Bachelor Island Circumnavigation - L2 - T2677

When
September 16, 2026
9:00 AM
Location
Ridgefield Kayak Launch
Spaces left
3
Registered
7 registrants

Registration

Members with wet exit certification
Active club members with wet exit certification, including kayaking professional and lifetime.
TO and Safety
Password Reserved for TO use

Full Name:: Jim Clute
Narrative:: Join Jim and Monte on Jim’s second mentor paddle. The weather forecast looks beautiful for a late summer circumnavigation of Bachelor Island near Ridgefield, WA Wednesday, Sept 16th.

Plan to arrive by 9:00a at Ridgefield’s “Lake River Ridgefield Kayak Launch”. Coming from I-5, Pioneer Street to the West will take you through Ridgefield’s downtown to its waterfront; then jog north along the waterfront to a westward “tail” of Division Street leading to the Kayak launch and parking. Kayakers and paddle boarders enjoy easy access to the launch area with free city right-of-way parking.

If new to the area, note how Ridgefield restored public access to a waterfront that housed an industrial wood-treatment facility in the 60’s through the 90’s. After environmental cleanup, the City and Port or Ridgefield developed the current waterfront access. Future development plans are in “active debate” over how urbanized and “built up” the area surrounding the port (and adjacent to the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge) should become.

The ~190’ portage to the kayak launch is largely down a graveled ramp: A kayak cart or assistance carrying kayaks is suggested, and all are encouraged to help their fellow paddlers :)

We’ll target our safety talk for 9:30a and our launch for 9:45a.

From the launch, we’ll paddle Lake River, Bachelor Slough, and the Columbia River for a clockwise circumnavigation of Batchelor Island, returning to Ridgefield on Lake River.

Located west of Ridgefield, Batchelor Islands’ non-vegetated beaches are open to the public and administered by the WA Dept. of Natural Resources. The vegetated interior is part of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and closed to the public. Typical wildlife sightings may include herons, eagles, egrets, osprey, otters, and more.
Expect a stronger ebb tide facilitating our paddle down the Columbia and a weakening ebb tide for our return upstream along Lake River after lunch.

We’ll plan at least two beach stops (with options for more): Briefly at the 1st & lunch at 2nd:
a) Likely near the tip of the island where the slough meets the Columbia (~3 nm)
b) Likely near the mouth of Lake River (~6.3 nm)

Total distance: Approx 8.4 nautical miles (9.7 statute miles).
Bring lunch and snacks, sunscreen, and possibly a camp chair for lunch
No immersion-wear required (though the water is cooling from its summer warmth)

Total time on the water (w/ breaks and wildlife stops) ~ 4.5 hours

Meeting Time:: 9:00:00 AM
Launch Time:: 9:45:00 AM
Type of activity:: Paddle Trip
Put in:: Lake River Ridgefield Kayak Launch, 109 W. Division St, Ridgefield, WA
Take out:: Lake River Ridgefield Kayak Launch, 109 W. Division St, Ridgefield, WA
Route Alternative for bad weather:: Shorten paddle, avoid Columbia River exposure
Required equipment::
Minimum Immersion protection:: None
Primary Organizer:: Jim Clute
Co-Organizer(s):: Monte Johnson
Has organizer paddled here before?: Yes
Has organizer led an OOPS paddle here before?: No
Organizer's first aid and CPR current?: Yes
First Aid /CPR Person::
Maximum number of paddlers:: 10
I certify that I understand and will conduct this activity in accordance with the OOPS Activity Policy:: Yes
Estimated Air Temperature:: 60-70 F
Estimated Water Temperature:: 65-70 F
Estimated Water Time (including breaks/lunch):: 4.5 hours
Tide times & heights:: H 9:02am 1.3ft, L 3:00pm 0.2ft
Current information:: .5 to 1.5 knots
Hazards:: Shipping traffic
Wind strength:: Level 1: 0-7 knots (8 mph)
Waves, Swell, Breaking Waves: Level 1: Under 1' waves, no breaking waves
Sea state:: Level 1: Waves up to the deck seam; water glassy to rippled, no whitecaps
Landing types:: Level 2: Frequent landing opportunities including docks or moderate sloping banks, brush or overhanging trees
Currents:: Level 2: Mild currents (up to 2 knots): current increases / decreases group speed by half
Total distance:: Level 2: 6 to 11 miles
Open crossing:: Level 1: Less than 0.5 miles
Paddling Environment::
Overall rating:: Level 2
Rating Comments::
Location:: Lake River Ridgefield Kayak Launch, 109 W. Division St, Ridgefield, WA
Photos (Optional)::
COVID-19 Status of Trip:: Participants of this trip may, or may not, be vaccinated for Covid-19
Tide Station:: St. Helens
Link to map of route (Optional):https://caltopo.com/p/2B189

Oregon Ocean Paddling Society
Portland, Oregon