Field Trips

On Sunday afternoon, take a well-deserved break to explore the natural beauty, history and innovative urban restoration efforts taking place around Portland – sign up for a River Rally field trips!

Not sure you want to do a field trip? No worries. Grab your umbrella (for the sun, of course) and explore Portland on your own. Visit Travel Portland for ideas.

Note: Field trips cost additional and are non-refundable; most have limited space: first come-first served. Due to travel time, some field trips may depart earlier than noon. All field trips will return to the Doubletree by 5:30pm and will run shine or no-shine

River Rally 2012 Field Trips

Though we have not yet finalized all trips for River Rally 2012 (as you can imagine, the intensive research we have to conduct is quite grueling), you can expect a wide array of options, including:

• Beer Lovers’ LID Facility Tour
  Drink in Portland’s advancements towards implementing Low Impact Development with a show case of several LID facilities (ecoroofs, porous pavement, planters, etc.) that just happen to be located next to some of Portland’s finest Brewery’s. Live, Love, Learn about a variety of sustainable rainfall management practices in Portland’s urban and libational setting.
  Depart: 12:30pm | Return: 5:30pm | Cost: $30

• Columbia Slough Paddle
  Almost two centuries after the Lewis and Clark expedition, it is still easy to imagine you are on your own "corps of discovery," traveling by canoe or kayak, even in the midst of the industrial landscape. Paddle the confluence of the Willamette River and Columbia Slough and explore the largest urban wetlands in the USA. Great birding and wonderful scenery! We will also walk Kelley Point Park’s cottonwood forest and Portland’s sewer plant restoration project. Water levels vary widely yearly and will determine exact routes in this estuary. Includes boat rental, PFDs and shuttles.
  Depart: 10:30am | Return: 5:00pm | Cost: $60

• Fish Screens
  Located at the panoramic crossroads of the Cascade mountain range and the Columbia River Gorge, the charming city of Hood River is home to both the largest pear-growing region in the U.S. and some of the most spectacular scenery in the northwest. Join Farmers Conservation Alliance for a FULL DAY tour of this beautiful valley, meet farmers, biologists, and tribal representatives to learn about the inspiring ways they are working together to protect fish in the river and money on the farm. Tour will include visits to working Farmers Screens (the innovative fish screen design that was invented in Hood River), working orchards and wineries (including wine-tasting), and stops at Full Sail Brewery and Bonneville Dam Fish Hatchery.
  Depart: 10:30am | Return: 5:30pm | Cost: $45

• Innovative Urban Stormwater Management
  Join the City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services in a tour of innovative green infrastructure projects across the City. The tour will include a daylighted stream integrated into a housing project, ecoroofs, habitat restoration, community-based green infrastructure, and art that improve water quality, pedestrian and bike circulation, while providing a more clearly defined route to the Willamette River.
  Depart: 12:30pm |Return: 5:30pm | Cost: $30

• Portland Biking Tour
  Willamette Riverkeeper invites you to get to know our river by BIKE! Join us as we circumnavigate Ross Island, Portland’s urban oasis, using pedal power! Once we are outfitted, we will pedal over the Hawthorne Bridge, past OMSI’s submarine, and on towards the Springwater Corridor. Here we will admire views of the Ross Island heron rookery, explore Oaks Bottom Wild Refuge, and take in the largest mural in North America. Walking our bikes over the Sellwoood Bridge, we will continue riding along the SW shore, and back onto the esplanade. We will enjoy a casual pace, stopping occasionally to note points of interest concerning history, advocacy issues, restoration projects, birding opportunities and other wildlife. Camera's or binoculars are welcome. Dress for the weather, pack water and a snack. Includes bike/helmet rental and All-Day Public Transit Ticket.
  Depart: 12:30pm | Return: 5:30pm | Cost: $45

• Prairie Restoration Tour
  Get out and see the spring wildflowers of the Tualatin Valley when you tour two exemplary wet prairie restoration project with John Goetz of Ash Creek Forest Management and Monica Smiley of Tualatin Riverkeepers. These two sites, Gotter Prairie and Munger Natural Area, are owned by Metro, the regional government, and were protected by voters that passed two bond measures to acquire significant natural areas. John will lead you on a botanical mystery tour while Monica describes the creative partnerships that raised over $1 million to fund these restoration efforts. Bring your cameras!
  Depart: 12:30pm | Return: 5:30pm | Cost: $25

• Restoring Johnson Creek: Why Fish need Bicycles
  In true Portland style, experience stream restoration via bicycle along the Springwater Corridor Trail that runs alongside Johnson Creek. We'll tour several major projects on this leisurely 17-mile bike ride. To start, we'll picnic at a large salmon habitat enhancement project on the Willamette River built in 2011 with engineered log jams and a constructed riffle. Then, we'll cruise up the trail to a 40-acre floodplain reconnection project. On the way back, we'll stop at a riparian forest restoration project at an urban organic CSA farm, among other projects. Includes bike/helmet rental and All-Day Public Transit Ticket.
  Depart: 12:30pm | Return: 5:30pm | Cost: $45

• Sandy River
  Removal of the 47-foot Marmot dam in 2007 launched a long-term collaborative restoration effort in the wild and scenic Sandy River, located just east of Portland and home to some of the Lower Columbia's best remaining wild salmon and steelhead. This field trip will visit the former Marmot site for a dialog about the process of undamming a river and community-based restoration that follows. Activities will include a short hike along newly refurbished trails through late successional forest and planting that is part of preparation for anticipated future use of Marmot as a recreational and interpretive site.
  Depart: 10:30am | Return: 5:30pm | Cost: $35

• Service Project
  Stormwater Management at NE Portland Community Gardens
  Remove weeds and install rain barrels, native plants and an eco-roof kiosk at either the Muslim Community Center-owned community garden, Seeds of Understanding, and Groundwork Portland-facilitated Emerson Street Garden. This is your chance to contribute to some community-driven initiatives that reduce health and environmental disparities for a growing population of immigrants and refugees, long-term Black residents and low-income communities in the Portland metro area. This service project will be in partnership with community members that have already invested time in establishing their community gardens, and will provide ways to improve the amenities on-site, increasing access to water and native vegetation. Includes All-Day Public Transit Ticket
  Depart: 12:30pm | Return: 5:30pm | Cost: $5

• Sewer-sniffing Dogs
  This field trip will feature Savannah Riverkeeper's pilot program using trained dogs to find sewer line leaks throughout our watershed. We will highlight the relationship between the local government and the organization, demonstrate the program, and provide interested groups with information about how to bring the program to their area.
  Depart: 12:30pm | Return: 5:30pm | Cost: $20

• Tualatin River Paddle
  Enjoy a day of flatwater paddling on the Tualatin River, site of the nation’s first TMDL. Tualatin Riverkeepers will provide you with a canoe or kayak, pfd & paddle so you can paddle along and experience iconic northwest wildlife. We will paddle through the Tualatin River National Wildlife refuge serenaded by spring migrant songbirds. Bring your binoculars. Price includes boat rental, PFD and shuttle.
  Depart: 12:30pm | Return: 5:30pm | Cost: $55

• Waterfall hike, Columbia River Gorge
  Hike behind a waterfall and explore a lush hidden canyon in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The 2.7-mile hike features the lovely Horsetail Falls (176 feet) and abundant wildflowers. Join Columbia Riverkeeper for stunning scenery along mighty Columbia just 30 miles east of Portland. Includes shuttle.
  Depart: 12:30pm | Return: 5:30pm | Cost: $10

• White Salmon River: Removal, Restoration and Rafting
  Washington's White Salmon River is home to one of the nation's most impressive river restoration efforts and is also one of the most popular whitewater runs in the Pacific Northwest. Head up the scenic Columbia River Gorge and enjoy an exclusive tour of the area near the decommissioned Condit Dam and newly free-flowing White Salmon River. The tour will be lead by people directly involved in efforts to remove the dam. After the tour, we'll head upstream to enjoy continuous Class III/IV rapids and the breathtaking scenery of the White Salmon by raft. No experience necessary; click here for more information from Wet Planet about the rafting component of this trip. All gear, guides and transportation provided.

Depart: 10:00am | Return: 5:30pm | Cost: $80