Oregon

Tualatin River Water Trail

The Tualatin River Water Trail currently has public facilities serving 39 miles of river from Hillsboro Oregon to its confluence with the Willamette River in West Linn Oregon. Future development of public park property will someday extend public access upstream to Cornelius.

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Length: 38.50 miles
Loop Trail? No
Type: National Water Trails System
Agency: Nonprofit
Entry Fee? No
     Currently no fees at the public access facilities.

Parking Fee? No

Allowed Uses:

Boating, Motorized
Boating, non-motorized: Canoeing
Boating, non-motorized: Kayaking
Boating, non-motorized: Rafting
Boating, non-motorized: Sailing
Fishing
Heritage and History
Hunting
Swimming
Wildlife Observation

     Oregon Administrative Rules OAR 250-021-0040 (2) All rivers of this state including any tributary streams or rivers entering the Willamette River are closed to the operation of personal watercraft, except as noted (No exception for the Tualatin)

See more details.

 

Location: In Washington County and Clackamas County Oregon including the cities of Hillsboro, Tigard, Tualatin, Rivergrove and West Linn and passing through the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge.
State(s): Oregon
Counties: Washington, Clackamas
Longitude: -122.798858
Latitude: 45.393917

Driving Directions

Various access points including Cook Park in Tigard, Tualatin Community Park in Tualatin, Rood Bridge Park in Hillsboro, Brown's Ferry Park in Tualatin.

Description

The Tualatin River Water Trail runs through farm lands, cities, and the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. It provides convenient access for paddling, fishing and wildlife observation to the Portland Oregon Metropolitan area. Eleven developed launch sites managed by city, county, and regional governments currently support the trail. Informal access occurs at road right-of-ways under 2 bridges. Metro Regional Government and the City of Tigard have acquired three additional parcels for future access development. Excellent promotion and marketing of the Tualatin River Water Trail is provided by Washington County Visitors Association and the Intertwine Alliance. Ecological and flow management is provided by Clean Water Services (a regional service district). Regional planning for habitat restoration and public access is provided by Metro (regional government). U.S Fish and Wildlife Service manages 2000 acres at various locations along the water trail. The Tualatin River has the significance as the first water body to successfully implement Total Maximum Daily Loads (water quality standards) under the Federal Clean Water Act. Tualatin Riverkeepers and Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe currently offer canoe and kayak rentals at two sites on the river in the summer. Tualatin Riverkeepers offers regular public guided trips. Washington County Visitors Association has funded new wayfinding signage for the trail. Tualatin Riverkeepers placed river mile signage along the river since 1990. Roamers Rest RV Park (privately owned) provides the only camping facility currently on the river.

The US Army Corps of Engineers has determined that the Tualatin River is navigable from the mouth of Gales Creek at river mile 56.8 to the Willamette River.

Additional Details

Primary Surface: Not Available
Secondary Surface: Rock, boulders
Water, still

Elevation Low Point: Not Available
Elevation High Point: Not Available
Elevation Gain (cumulative): Not Available

Year Designated: 2020

Supporting Webpages and Documents

Brochure: Paddler's Access Guide to the Lower Tualatin River
Brochure: Tualatin River Water Trail Map
Brochure: A Paddler's Access Guide to the Lower Tualatin River published by Washington County Visitors Association and Tualatin Riverkeepers
Map: Water Trail Map Sign
Map: Tualatin River Water Trail Map with Metro Acquisition Target Areas
Other: Metro resolution revising the Tualatin River Water Trail Plan.
Other: Newspaper article on Tualatin River Political Paddle Race organized by Tualatin Riverkeepers to engage elected officials support for the water trail and environmental protection

Contact Information

For more information and current conditions, contact the trail manager (listed below). For questions, suggestions, and corrections to information listed on the website, contact American Trails.

Trail Management:
 Tualatin Riverkeepers
11675 SW Hazelbrook Road
Tualatin, OR 97062
(503) 218-2580
[email protected]
http://www.tualatinriverkeepers.org

 

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