9/8/2021 - Siltcoos Lake/Siltcoos River, Florence, OR

Time: 3.3 hours

Distance: 9.32 miles

We put into Siltcoos Lake from the Siltcoos River Canoe Trail boat ramp on a beautiful morning. The morning fog had just cleared and the day was calm and warm. We planned to paddle down the Siltcoos River to where it meets the Pacific Ocean but that paddle was only about six miles so we paddled around Jernigan Island first before proceeding down the river. We'd heard great things about the river paddle and we were not disappointed. We paddled through forests, dunes and right to the ocean where we got out for a short break before heading back. When we reached the lake we were still game for more so we paddled South for a while before finally heading back. We were paddling mid-week so and so only encountered a few other groups of kayakers but I can only imagine what kind of mad-house the river must be during heave use times.

The last of the morning fog across Siltcoos Lake just before we put in.

Lynda preparing to put in.

Lynda on the way out to Jernigan Island.

Dane about to enter the Siltcoos River.

An old foundation along the Siltcoos River early in the trip. Dated from the late 1800's.

The Siltcoos River early in the trip.

Dane paddling under the Hwy 101 bridge.

Lynda with one of the several large dunes on the river right behind here.

Dane going underneath one of several trees across the river.

Dane approaching the back-side of the damn on the upper part of the Siltcoos River.

The portage ramp at the damn for easier access to the lower part of the Siltcoos River.

Lynda paddling by another dune on the lower part of the Siltcoos River.

Lynda paddling down-river just after we broke out of the tree-line and just before the beach.

Dane and Lynda take a quick "selfie" on the beach.

Dane going under another tree across the river on the lower part of the Siltcoos River. The water had risen a couple feet since we'd paddled past on our way down river. Another foot or so would have made this a very challenging obsticle.

Lynda standing on the damn on our way back out.