Lower Columbia Boat Launches

Lower Columbia Boat Launches

Boat launches in the area:
Boat launches on the Columbia river from the mouth to Bonneville dam will be shown here when this article is complete.   There are many launches on both the Washington & Oregon side of the river in this vicinity.

(1) Illwaco::   Port of Illwaco 165 Howerton Ave., Illwaco, WA 98624 360-642-3143                      $5.00
(2) Fort Canby:: (State Park)                                                                                                               $5.00
(3) Chinook:: Port of Chinook 1 Portland St., Chinook, WA 98614 360-777-8797                           $5.00
(6) Hammond:: Hammond Marina 1099 Iredale St., Hammond, OR 97121 503-861-319             $5.00
                                                                                                             with a parking fee of                $5.00
(7) Warrenton:: Warrenton Marina 550 NE Harbor Pl., Warrenton, OR 97146 503-861-3822,
                                                                        harbormaster's cell 503-791-1925 launch fee           $5.00
(8) Skipanon Marina:: Skipanon Marina 200 NE Skipanon Drive, Warrenton, OR 97146 503-861-0362
(9) Youngs bay Yacht Club:: Youngs Bay Park Astoria, OR 503-325-7275                                      free
(10) East mooring basin ramp::    foot of 36th St. Astoria, OR                                                          free
(11) John Day River ramp:: (Tongue Pt) (county launch)                                                                $3.00
(4) Deep River:: Eva's Bait & Tackle 121 Onieda Rd., Naselle, WA 98638 360-465-2582          $5.00
(13) Skomokiwa
(15) Cathlamet:: Elochoman Marina P.O. Box 651, Cathlamet, WA 98612 360-795-3501            $3.00
(15) Beaver Creek:: Claskinine OR. on the right on the west side of town                                      free
(16) Willow Grove::   West of Longview (described below)                                                              $5.00
(17) Rainier OR
(18) Gearhart Gardens:: Longview                                                                                                      free
(19) Kalama
(20) St Helens OR
(   ) Lewis River launch: Private & pay fee
(   ) Kalama Boat Basin launch ::

The launch at Illwaco is off the main road into town just after you drop down off the hill, take a left at the sign that says launching ramp. If you miss that, then just go to the stop light, turn left and the frontage road at the dock area, follow it to the eastern end & around the boat basin to the launch on the south east side. There is a nice new two lane ramp, also a sling, & with lots of paved parking. The fuel dock is near the launch.    The channel was dredged the summer of 2003.

For Fort Canby, you have to go west thru the town of Illwaco, at the stop light, west & south & then back east, winding thru the park then down to the ramp. The State Parks is planning to improve this launch in the early summer of 2004. The plans are to install a 3rd lane & to increase parking.

The Chinook launch is off Portland Street. It has a new concrete ramp and a sling, parking has been expanded & some overflow is along the streets. Also the channel out of the Chinook harbor was dredged as of September 2003, so navigating out of here for the small boat should be a lot better.

Deep River: This launch is used by many sturgeon & salmon fishermen. Eva's Bait & tackle 121 Onieda Rd Nasselle WA 98638 360-465-2582. It takes 30 minutes to run from this launch to the Astoria bridge. This launch is located off State Hiway 4 between Naselle & Cathlamet. If you are coming from Longview on Hiway 4, you would go thru Cathlamet, Skamokawa, up over a large hill, & there is a community of Rosburg. The next river you cross will be Deep River, this is a low concrete bridge. This is 25 miles from Cathlamet. TAKE A LEFT AT THE WEST END OF THE BRIDGE ONTO ONIEDA RD. This is a private single lane blacktop ramp, small loading dock, & a reasonable parking lot, but a large mowed field as an overflow lot. There is also in an adjacent field of about 5 acres room for dry camping. The one drawback here is at a low tide the channel as you enter the bay is also narrow. The pay/bait shack is on the top of a hill before you get to the ramp area. Launch fee is $7 and camping is $10, or $13 with power, She also has fresh bait every morning at about 5:30AM during the season.

This launch is popular with sturgeon fishermen as well as salmon fishermen & this time of the year you may have to wait to launch or load at the prime times. There is not enough dock area to tie up to for more than launching & loading purposes. You would have to load your boat back on the trailer if you were going to stay overnight. They do not allow power loading because the rock off the end of the ramp can be washed out. There are Sanicans for restrooms here. A fish cleaning station is also provided.

At low tide the channel is narrow. There is a deadhead log that has one end floating, but appear to not be submerged at high tide & are most always showing. It is West & close to Rocky Pt & between Portuguese Point in more open water, but if you hang wide at Rocky Pt, you should be outside of it.

The piling markers for the Deep River channel seem to use their own numbers, & after you get in the bay some of these numbers may be repeated.

When you run out of the river & enter the bay you need to follow the piling markers close, but stay on the right hand side going out, water depth will be between 6' & 9' on a low tide. These markers are all within sight of each other (150yds) unless you get fog, which may be occasionally in the mornings. The 1st piling out will be #16, then #14, & then #12. From here you start into a right hand corner to #10. Between #10 & 8 is where it is sanded in. Swing close toward the RH shore from #12 to loop around #10, then toward #8, staying to it's right, you will be in the channel. Now from here you can follow the shore piling on down to Rocky Point. Do not hold tight to this marker here as it sits on a rock outcropping. Make another right hand corner beyond the point & head Southwest for about 400yd to within 100yd of the shore. You will now head South keeping the shore on your right, heading toward but keeping West of piling marker #14A .

Willow Grove: This launch is west of Longview & operated by the Cowlitz County Dept. of Public Works. The picture below says yearly launch permits obtainable at 360-577-3030.

Willow Grove ramps	Willow Grove preparation area

Take I-5 south to the first Longview exit, (Exit 40) to Hiway 4 & on to Long Beach. You need to take a right at this exit & go past the school & south toward town. At the stop light (2^nd) at the bridge get in the right hand turning lane, take a right & go over the bridge. You will need to be in the RH lane later on & with a boat behind, this is a good time to move over while on the bridge, as you may have less other traffic.

The 2^nd stop light after the bridge has a free Right turn onto Hiway 4 to Cathlamet.

Stay on Hiway 4 & go thru the west part of town. When you get to the far western outskirts there will be another stop light that will be the intersection of Hiway 432. It will say Willow Grove Launch, take a left at this stop light.

The next right in about a mile will be the Willow Grove Rd, take it and a couple of miles, beyond the boat moorage & house boats, when you think you may have missed it, the launch will be the just ahead on the left. The preparation area is to the far left as you enter.

This is a good 4 lane paved concrete ramp. The parking area has 7 lanes of towing vehicle & trailer spots having 32 spots per lane. But, even on a weekend by 10AM they can be all taken during the salmon season. The rest rooms are at the head of the ramps. There is a picnic area is on the west side of the parking & separated from it.

The pay booth has been known to be temperamental in accepting your $5.00 bills, so have more than just one.

Close to Bonneville Dam : Upriver near Bonneville Dam there are a couple of launches. Just below the dam on the Washington side of the river is Fort Cascades Boat Ramp, this however is a steep ramp & in swifter water. Directions for it are, at Bonneville Dam area on SR 14, R on Dam Access Rd; go to stop sign. R, go 1.3 mi; L at boat ramp sign.

Below that a few miles is Beacon Rock State Park & a good protected double lane launch with a dock.

	Beacon Rock launch

Last updated 01-06-2006 Last updated 06-10-07
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