Kayak the Siuslaw on Our First Tour of
Waite Ranch and Duncan Island

Join the McKenzie River Trust and our guide from Oregon Paddle Sports for our first guided kayak tour on the Siuslaw River, exploring two of the McKenzie River Trust’s protected properties. We'll start the tour downstream from Mapleton at Waite Ranch, a 216-acre property we purchased and protected in December 2010. Learn how we are working to restore this property back to tidal estuary in the coming years. Then we'll ride the tides to neighboring Duncan Slough and around the privately owned 87-acre Duncan Island Conservation Easement where we'll see organic farming, sitka spruce forest, and estuary habitat side-by-side. Bring a lunch -- we plan to stop along the way. In the afternoon, we will circle around and paddle downstream on the main channel of the Siuslaw River with the outgoing tide, returning to Waite Ranch mid-afternoon. 

All participants on this kayak tour must be in good physical condition and have moderate kayaking experience. Participants will paddle approximately 10 miles of the Siuslaw River Estuary, spending about 4-5 hours on the water. Because of the potential for wind, participants are required to bring boats no shorter than 12 feet in length. If you do not have your own boat, we are partnering with Oregon Paddle Sports for kayak rentals. For rental information, click here or call 541-505-9020 and mention you have signed up for the MRT kayak tour on the Siuslaw River.

Bring your own kayak, lifejacket, and plenty of water. A detailed list of other items to bring, directions and expected conditions will be emailed to registrants one week prior to the tour. This is a free guided tour, offered as part of the McKenzie River Trust's Connect With the Land program. Please click 'Register Now' below to sign up, or if you have any questions, please call the McKenzie River Trust office at 541-345-2799. We hope to see you on the Siuslaw!

  Waite Ranch panorama by Tim Giraudier, Headwaters Photographic.

About Your Tour Leaders:

Kathy Keeler-Martin will be our expert guide on the water. Kathy is an expeirenced paddler and kayak guide who has led trips across the US and beyond. Kathy now works for Oregon Paddle Sports, Eugene's local retail store for paddlers.

Jodi Lemmer, MRT Land Steward and Project Coordinator for the Waite Ranch Tidal Wetland Restoration Project, and Brandi Ferguson, Development Manager, will be the McKenzie River Trust staff on this tour.