Sandy beach
No
Cliff jumping
Yes
Hike-in Required
No
Sensitive Habitat
Yes
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Just over 43 miles from Portland up Oregon Highway 224, the Clackamas River has carved and squeezed its way through an ancient basalt lava flow. The Narrows is a unique spot where the river becomes pinched by this now eroding igneous rock, and the current subsequently slows as the riverbed deepens. The Narrows is an amazing retreat on a hot mid-summer day.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Summer

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Deep pools. Cliff jumping. Numerous nearby campgrounds.

Cons

Peak summer crowds.

Features

Sensitive Habitat

Location

Nearby Adventures

Mt. Hood + Clackamas River Area, Oregon
Mt. Hood + Clackamas River Area, Oregon

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Mt. Hood + Clackamas River Area, Oregon
Mt. Hood + Clackamas River Area, Oregon
Mt. Hood + Clackamas River Area, Oregon

Comments

07/18/2017
It is beautiful here, but I would not say it was (small) kid friendly. I have a 15 year old and a 7 year old. Both can swim well, but I was on edge all day with my younger. If you come here you should be able to swim in a current. There are no wading spots -- if you are in the river you are swimming. The current was not strong when we were here, but probably is at certain times of the year.

We went on a week day and there was no one else here. It is not marked from the highway, but is exactly where the map provided says it is so if you use Google Maps and pull off exactly where this spot is marked you will find a path that takes you down to the Narrows.

This spot is for cliff jumping and swimming. Almost all of the spots to sit are high up so not good for really small children that might toddle to the edges. There aren't many low spots to sit by the river. Nor are there any shallow places IN the river where you can sit or wade in. For the most part if you are in the water you are swimming. The one rocky beach you see in the pictures is on the opposite side of the river from the road so to take advantage you have to cross the river, which would be difficult and possibly dangerous with smaller children.

If what you want to do is cliff jump there were several jumping spots at varying heights for that.
Can't wait to do this hike!!!!! Looks aweseome.
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