Elk Rock Island

This island is a fantastic property that was donated to the City of Portland by the Kerr family. A small embayment makes for a good canoe or kayak stop, and a path circles the edge of the property. The island contains seven distinct habitats, including wetlands, forests, and grasslands. At high water the island is truly an island, but during most of the year it is a peninsula accessible by land from adjacent Dogwood Park. Willamette Riverkeeper and others have worked with the City of Portland during the past few years to conduct restoration work on the island.

Elk Rock Island represents part of an ancient volcano that erupted about 40 million years ago. The large, jagged rocks (Waverly Heights basalt) found throughout the island were formed by lava flows, and may be the oldest exposed rock in the Portland area.  Across the river, there are high cliffs which are Elk Rock proper. A Native American legend holds that this was a good spot to stampede a herd of elk over the cliff. The island gets its name from being near Elk Rock.