#8 - Siltcoos Lake and River

We spent 2 nights at Siltcoos Lake, at the Siltcoos River Resort. They have a small motel, and also rent kayaks, but we were able to stay at the Yurt, which is right on the river, and came with 2 kayak rentals.  You can also put in at the Westlake Park Boat Ramp nearby. Lots of parking, restroom, and some picnic tables right on the lake. There is also a small campground nearby, Tyee Campground.

We put in the first evening, and went just a short way downriver, passing the campground, and turning back at the Hwy 101 bridge. Very quiet, not many others on the water. We did see a beaver who slapped his tail at us a few times. Someone said they saw an otter, but we missed them. 

In the morning, we went to the lake, which was very calm, and very foggy. We hugged the shore for a bit, but we were going to go kayaking with friends later, so we didn't go too far.

After lunch with our 2 friends, we headed toward the ocean. There are a few trees down across the river, but they are passable. This was the first one, near a hillside full of blue hydrangeas. 

It was overcast and cool, and there were quite a few people on the river, but we felt alone most of the time due to the twists and turns.

So, there is a small dam on the Siltcoos River. There is also a small boat ramp for you to use to make the portage easier. It's a bit tricky getting out, but if you go all the way to the right side, there are some posts and a branch to hold on to.

The good news is that we all made it in and out of our kayaks without taking a swim. There is a fence rail on the ramp that helps you get out of your kayak.

Then it's just a matter of heading downstream, and hoping there's enough water to make it. Again, there are some obstacles we had to endure, but we didn't have to get out of the kayaks to get past them.

After about 2.5 very leisurely hours, we got to the beach. The tide was out, so I was not able to get there in my pedal kayak, even with the pedals out. My wife took off in a sit it, and made it to the waves while we waited. This is snowy plover country, so you are not supposed to get out in this area.

The trip back was a bit faster and uneventful. It was a bit longer than we thought, but not too taxing. It's a great trip that I recommend very much. It's long enough that you'll want to bring water and maybe a snack.