Molalla River State Park
This fine state park has a tremendous amount of acreage at the confluence of the Molalla and Willamette rivers. During the flood of 1996 and again in 2005-2006 the area around the confluence was inundated, with massive wood debris jams being carried downstream and deposited within the park. Although the entire park didn’t flood, a significant portion was covered with the brown, swirling water.
Located in Canby, the park provides boat access via a small, old boat ramp downstream from the confluence. There are picnic tables, restrooms, and running water. The park’s main attraction is the lowland cottonwood forest and open meadow areas, with their associated bird species, such as pileated woodpecker.
For more information go to: Molalla River State Park
Travis Williams Apr 17, 2013
You can camp at the Confluence of the Molalla River and the Willamette River on the gravel bar. You might be able to obtain special permission to camp here if you are a multi day water trail user.
Bryan Jan 16, 2014
The confluence of the Molalla and Willamette is about a mile upstream from the boat ramp, not just upstream. The lowlands which you must hike through to get to the confluence below the large fields in the park flood each year, though as the article mentions, some years are worse than others. You actually cross the old Molalla channel (very old, there’s an old model T in a pile of dead trees) to get there.
Doug Decker Aug 14, 2016
Put in here on a hot August afternoon to enjoy a paddle up and down, and to work on our kayak wet exits and self-rescues, but the motorized traffic on the river was overwhelming with too much noise and crashing of wakes. If you are looking for quiet, avoid this spot on a hot summer weekend, or plan your visit early or late.
William Clark Jul 19, 2023
The Pudding River/Molalla River confluence is also in the park a bit upstream on the Molalla R from the Molalla River-Willamette confluence.