Barton Park
Your sexy writers went floating on the Clackamas this weekend. Yes sir, we roped a cooler to an inner tube and went bobbin down an icy cool waterway. Where you say?? Well all that to come after the jump…>
Head on down to Estacada, but not all the way there. We hit 205 south and got off on exit 12A (not to be mistaken for 12B) and cruised down past that little divide in the highway. Head toward Estacada and hit Clark County. The river is on your right. Now’s the part of this article when you expect me to tell you my secret of where to load and unload off the river. I will tell you that you should drive a few miles down to Barton to get into the river. The toll booth is five bucks to enter the park, and the staff there is great. There’s room enough to grill and have a few beers before getting on the river. The problem with floating is always the people. Everyone and their mom is floating this time of year. The key is to park your car at the end of the river where you get out. I can’t tell you where we park, because then you’ll park there, and I’ll hate myself for giving up the location, but I will tell you this… don’t park on the south side of the river. There are great places all along the north side miles down from Barton. Don’t fight the crowds and flirt with some of the great traffic I’ve seen down there. Relax, sit back and enjoy the floating. Portland, you deserve it.