Snake River

[Lenny and Louise]

We are in the planning phase of a trip up the Columbia from Portland. We would like to continue up the Snake to Clarkson, the limit of commercial navigation. We are a tug boat, after all. Pleasure craft on the Snake are predominantly fishing and/or water ski types with gasoline engines. We are trying to locate a fuel pier that has diesel available to boats our size. If any of you have made this trip, we would appreciate your advice, observations, or just pleasant memories. Thanks.

 

[dkoivu]

Lenny,
We made this trip some time ago and it was a lovely trip in September. A few diesel stops and phone numbers (phone numbers may have changed since then) working your way upstream but the marinas' names have not changed. Port of Hood River, 541-386-1645; Port of The Dalles, 541-298-4148; Umatilla Marina, 541-922-3939; Metz Marina, located at Clover Island along Columbia River's west shore about 4 mi north of the Snake River mouth, 509-582-8709; Hell's Canyon Resort, call ahead for diesel, 509-758-6963. According to my calculations, it is approximately 300 miles from Portland to Clarkston, at 7 knot runs in those pools, your range should be approximately 342 miles with the above mentioned top offs, it should be a piece of cake.
Hope these are up to date and are of help to you.
Happy Cruising!
Dave and Bette

 

[Lenny and Louise]

Thanks Dave!

It's always good to hear from you, and you mentioned once when we were talking that you had done the trip on a previous boat. In fact, your description was part of the motivation to do this. I'm not worried about the trip from Portland to Kennewick. It's in the Snake that I need at least one stop. It is about 330 miles from Kennewick to Clarkston and back, without any exploring, turning around, etc. I'll call Hellsgate, but their website says gasoline only.

Any one else make this trip?