HomeTrails Club Kayaking
There Is Currently No Kayak Coordinator!
The Kayak Coordinator job is a one year commitment. The term started January 1, 2011. This Coordinator finds leaders for kayak events and oversees getting event notices sent in before the deadline each month. Some people have indicated interest in helping if an overall coordinator becomes available. The people who are willing to help with kayaks are on the kayak committee list below, thank you all! For now, if you would like to lead a kayak event, please send your kayak write-up information to the Trips Trustee for approval.
For more information please contact Trips Trustee Carolyn Jenkins 503-422-6456 or TripsChair@trailsclub.org
Our paddle trips are open to anyone, Trails Club members and non-members, unless the description specifically states otherwise.
If you would like to improve your paddling skills, check out the Kayak Safety & Training section. And get out on the water, since experience on the water improves your confidence and allows you to refine your skills.
Kayak Events
To participate in one of our events:
- Look through our event calendar for something that catches your eye
- Click on the Where / When entry for a brief description of the event
- Note the Class of the trip
- Refer to the Trip Rating System document, found in the Kayak Documents section of this page, for an explanation what can be expected for the specific Class rating (paddling conditions, skills, and endurance)
- Also refer to the Guidelines for Participants document for general expectations of paddlers
- If you are still up for the trip, contact the leader; expect the leader to inquire about your skills, safety courses you have completed, and when you last practiced a wet exit and re-entry
- If you would like more details on the trip, ask the leader about the appropriate map & guidebook
Boat Permit Required Starting in 2010
Oregon has a new program to protect 
waterways from the aquatic invasive
species. Boaters are required to purchase a permit to use their boats beginning
in 2010. The fees from the permits funds inspection teams and aquatic invasive
species prevention efforts.
For the canoers and kayakers of the Trails Club, the operators of manually powered boats 10’ or longer must carry a permit when using their boat in 2010. Permits are transferrable between people and can be used on any manually powered craft. If there are multiple people in a manually-powered boat, only one of them is required to carry a permit.
Permits cost $7 ($5 permit plus $2 agent fee) and can be purchased at Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife license agents, ODFW offices that sell licenses (www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/licenses), and online at ODFW's website (www.dfw.or.state.us/online_license_sales/index.asp).
Boaters should carry their permit whenever they use their manually powered boat, and should be sure to clean their boat after every use to keep it free of aquatic species.
The fine for operating a boat without a permit is $142. The fine for launching a boat with aquatic species visible on or in the boat is $242.
A more thorough explanation of the program can be found here.
Kayak Safety & Training
Portland Kayak offers classes on basic skills (Essentials, Introduction), rescues, and rolling.
There are also women-only classes and advanced clinics.
Check out the Instruction section
of the Portland Kayak web site (Kayaking Classes and Clinics) for details, dates, and prices.
Contact Portland Kayak Co. directly
503-459-4050 to sign up for classes.
If you sign up for a basic skill class, tell them you are with Trails Club for a 10% discount.
Trails Club members also get reimbursed $20 of the cost of a basic skills class with evidence
of class completion.
Classes and training are also available from Alder Creek and other locations.
Kayak Rentals, Sales, & Classes
Kayak Documents
| Document | ||
| Boat Permits | Word | |
| Guidelines for Leaders | Word | |
| Guidelines for Participants | Word | |
| Instructional Videos | Word | |
| Put-In Checklist | Word | |
| Trip Planning Worksheet | Word | |
| Trip Log (TCO) | Word | |
| Trip Rating System | Word | |
| Trip Report Forms | Word |
All documents are available in MS Word and PDF format.
Kayak Planning Information Websites
Weather forecast (NOAA)
Stream Gage Height (water depth)
It helps if you are somewhat familiar with the river to know what the depth means on the river.
Use the map to select a location for which you would like the information.
Kayak-related Websites
Lower Columbia Canoe Club (LCCC)
Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership
Lower Columbia River Water Trail
Oregon Ocean Paddling Society (OOPS)
Kayak Coordinator Needed
Committee members willing to help with kayaks are listed below.
| Name | Phone | |
| Rich Fuhs | (503) 690-5077 | Rich.Fuhs@Comcast.net |
| Susan Saul | (360) 892-5643 | sunr1s3cr33k@gmail.com |
| Bill Savery | (503) 295-5868 | saveryw@comcast.net |
| Rex Silvernail | (360) 263-7225 | humshwha@pacifier.com |