S3.8 - Deschutes River at Columbia River
For our anniversary, we decided to take a longer camping trip to some places we had never been before. So our first stop was where the Deschutes River terminates at the Columbia River, at the Deschutes River State Recreation Area . We had reserved a campsite right by the river. The campground is nice enough. Vault toilets, and there were showers available. We could not have a fire, but that was understandable. There are some hiking trails. Trains run nearby both along the Columbia and Deschutes. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to put our kayaks in the river on this side. We had to go to Heritage Landing on the West bank. There is a ramp for boats, and one for rafts, since it is the end of a popular rafting section. When we were there mid week, there was almost nobody around. There is a permit ($1) to access the river, and another permit to access the small island nearby. The weather was perfect. Lots of wildlife, including pelicans. The river here ...