Calendar

Past Activity

Kayaking on the Siltcoos

  • Start date: 05/19/2019

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 05/19/2019

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

SPACE IS STILL AVAILABLE - SIGNUP & EMAIL HOUGARDY@GMAIL.COM for MORE INFO.
Kayak on the Siltcoos River - gear, transportation, and guides included! The Siltcoos is located south of Florence in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The Siltcoos is relatively flat and a fun way to experience one of the largest expanses of temperate coastal sand dunes in the world. The river is three miles long and a designated canoe trail. We’ll be keeping our eyes open for otters and a variety of birds. Bring water, snacks, lunch, and dress in layers. Come prepared for the weather. This trip is with the River House Outdoor Center in Eugene. Please meet at 9 am at 301 N. Adams St., Eugene, to take care of pre-trip logistics. We will return to Eugene by 5:30 pm. The price is $55 per person (please bring cash or check), payable to the River House on the morning of the trip. We will be riding on a small bus to the Siltcoos.

  • Event Leader: Mark Hougardy

  • Event Leader Phone: 541-206-9532

  • Event Leader Email: hougardy@gmail.com

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Coastal

  • Departure Location: See Trip Description

  • Rating:

  • Roundtrip total drive miles:

  • Season: 2019

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required:

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 6

  • Member Fees: 1

  • Elevation Gain:

  • Non-Member Fees: 5

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Kayaking Oregon’s Siltcoos River during the springtime is a treat, provided you can time it right. A day earlier dark clouds, lighting, and sheets of rain pelted the area. But, today, the temperature was warm and the sky was clear, allowing us to witness the Siltcoos in all its splendor. We were fortunate and very thankful. The Siltcoos is an interesting interplay of a riparian area within the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The dunes are one of the largest expanses of temperate coastal sand dunes in the world. When geologic forces created the dunes, the sand-choked off several coastal rivers and created about 30 lakes. Some of the rivers have found a way back to sea, the Siltcoos River is one of these rivers. Today, it is a slow-moving three-mile long waterway that holds the distinction of being a canoe trail. We were unable to visit the lower water dam because of a large fallen tree. A special thank you to the River House Outdoor Center of Eugene for the use of their kayaks and local guides. From the water, our group saw at least 18 animal species: bald eagle, osprey, a grey fox, swallows, killdeer, newt, bumble bee, heron, fish, stellar’s jay, crow, seals, egrets, mergansers, butterflies, dragonflies, spiders, and egrets. We also saw a dog at the bow of a kayak, and (not paying attention to posted signs) a human and dog in a protected area.