experiences. The WRWT will provide experiential learning opportunities, ranging from skill building (e.g. kayaking, canoeing), to information about the Willamette River and how our individual decisions impact its qualities and conditions, to knowledge of indigenous peoples and native plants, fish, and wildlife, to the cultural history of the most populous region of the state.
• Third, Oregonians need opportunities to work and earn a livable wage. The WRWT will offer a variety of individuals and businesses new and expanded economic and work opportunities. Obviously, businesses that rent or sell boats and related equipment will benefit from just having more people needing their products and services. In addition, the WRWT will create new economic opportunity for people and businesses that can provide new services, such as shuttle services, lodging and food near or accessible from the river. Finally, the WRWT will encourage entrepreneurs, such as those who develop business that would allow water trail users to temporarily leave the trail, access services and sites away from the river, before continuing on the water trail.
• Finally, those who live along or utilize the Willamette River have a need for it to be as clean, safe, and sustainable a resource as possible. The WRWT will put more people in close contact with the river and it is human nature to care for and care about what one knows. The new economic opportunities it will provide will serve to increase the perceived value of a healthy, accessible river, influencing both public policy and individual action. In addition, metropolitan water trails and increased river use elsewhere have served to decrease crime (especially vandalism) and increase positive community spirit.

Please click here:

• For more information about the Willamette River Water Trail;
• To request a printed copy of the Willamette River Water Trail guide (a detailed, waterproof map of the WRWT); or
• To print your own customized water trail guide.