There are so many ways to enjoy the Clackamas River. -Kirsten Klug
Maybe your perfect summer evening is heading to Carver Park with your family and your dog for a swim, bringing a picnic and listening to music along the water’s edge. Maybe you love launching a kayak or paddleboard, spending a day fishing, or grabbing some friends and floating down the river with a cooler full of food and drinks.
However you choose to enjoy the river, there is one simple thing all of us can do to help protect it:
Whatever you bring with you, take it with you when you leave.
It sounds simple, but it makes a tremendous difference.
If you bring a picnic to the park, gather your wrappers, cans, bottles, food containers and other trash before you leave. Use the garbage cans available at the park or boat ramp, or take everything home with you and dispose of it there.
If you’re floating, rafting, kayaking or paddleboarding, plan ahead for your trash. Bring a bag or container you can keep in your boat, raft or cooler. Some boat ramps may have bags available, but it’s always a good idea to bring your own.
Think about what would happen if every person who floated the Clackamas River left behind just one can, wrapper or piece of trash. One piece might not seem like much, but multiplied by hundreds or thousands of river users, it quickly adds up.
And it isn’t only about how our beautiful river looks.
Trash can end up in the water, along the shoreline and in wildlife habitat. The Clackamas River is home to an incredible ecosystem. Crawdads hide among the rocks. Bass, salmon and trout swim beneath the surface. Birds like eagles, herons, vultures, and osprey fly overhead and gather along the shoreline. Ducks, squirrels, geese, turtles, beavers, otters, deer and countless other creatures depend on the river and the plants surrounding it.
All those little creatures—and some bigger ones—are part of what makes spending a day on the Clackamas River so special.
When we take care of their home, we get to continue sharing it with them.
Be Intentional About Your River Visit
Leaving no trace doesn’t have to be complicated. A little preparation before you head out can make it easy.
Pack your food and drinks in reusable containers when possible. Bring a trash bag. Secure anything that might blow out of your boat or picnic area. Before leaving, take a quick look around and make sure nothing was accidentally left behind.
You can even take it one step further. If you see a stray can or wrapper along the shoreline and can safely pick it up, grab it and take it with you. Imagine the difference we could make if everyone who visited the river left it just a little cleaner than they found it.
Our rivers give us so much—places to play, explore, exercise, relax, gather with friends and family, and reconnect with nature.
Being a good river steward is one way we can give something back.
Whether you’re spending an hour at the water’s edge or an entire day paddling the Clackamas, enjoy it, appreciate it and help take care of it.
Our goal as stewards of the river is to protect this incredible place so people and wildlife can continue enjoying it for many years to come.
And remember, stewardship doesn’t have to be difficult.
Bring what you need. Enjoy the river. Pack everything out. Leave the river beautiful.
If you have questions about caring for the Clackamas River, river access or park guidelines, reach out to park staff or a ranger at Milo McIver, Barton, Carver or Clackamette.
Together, we can keep the Clackamas River a beautiful place to explore, play and share.