Hundreds of paddle enthusiasts gathered for the 13th year to celebrate the Water Trail that heads past Ridgefield on the Lake River.
Kaykers, canoers, paddle boarders and other paddle utilizes participated in the 5-mile round trip flotilla for the 13th Ridgefield Big Paddle event on Saturday, June 1. Some participants included seasoned veterans in the paddle community to first time venturers. Along with the flotilla, the Big Paddle event included entertainment, a beer garden courtesy of the Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce, and downtown events that connected to the waterfront with a free hayride.
The flotilla cuts through 2 1/2-river miles north on Lake River, past the wildlife refuge to the Columbia River, and back to the Port of Ridgefield launch for a 5-mile round trip journey. In 2012, the first Big Paddle event first celebrated the 32 miles of established water trail, which includes Vancouver Lake, Lake River, Columbia River, Lewis River and the Bachelor Island Slough.
To learn more about Ridgefield’s Big Paddle, visit ridgefieldwa.us/302/Big-Paddle.
