How to Float the Clackamas River - Barton to Carver

Floating from Barton to Carver down the Clackamas River in Oregon can seem a bit overwhelming if you haven't done it before. If you're like me, you like to be fully prepared for a new adventure. Here is my floating advice to help put your worries at ease.

• The float is about 6 miles long from Barton Park to Carver Park on the Clackamas River
• Depending on how fast you go & how much you stop, the float takes roughly 3-5 hours

• If you wish to float even longer, start up stream at Mciver park then join up with the rest of your friends when you float past Barton Park.
• There are very small rapids (class 2 are the biggest there, which are fun but not scary)
• The water can be chilly, but definitely very swimmable and refreshing on hot summer days.
• There are public bathrooms at each park, but none along the way.
• There are plenty of places to get out and eat or swim.

Get There Early

My first floating tip is to make sure you get there early. This float takes roughly 3-5 hours, but that depends completely on how fast you want to go, and how often you stop to get out and eat or swim. Some of the water moves kind of fast but there are long stretches of the river that are very slow and you can either paddle through or let it slowly take you down. I wouldn't get there later than about 2pm. The earlier you get to Barton, the better. Another reason to get there early is because on a hot weekend day, parking fills up extremely fast. Barton Park has a huge parking area ($5 for an all day pass) but by about 12pm on a hot weekend day it will fill up and you'll be forced to make the long hike carrying your rafts from one of the nearby streets. Pro Tip: Don't forget sunscreen!

Get The Right Floaties

Making sure you get the right raft(s) to float on is extremely important. You're going to be in your flotation device for about 3-5 hours, sometimes longer, so make sure it's comfortable. My favorite thing to float on is a full raft with seats or a nice inter-tube with a back rest. A full sized river raft can also hold your cooler, dry bags, paddles, and water bottles. I've floated the river in a plain inter-tube before, and not only is it uncomfortable, but I personally like the option to be up and out of the water at times, which you cannot do in a simple inter-tube. I also recommend bringing some paddles for your raft because some of the rapids can be a bit strong. Paddles are essential to steer yourself down the river and they also give you the option of paddling yourself through some of the slower areas if you're feeling hasty. Another reason I recommend a nice raft is because many parts of the river are a bit rocky. As in, you will actually hit on your butt with rocks if you're not up high enough. Trust me, this is not fun.
Pro tip: Get one of those electric inflation devices to blow up your rafts. There are many affordable ones available today that easily hook into your car's cigarette lighter. This will save you an insane amount of time as well as a headache from trying to blow up your raft.

Bring Water & Food

Floating is usually an all-day event and at some point you're going to get hungry. It's key to have some snacks with you and I highly recommend packing a nice lunch. There are plenty of places for you and your friends to stop and get out to have lunch. We usually pack a few sandwiches and throw them into our cooler for the float along with some drinks and other snacks.

Bring plenty of water. Being in the sun all day can easily dehydrate you. Fill that Hydro flask up with some ice water and drink it throughout the day. Good friends make sure their friends are hydrated! Alcohol + sun can easily lead to head exhaustion which could turn deadly on the river.

Rule #1 of river food and drink: DO NOT LITTER. Bring a plastic bag for everyone to throw their trash in. There are plenty of trash cans at the end of the float. Please help keep the river and wildlife clean for all to enjoy.

Bring Two Cars

Unless you plan on hitchhiking your way back up to your car, you'll need to have a second car waiting at the bottom of the river to drive you back up to your other one. So whoever you're going with, two of you will have to drive. Park one car at Carver Park then drive everyone back up to Barton Park. Keep in mind that parking is usually about $5 at both parks for an all day pass. Though the float takes roughly 3-5 hours, it's only about a 10 min drive between parks.

Dry Bag & Rope

Getting yourself a nice Dry Bag will save you a lot of trouble. You're probably going to want to bring your phone, your camera, your keys and probably some other valuables with you down the river but you don't want them to get wet or even fall in. Invest in a nice dry bag, they're not too expensive on Amazon, and just shove it all in there. Having a dry bag will also make you very popular among your friends for giving them a place to keep their phones. 

I also recommend bringing a some rope! Polypropylene rope is inexpensive and floats. Rope is super useful for tying your rafts together. Pick up a couple of large carabiners while you're at it to easily hook items onto your rafts. I like hooking my Crocs and water bottle to the raft to ensure they won't float away.

Follow The Law & Be Respectful

While drinking alcoholic beverages on the river is technically prohibited, most people do it anyway. If you do plan on drinking, make sure you are safe and respectful to those around you on the river. Remember that you, or someone in your party, will have to drive at the end. There have been many alcohol-related accidents and even deaths on this river, so be safe. Once again, please make sure not to litter your cans or bottles. There are also life jacket laws. I've never actually been checked, but if you're floating in a raft it's a good idea to have a life jacket for everyone on board as well as a safety whistle. 

Know that there are plenty of loud drunk people floating down this river. If you plan on bringing kids, just take note that this river can turn into a giant party river on weekends and may be more dangerous or inappropriate for kids. I would recommend going mid-week if you plan on making this a trip for the whole family.