Kayak group photo

On a recent gorgeous Oregon morning, I found myself sitting in a bright yellow kayak on Siltcoos Lake near Florence, Oregon. It had just stopped raining and the sun was starting to peek through the clouds. Having only been in a kayak once before, I was feeling a bit shaky and nervous to make any big or sudden movements. And as I sat in this colorful watercraft, wiggling around trying to keep my balance, I couldn’t help but think how lucky I am to live in the great state of Oregon, where fantastic recreational activities are no more than a tank of gas away.

The morning started off by meeting up with a group of 4 others from the Convention & Visitors Association of Lane County Oregon (CVALCO) and our guide Andy Small of Oregon by Kayak at the Safeway parking lot in Florence. We all loaded up into Andy’s van and headed to the starting point of our adventure, Siltcoos Lake, just a couple miles away. When we arrived, the kayaks were laid out on the lawn awaiting our arrival. Andy gave a great demonstration of how to get in and out of a kayak, which is the hardest part, and off we went.

Kayak river crew

Feeling much more comfortable after some minor adjusting and practicing all of the tips Andy gave to us, we headed down the Siltcoos River Trail. The river trail runs about 3 miles, starting at Siltcoos Lake and ending in the Pacific Ocean. The river starts off meandering past a few houses, but after about 15 minutes you really feel like you are in a tropical setting. Vibrant green branches and vines dangle overhead and adorable lily pads float nearby.

We continued down river, gliding across the glassy water. Once in awhile we would stop for a break to enjoy the scenery and nibble on chocolate that Andy provided. At one point we saw a giant blue heron perched up ahead. We watched for a moment, and all of a sudden it took off and flew just over our heads. I had never seen such a prehistoric looking bird that close up before. As it flew by, the sound of its wings and the screech of its call left me with a true appreciation of this creature’s natural beauty. Continuing on, we passed by the massive sand dunes that formed in this area and the tropical setting soon opened up to a much more marine-like setting. As we got closer to the ocean, different kinds of birds flew overhead and an osprey dive-bombed the water in hopes of catching its next meal. Once we reached the ocean we got out of the kayaks and took a stroll along the beach, stuck our toes in the water and searched for sand dollars.

Kayaks on the beach

By the end of the trip I was feeling quite confident in my kayaking skills, perhaps a little too confident (I recommend bringing a change of clothes just in case you find yourself taking an accidental dip). As we disembarked, Andy’s wife greeted us with plenty of water, snacks and more chocolate!! Altogether the trip was about 2.5 hours long and the perfect way to spend a day on the coast. I am now a huge fan of kayaking all thanks to Andy Small and Oregon by Kayak. This trip and the many others offered by Oregon by Kayak are a great way to see the natural beauty Oregon has to offer.

For more information on kayaking in Oregon, visit our Water Sports section.