KAYAKING AND CANOEING THE ALBION RIVER
Kayaks and canoes are now available to rent
at the campground for use on the Albion River. Rentals include life
vests for your safety. Pack your pick nick and head up stream for a
self guided leisurely day on the river. What will you see? Click on
the link to river photos below.
Albion River Campground is
at the mouth of the Albion River with easy access to both the ocean and
river. Albion
bay is a great place for novices and intermediate paddlers to explore
when the waves are not crashing (trails.com ).
When the water conditions are right, there are miles of coastline for
the experienced paddlers to explore. You will find islands, caves, coves,
kelp beds, and resident harbor seals. Take a rod and you might even find
a fish. Your National Weather Service weather radio is the best source
for up-to-the-minute water conditions in our area. Always plan on wind
by around midday.
On the other hand, there are also miles of river which
can be explored most anytime. Do not forget, the Albion River is tide
influenced for about five miles up river so plan your trips with the
flow. With high tide, you can paddle to the willows that block the channel.
That is one "long ways" up the river. What is beyond the willows? Just
around the bend beyond the willows is the Albion North Fork. I never
had the desire to investigate any farther. Patches of blackberries are
another story. Blackberry vines require an immediate and thorough investigation
for ripe berries, mostly during July, when spotted along the river's
edge. The river's edge also harbors many landmarks of early redwood logging
and railroad history. Finding the many artifacts and determining their
purpose will highlight many trips for investigation.
We will tell you about the largest landmark! Up the
river and behind the floating cabin on the right is a dam with a narrow
opening. The last known use for the dam was as a roadbed for the railroad
completed in 1904. Location of the dam to power the water wheel for the
first saw mill is still in question. The reason we are telling you about
this one is to advise you of the current that still builds with the tides
through the narrow opening in the dam. There is quite a nice shoreline
inside the dammed area, especially at high tide, that you may want to
see. However, with bad timing, you may have trouble getting in or out.
You can always portage over the dam or wait for slack tide.
Many other artifacts remain for your investigation.
There are still piling formations visible from the river. Most of them
were associated with the old standard gage railroad and its many log
delivery functions. Not so visible are the foundations for the first
sawmill structure by the dam, logging operations and, yes, even towns
where the loggers lived. River towns like Brett and Clearbrook Junction
disappeared with the industry.
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