Please reach us at pdxsupwitches@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Saturday October 28, 11:00am, Willamette River between Willamette Park and Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
This is a Stand Up Paddle event for experienced paddlers. No equipment will be provided but you can check Gorge Performance for rentals (reserve early). You’ll need to have your own board and gear and feel comfortable on a board. You must wear a PFD and leash, and have a whistle and a waterway permit (required by law). Paddle at your own risk: there will be no official instruction, leadership, liability, lifeguard, safety personnel or supervision. Do your due diligence with regard to checking weather conditions and assessing whether or not you have the ability to participate. Due to growing numbers each year, we’d prefer to keep this strictly a SUP event and not include kayaks, boats, canoes, ski-doos, etc. Feel free to organize your own similar event with other types of water crafts!
6 miles round trip between Willamette Park and Tom McCall Waterfront park. Do as much or as little of the route as you feel comfortable with. Please stay OUT of the middle of the river and watch out for and yield to boats. We want to strive to stay on and “hug” the land as much as we can on the west side of the river (South Waterfront side, not by Ross Island) at all times in both directions.
If you live on the east side, we highly recommend you start there (Sellwood or OMSI dock are good options) and join the group along the way. Curry Street at South Waterfront is another option for putting in on the west side.
This is a free event, but please donate to one or both organizations we are sponsoring - Stumptown Strays
There is very limited parking at Willamette Park. There simply are not enough parking spaces for everyone attending the event. So if starting at Willamette, either arrive early, carpool, have someone bring you and your board/gear, or drop off your board and gear and then go park in the Johns Landing neighborhood. You can look at a park map online to see where the other lots at the park are located. Please suggest to anyone planning to watch to NOT park at Willamette Park.
Parking at Willamette Park is not free on the day of the paddle, so to avoid a fine, make sure you pay for parking.
As of April 11, 2023, the way you pay to park in Willamette Park will be changing! Portland Parks & Recreation will be upgrading parking meters in the park to be Pay by Plate, like downtown Portland and NW 23rd. You will now enter your license plate number and do not need to display your receipt when paying at a meter. A reminder that Parking Kitty in Willamette Park is up and running and is the easiest way to Pay to Park in the City of Portland.
Technically cars without trailers are not supposed to park in the boat/trailer spots. However, if you’ve attended this event in past years you’ve likely seen single cars parking in these spots. If you choose to park there, you do so at your own risk and understand that you might receive a citation.
Again, if you live on the East side, please consider parking on that side of the river and meeting up with the group on the river.
This year we are again raising money and awarenesss for Stumptown Strays. Please donate!
100%, yes, you most definitely should. This is a group paddle for experienced stand up paddle boarders. You should be comfortable on a SUP and this event should not be your first time on a SUP. Again, this is not an event for beginners. There will be no lifeguards or anyone to guide you, no rescue teams, no one “in charge”. By participating you understand the inherent risks with being on the water, are planning in advance and doing all you can to stay safe, and that you are 100% liable for yourself. This is a non-sanctioned, casual, fun yearly event.
We are all about SAFTEY FIRST. In addition to a Stand Up Paddle Board and paddle, you’ll need to wear a leash, Personal Flotation Device (aka PFD) and whistle (both required by law), and if your board is 10’ or longer, by law you are required to have an Oregon Waterway Permit.
Contact Gorge Performance (located close to Willamette Park) in advance to reserve a rental. Portland Kayak (close to the park on Macadam) and Next Adventure Paddle might have rentals as well. You'll need to be able to pick up and transport any rentals yourself. There will be no boards for rent at the event.
PLEASE be mindful and respectful of your surroundings - other boards and people around you. There will be a combination of Inflatable SUPs and hard SUPs, please be patient and don’t allow your board to hit other boards causing potential damage, and make sure to not crowd others and give each other plenty of space.
It’s an exciting event and the energy is always high. We WILL all get on the water, just remember to be aware, patient and kind to your fellow SUP Witches.
Please stay OUT of the middle of the river and watch out for and yield to boats. We want to strive to stay on and “hug” the land as much as we can on the west side of the river (South Waterfront side, not by Ross Island) at all times in both directions.
You’re on your own for planning your itinerary and where you’ll stay if you are coming from out of town.
Best viewing points are anywhere along the water in front of Johns Landing, South Waterfront, from the Tilikum or Hawthorne Bridges, or the East Bank promenade.
If you want to watch at Willamette Park, we kindly ask that you not park in the lot and save the spots for the witches.
Witch or warlock costumes please!! Get creative, go crazy, but remember you need to be able to paddle safely and sometimes certain pieces of our costumes can be a hindrance. For your witch hat, we suggest you make sure you have a way to secure it to your head because if not, it will most likely fly off. Tying it under your chin and/or using hair pins are a couple options.
Consider water booties if your feet are sensitive to the cold. Bring a dry change of clothes to keep in the car in case you take an unexpected dip in the water.
Consider wearing layers, no cotton clothing or wool clothing, unless they're specifically made for water submersion. They get heavy and don't dry fast enough. And if it's chilly at all, you run the risk of hypothermia.
Wind: you can use the Windy app or any wind forecast web site or app of your choice.
Water temp in Willamette: https://or.water.usgs.gov/.../moni.../will_morrison_t_7.html
iSUPs (inflatable) can be very, very challenging to manage in high winds. So regarding wind, if you plan on being on an iSUP, know before you go!
Check the forecast before deciding to attend and plan accordingly. Event is rain or shine. Unless the weather will pose danger or is just too nasty for us to have fun, we will be out there! Not to jinx this, but we’ve been incredibly fortunate during past events and the weather has been cooperative (with the exception of the intense wind we had last year - but no rain!) Start casting spells now for good weather!
Consider water booties if your feet are sensitive to the cold. Bring a dry change of clothes to keep in the car in case you take an unexpected dip in the water.
Consider wearing layers, no cotton clothing or wool clothing, unless they're specifically made for water submersion. They get heavy and don't dry fast enough. And if it's chilly at all, you run the risk of hypothermia.
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