This is the main launch ramp for Toledo. It is located next to the Toledo Airport. This is about 2-miles down stream on the Yaquina River, about at green buoy 47. A good single lane ramp is next to a dock. There is an additional “waiting” dock at right angles, going downstream. This facility is owned by the Port of Toledo and has no fees. Parking is good, and again, no fees.

Location

GPS Location: 44.59854, -123.93854

OpenStreet Map

From Toledo, take the bridge across the Yaquina River at the paper mill. Continue on SE Butler Bridge Road for about 1/2-mile and then take S. Bay Road to the right. Follow this for 1/2-mile and take Ramp Road to the right.

Launch Description

The ramp and associated dock project into the river. The surface is good and long enough to be available at all tides. The slope is average but deep keel sailboats should be careful. The river can have 14+ feet of tidal range. Halfway between high and low, or low and high, the flow of the river can be an issue. It is perpendicular to the ramp and can be an issue to arriving or leaving the dock. Consider using the attached dock that is parallel to the river. This requires some hand line fussing to get the boat onto a trailer. The best alternative is probably high tide, if your schedule allows. The ramp is generally OK at all tides [Need ramp depth at zero tide].

Water Character

The river is navigable and has a NOAA chart up to the Butler bridge. Use of the river really needs the chart and knowledge of using it. At low tides, shallow areas are everywhere. For many small boats,the current can be an issue. Have a tide table and use it. Traffic on the river can include bigger commercial fishing boats. Smaller recreational fishing boats can be abundant when the fish are running.

Between the ramp and Toledo, near the shipyard, boaters should stay to the outside of the bend in the river. There are hazards and shoals on the inside even where it looks like you can take a shortcut! The picture below is an example.