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Annual Events

OOPS has several weekend camping trips that are very popular.  These provide opportunities to share exquisite paddling experiences in areas we don’t get to all the time.  Each of these trips has a coordinator to manage signups, reservations and other logistics, as well as planning of trips.

Not all of these events run every year.

Note:  OOPS requires that all participants be able to wet exit and assist in their own rescue.   Please review the Activity and Wet Exit policies in our documentation page

Mayne Island in the Canadian Gulf Islands

Late Spring/Early Summer

You can paddle in the salt water of the Canadian Gulf Islands and be amazed at the sights and sounds of eagles and seals. The ferries traveling back and forth between Victoria and Vancouver BC almost brush as they pass each other in Active Pass. Only a day’s travel from Portland, this is the most beautiful camping and paddling. Plus – a shower in a tree!

Anderson Island in South Puget Sound

This event is usually held in May

Don’t miss this sought-after OOPS Event in South Puget Sound!   Paddle on saltwater in a protected environment with lots of choices, in the company of friends, and close to home. Kayakers are in proximity to four different islands, the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge and natural bays, and have views of Mt. Rainer and the Olympics.

Deception Pass

The Event is held in May or June

Deception Pass will appeal to our intermediate and advanced paddlers. You might explore sea caves between Bowman Bay and Biz Point, circumnavigate small islands, and discover hidden areas of Skagit Bay.  Adventurous paddlers will conquer the currents of Deception Pass. “Deception Pass is Washington’s most-visited state park for a reason. Mysterious coves, rugged cliffs, jaw-dropping sunsets and a stomach-dropping high bridge make this park a go-to for locals and international travelers alike. Deception Pass State Park spreads over 4,134 acres, a marine and camping park with 77,000 feet of saltwater shoreline.”


Willapa Bay on the Washington Coast

This event is usually held in June

Several coastal rivers converge in the area from Bay Center to Tokeland over a distance of about 25 miles. The rivers are relatively small, easy-going, as they make the transition for a marshy saltwater environment to coastal stream disappearing into the woods. These paddles are more about "being there than getting there". Pace will be as leisurely as time permits, so you can experience the quiet solitude of these gently meandering streams in an area that remains an undiscovered gem only three hours from Portland.

Cascade Lakes in Central Oregon Cascade and Deschutes National Forest.

The Event is held in June or July

Paddle amongst the beautiful Central Oregon Cascades in high-elevation lakes surrounded by Pine trees and lava rocks.  Explore Paulina Lake, one of twin crater lakes in the Newberry Crater.  Sparks Lake is a joy with its crystal-clear waters.  Hosmer Lake invites with an elevation of 5,000 feet, no motor boats allowed and often many fish.  Fly fishing only !  Take a day trip down the picturesque Deschutes River passing by rock formations and wildlife.  Bend's  Water Park is close by to explore.  Lots of side activities like mountain biking and miles of trails to explore on foot await you in Bend.

Sunshine Coast at Sechelt in British Columbia 

This event is usually held in late July

Blessed with warm water, (usually) abundant sunshine and beautiful scenery, the area is a paddler's joy.  Islands and inlets beckon. Seals, geese, eagles and sometimes porpoises can be seen.

North Puget Sound

This event is usually held in late spring, early summer


With the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound, Admiralty Inlet, bays, harbors, and Indian and Marrowstone Islands all part of this corner of the Olympic Peninsula, there will be a lot to explore. “Fort Worden, Fort Flagler and Fort Casey, with their big guns and strategic locations, once made up the coastal defense system known as, ‘The Triangle of Fire.’  Constructed

between 1898 and 1917, fascinating Fort Worden features more than 2 miles of beachfront and high bluffs with spectacular views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  Fort Worden Historical State Park is a 433-acre multi-use park with more than 2 miles of saltwater shoreline and a wide variety of services and facilities.”  Washington’s historic Fort Flagler is located right at the head of Puget Sound, on the high bluff at the northern tip of Marrowstone Island.  Now a large state park, it’s a great place for history buffs, bicyclists, photographers, and paddlers, with views of sunsets over the Olympic mountains and sunrises over the Cascades.  Multiple launch sites, sheltered or challenging, this location has a little bit for everyone.

Florence

This event is usually held in the summer

This event will offer kayaking for both newer and more experienced paddlers. Trips will include mild flatwater, gently moving rivers, and ocean waves. Jesse Honeyman State Park sits among the dunes and has two paddleable lakes within its borders. The “main event” will be kayaking the Siltcoos Canoe Trail through forest, dunes, and to the beach.  

Astoria

The event is usually held in the summer

This event will offer kayaking for paddlers of all levels. Trips will include gently and not-so-gently moving rivers, tidal estuaries, and ocean waves. We will camp at Fort Stevens State Park, which offers history, nature, and recreational opportunities. “Camping, beach-combing, freshwater lake swimming, trails, wildlife viewing, a historic shipwreck, and a historic military fort make Fort Stevens a uniquely diverse park. The park also has a network of nine miles of paved bicycle trails and six miles of hiking trails that allow for exploring a variety of habitats including spruce and hemlock forests, wetlands, dunes, and shore pine areas.  Coffenbury Lake has two swimming areas, a picnic area, restrooms, and a boat ramp.”

Nehalem Bay

First held in Summer 2017

Set between the ocean and the bay, Nehalem Bay State Park is situated on a 4 mile-long sand spit. Just 86 miles west of Portland along the north Oregon Coast, the park features a campground and two day-use areas for the whole family.  The campground is set amongst a sea of shore pine, and is bordered by rolling dunes.  Walk over the dunes and you’re at the beach building sand castles, flying a kite or relaxing to the sound of the ocean.  Beach-combing produces special rewards – treasures that include agates, shells, and occasionally glass floats.  A forested 1.8 mile long bike path provides a breathtaking view of the bay. You may see deer and elk grazing, a coyote crossing the road and a variety of birds. Kayaking, crabbing, fishing and clamming are popular activities.

Southern Oregon Coast - Sunset Bay

This event is usually held in August

This is the real Oregon coast. We make our base at beautiful Sunset Bay State Park, just south of Charleston, Oregon.  Hikes along the headlands let you immerse yourself in pristine coastal forest with wildflowers and views of Gregory Point and the Cape Arago Lighthouse along the way.  Paddling opportunities range from the bay itself (surf permitting) to the local rivers and secluded sloughs and sanctuaries in the area.

Waldo Lake weekend in the Oregon Cascade Mountains

This event is usually held during the last late August or September

Carved out by ancient glaciers, Waldo Lake is noted to be one of the four clearest lakes in the world! It is so clear you can see the bottom 40 feet below you.   East of Eugene in the Cascade Mountains just hours from Portland, Waldo Lake is a wonderful opportunity for easy paddling, camaraderie, star watching, and maybe a moonlight paddle.

San Juan Islands

This event is usually held during the Fall

The San Juan Islands are nestled between Bellingham, Washington and Vancouver Island, British Columbia.  While Washington State land use laws provide for few legal kayak landings (most of the shoreline is privately owned), you will find this a paddler's paradise.  Lots of little islands await exploration, there are current, wind, and navigation challenges to satisfy paddlers of any level, and the chance to see some of the local orca pods (along with numerous sea lions). 

Skamokawa weekend and salmon bake

This event is usually held in late summer or early fall

This is a fabulous Event that for years has been the signature gathering weekend for OOPS. Located nearby in Skamokawa, Washington on the Columbia River, Skamokawa has always been a treat with its beauty, huge ships passing, and spectacular paddles for all levels. A giant potluck and salmon bake are highlights of the weekend.

Lake Billy Chinook

This event is usually held in Spring or Fall

The Lake is a unique feature of Oregon's geology, as it is in a steep canyon formed at the confluence of the Crooked River, the Metolius River, and the Deschutes River. It is known as a nesting and gathering place for Bald Eagles, and some locations on the lake offer stunning views of Mt. Jefferson to the west.

Propose a paddling "trip" for one of our Events

The process for proposing trips for Annual Events is the same as for day trips - but first talk with the individual event organizer or the events organizer on the Boart at events@oopskayak.org to see what trips are needed on which days. Then just follow the same process of submitting a trip as if you are proposing a day trip, via the link at the bottom of the Trips page. 

After you get home from the Event, please submit your post-trip report like normal, using the link at the bottom of the Trips page.  Thank you!

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