Maps courtesy of Google and Navtech. Blue is the Deschutes River. Yellow are major roads. White are minor roads. Brown are footbridges.

This is a new Park District launch spot that was constructed in 2004. It allows you to paddle both stretches above and below the Colorado Avenue Bridge by walking your boat about 250 yards between #7 and McKay Park (the portage is doable if you have tough feet, but I'd recommend sandals or watershoes).

The put-in is on the south side of the Colorado Avenue Bridge and is well signed. Cross a grass lawn and then get on a short gravel trail that leads to the water.

There's no current at the put-in spot, but once you get into the main channel you'll need to use a little muscle against the moderate current. Obviously head upstream for your workout instead of downstream into and over the dam.

The shallow beach is made up of large, smooth rocks, so if you're concerned about scratching your hull you'll need to get your feet wet when you get in and out. 

The shallow water around this put-in is usually is one of the first places on the river to freeze during cold weather. That kind of knocks this spot out of contention as a launch point during the colder months. (Be sure to read the "When to Paddle" section on the main page for important information about paddling this stretch in the winter.)

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