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

Not really a great launch spot for fitness paddling since there's a fair amount of construction activity going on but I'll mention it anyway since it's the official put-in and take-out points for Pole Pedal Paddle (PPP). Starting in 2004, the PPP water course heads upstream to before the Healy Bridge (see #10), then downstream to just before #8, and upstream again to #9

There's a no trespassing sign due to the construction on the dirt road off Columbia Street. However around PPP time access to this area for practice paddling seems to be tolerated. Park in the dirt next to one of the access points; easily identifiable as the only small beaches that slope down to the water.

Because of all of the construction and loose sand and dirt, this spot can get really dusty when the wind picks up.

If you're practicing for PPP, it's worth visiting this spot at least once just to get an idea of the start and finish. Other than that, for general fitness paddling all of the other access points on the river are much better. 

(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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