Best Paddle Board Launch in Lake Oswego: Why Locals Choose Roehr Park

Roehr Park in Lake Oswego has parking and easy water access for paddle boards and kayaks to the Willamette River

Looking for a great place to launch your paddle board or kayak?

Roehr Park in Lake Oswego is a 7.5 acre developed riverfront area along the Willamette River that includes viewing decks, lighted pathways, and bathrooms . There is plenty of parking nearby and easy ramps to wheel or carry your paddle boards or kayaks.

Skip the Crowds: Launch Your Paddle Board or Kayak at Roehr Park

George Rogers Park is overcrowded with not enough parking in the summers. And it will be worse this summer with construction of the river pathway.

https://www.oldtownlakeoswego.org/post/visiting-george-rogers-park-in-summer-here-s-what-to-know

Locals recommend visiting Roehr Park which has more parking and easier access to the Willamette River. The photos speak for themselves.

"It's especially nice at Roehr on hot evenings and weekends when the other parks are crowded and it's so frustrating finding parking," a neighbor told me. "There is lots of parking close to the dock ramp, especially on nights and weekends because you can park in the commercial office space parking lot which isn't used then."

A great place to launch your paddle board or kayak into the Willamette River!

Mens, Women's and All Gender bathrooms and a water fountain

Nice places to sit and a large platform above the ramp down to the river

Roehr Park is hard to find because the signs for it are not on the parking lot so locals who walk the path, know about it and most others don't.

Roehr Park is at 350 Oswego Pointe Drive near the Foundry Event Center and Foothills Park

The Foundry Event Center has a great video showing the location.

https://thefoundrylakeoswego.com/

Lots of parking, especially in the evenings and weekends. You can usually park right next to the path to the ramp.

Here's what you'll find after the parking lot - lots of ramps to get down to the water

There are nice ramps down to the river dock

Public parking for Roehr Park is primarily located in the shared office/commercial complex at 350 Oswego Pointe Drive, Lake Oswego, OR 97034. This parking area is straightforward and situated directly adjacent to the park's scenic waterfront pathways and amphitheater.  Once you enter the parking lot, you'll see the Floundry Building (that's an event space). Drive down to the right to the end and you'll find the path leading to Roehr Park dock and ramp. It's not signed from the parking lot.

If the Foundry is having an event, the parking will fill up closest to the entrance to their building and there are plenty of spaces in front of the commercial buildings that are closest to the path. Also know the City hosts outdoor concerts at Foothills Park on Wednesday nights in July so parking will be difficult to find for river access with your paddleboard at Roehr those evenings. Here's the concert schedule. There's also one at Foothills Park on a Saturday night in August.

https://www.oldtownlakeoswego.org/post/outdoor-summer-concerts-2026-in-lo

Additional parking in the immediate vicinity includes: 

Foothills Park Parking Lot (199 Foothills Drive): Located a short distance to the north, offering additional general parking and dedicated ADA-accessible spots. 

Because Roehr Park connects directly to the Foothills Park trail system, starting your visit at either lot provides easy pedestrian access along the Willamette River. 

Beautiful wide part of the Willamette River to paddle or kayak are easily accessed from Roehr Park

The large "platform area" along the Willamette River at Roehr Park has a few picnic tables and areas to blow up your river craft.

Know that Roehr Park can be rented for private events but the ramps to the water are always open to the public for use.

Roehr Park ramp and dock along the Willamette River

Looking for Easy Willamette River Access? Roehr Park Is Lake Oswego's Hidden Gem

There are public restrooms and a large parking lot within a few feet of the water.

Learn more about Roehr Park from the City of Lake Oswego's website:

https://www.ci.oswego.or.us/parksrec/roehr-park

Also check out nearby Lake Oswego Rowing Club. Their website says, "Lake Oswego Community Rowing is a non-profit 501(c)(3) community rowing club operating from the Charlie S. Brown Water Sports Center on the Willamette River with programs for everyone 12 years old and up.

We are the only boathouse in the Portland area to offer Learn-to-Row and experienced and competitive rowing programs for both youth and adults."

https://lorowing.com/

Also check out nearby Foothills Park, a large grassy waterfront park with picnic areas and walking trails, plus a platform overlooking the Willamette river along with a dock.

Highlights: Public restroom · Dogs on leashes allowed · Picnic tables

Dock with water access Plenty of free parking

Address: 199 Foothills Rd, Lake Oswego, OR 97034

Foothills Park is a short walk from Roehr Park and has plenty of free parking

Roehr Park and Foothills Park share the same parking area and there are paved walking paths between the two parks. Roehr Park is small; Foothills Park is very large.

For paddle boarding and kayaking also check out West Linn's Cedar Oak Boat Launch which is a long the river with lots of parking. 4600 Elmran Drive West Linn, Oregon. It's an 11 minute drive from Foothills Park in Lake Oswego to this boat ramp.

Learn more at: https://westlinnoregon.gov/parksrec/cedaroak-boat-ramp

Another place recommended (which I haven't been to) is Cook Park on the Tualatin River.

A friend asked me if you need a permit to paddle board on the Willamette. I've heard there's no one that checks/tickets for this except on really busy hot days when the River Police are out, but asking AI I learned:

"Yes, you need a Waterway Access Permit to paddle board on the Willamette River.  Under Oregon law, all residents and out-of-state operators of non-motorized paddle craft—including stand-up paddle boards (SUPs), kayaks, canoes, and rafts—must carry a valid permit on the water. Failing to show the permit upon request from law enforcement is a Class D violation that carries a $115 fine."