You’ve found the Clackamas Water Trail. Now what?
Whether you’re planning a relaxing float with friends, a day of paddling, a family outing, or a stop along the river to enjoy the scenery, the Clackamas Water Trail can help you plan your adventure before you reach the water.
The Clackamas River offers many different ways to explore, but every section of the river is different. A little planning can help you choose the right experience for your group, prepare for the conditions you may encounter, and make the most of your time on the water.
Here are a few ways to use the Clackamas Water Trail as you plan your trip.
Start with the Map
Not sure which section of the Clackamas is right for your group? Start with the interactive map.
Explore different stretches of the river, locate access points, and learn more about the places where you can put in, take out, stop, and explore. Estimated float times of both upper and lower river setions can help you plan how long you’ll be on the water and coordinate transportation between your starting and ending points.
Before you choose a route, think about your group. Ask youself:
- How much time do you have?
- What type of watercraft are you using?
- What kind of experience do the people in your group have?
The best river trip is one that matches your plans and your abilities.
Know What to Expect on Your Route
The Clackamas River is a living river, and conditions can change. Different sections may include swift currents, rapids, deep pools, rocks, fallen trees, and other hazards.
The Clackamas River looks a little different these days. In December of 2025, the Clackamas experienced record flooding, with some of the highest flows in the last 100 years. Strong currents created new islands and gravel bars while others have washed away. Boaters and floaters may also find more trash and debris on the river.
Before you launch, review the information about the section of river you plan to visit and read through the Clackamas Water Trail’s safety information and river etiquette guidelines.
Make sure everyone in your group knows the plan, understands the potential hazards, and has the equipment they need for the trip.
Planning ahead is one of the simplest ways to make your day on the river safer and more enjoyable.
Plan for More Than Just the Time on the Water
A river trip includes more than the time between your put-in and take-out.
Think about where you will park, how you will get back to your vehicle, and whether you need to arrange a shuttle. If you’re visiting a park or other managed recreation area, check the rules and plan for any required fees. You can do that here.
Busy summer days can also mean crowded access points and parking areas. Give yourself extra time and be patient with other people who are arriving, launching, or taking out.
A little planning before you leave home can make the entire experience easier.
Get to Know the River Before You Visit
The Clackamas River is home to a remarkable variety of plants and wildlife.
As you explore the Clackamas Water Trail, take time to learn about the species and habitats you may encounter along the way. Some notable examples include:
- Osprey – You might see or hear an osprey overhead (click here to see what they sound like).
- Beavers – you may see beaver chewed sticks and branches while you float.
- Native plants – as you float you will spot native plants growing along the riverbank. You may also encounter invasive species such as ivy and blackberry.
- Fish and other aquatic animals – keep on the looking for salmon, steelhead and other fish moving through the water.
Knowing what to look for can make your trip more interesting and can help you recognize why protecting the river and its habitat matters.
Remember to observe wildlife from a respectful distance and avoid disturbing animals, nests, vegetation, or other sensitive habitat.
Make a Plan to Leave No Trace
Before you leave, think about what you are bringing with you and how everything will make it back home.
All the Clackamas River boat ramps have yellow mesh Stash the Trash bags free to all to use. Please take one with you so you can easily pack out the items you brought with you.
Pack reusable food and drink containers when possible. Secure loose belongings so they don’t blow away or fall into the river.
If you see a piece of litter during your trip and can safely pick it up, consider taking it with you.
Small actions by thousands of river visitors can make a big difference.
The Clackamas River is a source of drinking water for more than 300,000 people and provides habitat for fish and wildlife. Every person who visits the river has an opportunity to help protect it.
Ready to Plan Your Trip?
Before you head out, take a few minutes to explore the Clackamas Water Trail resources available here:
- Use the interactive map to explore river sections and access points.
- Check float routes and estimated times to help plan your day.
- Review safety and river etiquette information before you launch.
- Learn about native plants and wildlife you may encounter.
- Explore low-impact recreation tips to help protect the river.
The Clackamas River is ready for adventure. With a little preparation, you can have a safer, more enjoyable day on the water—and help keep the river healthy for the people and wildlife who depend on it.
Plan your route. Know what to expect. Leave no trace. Enjoy the Clackamas.
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- Tubers floating a riffle
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- Giant inner tube ready for action
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- Putting in on the Clackamas
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- Tubes, inflatable kayak, and kayak putting in at Barton Park.
Guidelines for a Safe and Fun trip on the Clackamas.
SAFETY FIRST!
Like most Oregon Rivers, current on the Clackamas can be swift and the conditions can change quickly. And like all rivers, it must be traveled with care. During the summer the river is a lot slower than in the spring, fall and winter, but it still runs 2-4 mph in places and is swift and deep enough to challenge even good swimmers.
Safety Musts
- Know your conditions/abilities – Check the weather and river conditions, and double check the date: is it going to be a busy day on the river? Is it going to rain or get cold? Look at the interactive map to formulate your plan, and adjust to your abilities and the conditions. Shuttles, parking, loading and unloading, and just getting on the river can be an ordeal. Plan accordingly.
- Communicate – Let someone know that you (and your group) are on the river, and between which access points (which section) you are traveling. This can be as simple as a text like “Floating Barton to Carver” or filing a float plan with a park ranger. Despite being extremely accessible to a large urban population, the Clackamas River is truly ‘wild’ and can be dangerous at any time of the year.
- First Aid – Make sure someone in the group has basic first aid training, carries a phone in a ziplock or water proof bag (or the phone is waterproof), and is completely confident leading a trip on the water. This could be one person or multiple people. And make sure your drivers secure their keys so they do not end up in the river.
Safety Checklist
- PFD with a whistle – at least one whistle for each boat; PFD for everyone (and those under 12 must wear at all times).
- Competent swimmers? – know your limits. The Clackamas has many deep pools and swift currents, even in the summer when flows are comparatively low.
- Know how to self rescue – this includes getting back in your boat or on tube, or swimming to a safe spot on the shore.
- Feet first down the rapids – use your feet pointing downstrean to push away from rocks, and never stand up in swift current (risk of foot entrapment is high on the Clackamas because of large round rocks on the bottom).
- Protect your feet – the Clackamas is not friendly to bare feet, with irregular rocks, thorny plants, and lots of sticks on the beaches in and along the shore.
- Understand the hazards ahead – this is part of ‘know your conditions,’ but specifically know what kind of hazards appear on the section you are floating or paddling. You should anticipate possible strainers (trees in the water), swift currents, and rocky rapids.
Etiquette Checklist
- Leave no Trace – pack out all of your own trash (bring your own bags or get a Stash the Trash bag at kiosks near the boat ramps).
During the summer months Stash the Trash bags can be found at some of our favorite launch sites so that you can be part of the solution to keeping our river clean. Grab a Stash the Trash bag from one of the following locations and pick up litter while enjoying a day on the Clackamas River!
- Milo McIver State Park
- Barton Country Store
- Barton Park
- Carver Boat Ramp
- Riverside Park
If you accidentally drop or lose trash (and it is swept away), send an email to info@clackamaswatertrail.org and we will pass it on to River Ambassadors who will try to pick it up later. Learn more about the Seven Leave No Trace Principles by clicking here.
- Put-in and take-outs – be mindful of traffic coming and going at the boat ramps, and avoid lingering (and blocking access).
- Boating Right of Way – upstream boaters always have the right of way. Large boats usually must give way to smaller crafts, but slow moving rafts should be avoided by others just because they cannot maneuver quickly. In general, do not get in the way of other paddlers, fisherfolk, or swimmers and avoid all collisions on the water.
- Spread out – being on the river is a chance to have an authentic outdoor experience and potentially a fun celebration with friends and family. Healthy picnicking and other outdoor gatherings occur on the river – on islands, beaches, and sometimes just in a flotilla. With dozens of islands and beaches (see map!), keep looking for places to spread out and give each other space.
- Courtesy and Friendliness – Be courteous on the river at all times and respectful of other users. If you are able and willing, offer help to others if they ask.
- Respect private property – All land up to the high water line (usually where last year’s floods have left debris) is public and can be used for stopping, rescue, and picnicking. Otherwise, know if you are crossing public or private land (see map).
- Pay all park fees – as required at County & State Parks, and follow park/public land rules
Other things to be mindful of:
- Take a class/obtain the knowledge (see Local Outfitters & guides)
- Be alert for jet boats (they are allowed) coming from upstream or downstream, even at low water.
- Beware of high and cold spring flows from snow melt and rains. Even though it can be 90 degrees outside, the lower Clackamas can be dangerously cold in the spring (50 degrees). It remains comparatively chilly in the summer (60 degrees).
- Review the Gear Checklist/Recommendations to make sure you are properly prepared
- Have a charged cell phone with you in a drybag (or ziplock bag).
- Have a float plan (see Itineraries)
- Set shuttle in advance (see guides and outfitters)
