Although the weather has been remarkably uncooperative, summer is technically just around the corner. And summer in Eugene means, among other things, floating the river. Here’s an easy guide on how to float the river right.
Start out by renting the right equipment. Many students use old tire inner tubes, but there is no need to go this more expensive and dangerous route.
Instead, stop by the Outdoor Program Trip Facility run by the UO Outdoor Program. Here you can rent classier, better quality whitewater float tubes for only $5 a day. And for the safety-inclined, which should be everyone, lifejackets can be rented for only $4 a day. The Outdoor Program Trip Facility is located at the corner of 18th and University and can be reached at (541) 346-4371.
Don’t forget to bring the other necessities. No full day should be spent in the sun without a bottle of sunscreen. And towels at the end of your journey will be indispensable. A cooler full of snacks and drinks can also be brought along in an extra tube, and the cold water of the river will help those ice-cold beverages stay cold even longer. It’s also important to bring shoes to help you navigate against objects in the river. Slip-on water shoes are a convenient option, since they usually have good treads and won’t get stinky after being in the water all day.
Now that you have everything you need, it’s time to depart. First, leave a car at Alton Baker Park, where your journey will end. After you’ve done that, go to the best local starting point: Island Park in Springfield. The park is a little past the Franklin Boulevard bridge in Springfield. If you depart from there, the trip should take anywhere from two to three hours to complete.
During the trip, there are a few things to watch out for. There are rapids underneath the I-5 bridge that are difficult to navigate, as are the rapids underneath the Autzen foot bridge. But other than that, the majority of the journey will be smooth. Also, keep an eye out for submerged objects like logs and rocks. A run in with a log going down a river can quickly turn a fun situation into a very dangerous one (It’s a good thing you have a life jacket, though).
As long as you follow all these rules, floating the river can be a fun way to spend that last Saturday before finals.
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