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

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

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!