I'm looking for forest scenery. If there's a better place in Oregon, I'm open to suggestions.

CTYankee,

The more I read about your trip, the more wonderful it sounds! I do hope you post a detailed trip report when you return home, so we can all enjoy it but I also want to copy it so my husband and I can do it too, lol.

Now is a great time to go kayaking in this area. The water is high but has many levels for varying abilities. Whether you're very experienced or just learning, you will find the river in great condition this July and the scenery is beautiful. You'll see pines, rock cliffs and falls. You will be glad you came!

What kind of forest? Bend is high desert, with forests of juniper and ponderosa pine. So it's not lush, and there's not much undergrowth. But, on the other hand, the scent of a pine forest is hard to beat. And with the mountains providing a backdrop, the scenery is truly beautiful. If you've got the time, it would be a nice contrast to the temperate rain forests along the coast.

How about in the Northwest part of the state? I've read about lush forests near the coast.

I agree with Mistletoe. The forests in Central Oregon are beautiful,but if you want ferns and other undergrowth and a greater variety of trees, then Central Oregon is not the choice. We have gorgeous views of the Cascades and you can kayak on the lakes up here and will find the scenery to be spectacular

You gotta say more than that, then guess you won't

That would be me :)

Mrs. NW coast should be my nic here LOL

There is good kayaking here. In fact I tried yrs ago to get hubby to go with me, we have the wetsuits but never went! Now I have two toddler boys, at least one I hope will want to go kayaking with me LOL.

Anyway, there are lots of places here and if I was you I would start by calling Pacific Wave it is place that rents out kayaks and other equipment, and they know all the "good spots" since you said forest, and not ocean kayaking. Here are two places I would suggest.

John Day boat ramp, or start out at Tounge Point and head inland, you will see lots of Eagles, and other birds, it is very pretty IMO. When I worked for NMFS we went out here all the time, and rarely saw another boat. etc. The name is Cathlamet Bay, if you have a map that shows it. Lots of small sand islands, but also very very green.

The other option that I loved was Willipa Bay up on the Pennisula in Washington, I would guess about an hour or less North of Astoria. It is part of an animal reserve, and you can paddle around the island, (if you go get your clam license) you can eat as many clams as you want (butter clams) on the island, and take back 60 I think it was. YUMMY. There is great hiking on the island. Or you can go to the right of of the boat ramp and tool around in the water ways. Lots of grasses, and greenery course the Island has dence forest too.



So yes there is good kayaking here, one thing about Willipa bay is that you will want to know the tide tables as it is effected by the tides.