Canoe for Two: A Thru-Paddle of the Columbia River

One of the best ways to see Lake Roosevelt is by boat. Want to take it to the next level? How about paddling the entire length of the Columbia River via canoe?

Well, that’s exactly what British Columbia natives, Anton and Joshua decided to do! Anton and Joshua started their journey on June 29, 2024, by launching at Canal Flats, in British Columbia. By July 31, 2024, they had completed their journey at Clatsop Spit, totaling 33 days along the Columbia River.

Joshua (left) and Anton (right) arrived at Crescent Bay Boat Launch at Lake Roosevelt on July 17, 2024.

NPS photo

During their journey, Anton and Joshua spent a fair amount of time on Lake Roosevelt, soaking up the sounds and sights, while battling choppy waters and strong headwinds. Lake Roosevelt marked the half-way point on their journey.

On day 19 of their journey, we got to catch up with Anton and Joshua to learn a little more about their adventure. At this point, they could confidently say some of the highlights on the trip were from Lake Roosevelt:

“Meeting a couple people on Lake Roosevelt…that have been super friendly and welcoming,” said Anton. Joshua agreed. “High point was our welcoming into Washington…. Probably the second boat we saw in Washington started [calling to] us. We had a bit of a conversation… and then invited us back to their camp for dinner. Yeah, and fed us a nice steak dinner and salad and then ended up out on their wake boat that evening. Anton learned how to wake surf for the first time.”

On the contrary, it was particularly windy while they were visiting. Joshua said “Dealing with headwinds is a little frustrating at times. Padding, paddling, and you look at the shore and you’ve barely gone anywhere.” It was also extremely hot while they were paddling Lake Roosevelt, but they both agreed they’d rather take on the heat than strong winds and rain. Drinking lots of water and being able to soak their shirts and hats made all the difference. They even swam a couple times a day to keep their bodies cool during the heat.

Joshua, enjoying a dinner on a private beach along Lake Roosevelt.

Photo courtesy Anton @notnau (Instagram)

On their journey, they met some wonderful people. As they were pulling to shore for a lunch break one day, there was another canoer on the beach, the only canoer they had seen for 19 days. It turns out this canoer paddled the Columbia River 25 years ago! They were able to exchange stories, and she even gave them some tips for their journey. “What are the odds of that?” said Joshua.

Captain Gifford, the rubber duck, leading the way to Astoria, Oregon!

NPS photo

They also met a couple that live near Gifford who donated the rubber duck that sits on the bow of their canoe for the rest of the journey (don’t worry, he’s anchored down with super glue). “We named him Captain Gifford, from the town that they’re from,” said Anton. “He’s going to be with us until the Pacific [Ocean].”

"River angels" have helped transport their canoe around obstacles, such as the Grand Coulee Dam.

Photo courtesy Anton @notnau (Instagram)

We met up with Anton and Joshua at Crescent Bay, where they were lucky enough to have a “river angel” help them drive themselves, their canoe, and their gear, around the Grand Coulee Dam. Just in case they couldn’t find help along the way, they built a canoe cart to help them portage around the various dams they’d encounter on the length of the Columbia River.

So, why paddle the Columbia? “To see all the beautiful country…. This way I get to see so much country that I [wouldn’t] be able to see,” said Anton. Joshua agreed. After hiking the Pacific Crest Trail last summer, he was looking for a similar kind of experience with a shorter time commitment. He learned about paddling the Columbia River, called up Anton, and they set out on their journey.

Sunset over Lake Roosevelt.

Photo courtesy Anton @notnau (Instagram)

Overall, their time on Lake Roosevelt became a memory they will remember forever. To them, this place is special, and they were so impressed with the diversity of the landscape from the north to the south parts of the lake. “Being able to paddle [all of Lake Roosevelt] over four days and within a day, see the landscape around you change and go from forest to big, huge white sandy cliffs and then down here into the desert. It’s just so diverse in such a small area.”

Anton and Joshua have since completed their journey, but you can look back at their memories by following them on Instagram at @notnau and @jmanthecheff.