kayak camping waters...

also, here's the write-up from the (near) top-bottom descent of the Columbia a friend of mine did last year:

http://thecolumbiaexperience.wordpress.com/

Awesome!

I've hear alot about the kayak tours and travels around San Juans in Washington, the occasional Columbia River trips, and the obvious John Day area runs.  What other NW waters are viable options for the average kayaker to travel over a period of days or week?  Also, waterways that have legal camping along the way.

The Willamette river (Oregon) is actually a very nice float.  I have done from Eugene to Newberg 2 times, and the stretch from Eugene to Corvallis (my favorite) almost every year for the last 10 or so. Did way above Eugene (below Dexter dam)  to the mouth twice. From Newberg down it can be a slog as you lose the current in the summer, once though the locks at Oregon City and once I had to cheat and portage.  Have done all in both yaks and a canoe.  I prefer using the yak, my wife likes the canoe as she can sunbath and read in the front seat while I paddle  Would be a great float for a newbie or a family trip. Lots of places to camp on islands in the middle of the river etc. and even a couple little towns along the way to stop and grab a burger.

Pick a river and do some research.  I have floated the entire length (safely floatable in a canoe/SOT) of the Willamette, Clackamas from Feldhimers down, Pudding, most of the Tualatin, and several large chunks of the Columbia.  My next trip is from Oregon City to Astoria/Hammond, which will complete the stretch of the Columbia river from Hood River to the mouth for me (plan is to float the most of the river in sections over the coming  years)... Yes Nanook, all in a Cobra Fish and Dive..

Whatever it takes!

I would really like to do the Bowron Lakes Chain in British Columbia. Its about 500 miles north of the border.
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/bowron_lk/#Map
Apparently people travel from all over the world to do it.

What I find cool about it is that it is a big square so you make a circuit and don't have to pass the same place twice.
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/bowron_lk/bowron_lk_broch_map_print_11x17.pdf

Best of all, the giant rainbows could bump up your standings in the AOTY.  Fish from BC count don't they?
-Craig

Lake Chelan has marine parks all along it's shoreline.  It's ~50 miles long.  When I was up there last time, there were 4 guys in sea touring kayaks coming in when I was heading out to fish.  One of them had a pole with a rapala on it.  He said he just drags it behind him and catches a Chinook every couple miles that way. 
I think I'm going to yak camp that lake this summer

That sounds like a really cool trip.  I'd like to do that one!

Conehead, I would be up for that trip. holt

I'm down for that trip in the summer as well

OOh... OOh... count me in as well.  Especially since the triploid chinooks and lakers are doing well.

I would really like to do the Bowron Lakes Chain in British Columbia.
-Craig

I'm with you on this one, Craig.  I first heard about it more than 10 years ago and wanted to do it as soon as I heard about it.  Haven't done it even yet but I think it would be an EXcellent candidate for a SOT trip.  I was told (beats me if its true at all) that there are 5# Kokanee in that long lake on the east side of the trapazoid.

To any body else that might be thinking about it, be sure to check it out well befor you head up there... I think there are quotas of people numbers allowed to depart each day and the waiting lists that go with those quotas.

Also, I don't think I saw Ross lake mentioned yet.  That one would definitely make a good trip for a long weekend.


Fishin-T

To any body else that might be thinking about it, be sure to check it out well befor you head up there... I think there are quotas of people numbers allowed to depart each day and the waiting lists that go with those quotas.

I also heard they weigh your gear before you can leave.  There is a limit to 60 pounds /person.  There are some good photos on google earth/panoramio.
Regarding the fishing, here is a quote I found :

Rainbow trout, Kokanee and Dolly Varden easily reach 22". Gargantuan Rainbow trout, up to 25 lbs. feed in the depths of Lake Isaac.

I read somewhere that you can only keep one per person per day.

Just found this link with map of campsites http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/explore/cariboo/trails/bowron.htm


-Craig

To any body else that might be thinking about it, be sure to check it out well befor you head up there... I think there are quotas of people numbers allowed to depart each day and the waiting lists that go with those quotas.

I also heard they weigh your gear before you can leave.  There is a limit to 60 pounds /person.  There are some good photos on google earth/panoramio.
Regarding the fishing, here is a quote I found :

Rainbow trout, Kokanee and Dolly Varden easily reach 22". Gargantuan Rainbow trout, up to 25 lbs. feed in the depths of Lake Isaac.

I read somewhere that you can only keep one per person per day.

Just found this link with map of campsites http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/explore/cariboo/trails/bowron.htm


-Craig

60 lbs of fish?
Or 60 lbs of kayak gear?

The Potholes reservoir could also be an interesting multiday paddle.  There are hundreds of of islands all over the lake that are pretty much open for camping.

I'd be down with a multiday paddle trip in the summer... as long as it isn't too close to Sucia '10    I gotta space it out for WAF maintenance.

The Potholes reservoir could also be an interesting multiday paddle.  There are hundreds of of islands all over the lake that are pretty much open for camping.

I'd be down with a multiday paddle trip in the summer... as long as it isn't too close to Sucia '10    I gotta space it out for WAF maintenance.

Just offset your trips with something new and shiny for her.   

and another to add to the list:

NW Discovery Water Trail (ID, WA)
Location: Northwest ID into South WA/ North OR
Length: approx. 367 miles
Waterways: Clearwater, Snake and Columbia Rivers

http://www.paddling.net/articles/Trail31.html
http://www.ndwt.org/ndwt/index.asp

A friend of mine did that trip 2 years ago.

http://picasaweb.google.com/inclan.alex/IdahoToTheOceanA500MileKayakingJourney#

Anyone float camp the Nehalem? 

To any body else that might be thinking about it, be sure to check it out well befor you head up there... I think there are quotas of people numbers allowed to depart each day and the waiting lists that go with those quotas.

I also heard they weigh your gear before you can leave.  There is a limit to 60 pounds /person.  There are some good photos on google earth/panoramio.
Regarding the fishing, here is a quote I found :

Rainbow trout, Kokanee and Dolly Varden easily reach 22". Gargantuan Rainbow trout, up to 25 lbs. feed in the depths of Lake Isaac.

I read somewhere that you can only keep one per person per day.

Just found this link with map of campsites http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/explore/cariboo/trails/bowron.htm


-Craig

60 lbs of fish?
Or 60 lbs of kayak gear?

60 lbs of gear / person going in.