Tucked in the piney forests along the scenic Clackamas River, the historic city of Estacada sits only 30 miles southeast of Portland and offers an awesome base camp for hiking, hot springs, art and more. Founded as a timber town about a century ago, the community of approximately 5,000 people today is growing quickly for good reason. You can spend your days playing disc golf, rafting through rollicking rapids and wandering among millions of acres of wilderness right out the door. Come evening, you’ll find fun breweries and restaurants to keep you going. Here is a quick roundup of all that’s fun in Estacada.
Rafting, Hiking and Disc Golf on the Clackamas River
The Clackamas River starts in the high Cascades south of Mt. Hood and tumbles for about 85 miles west to join the Willamette River, forming the watery lifeline of Estacada along the way. To get your bearings, take a drive along the river by following Highway 224 — the Clackamas Highway — upstream toward Ripplebrook, where you’ll find a campground and a seasonal store. Stop here for information about soaking in the Bagby Hot Springs, a rustic, natural soaking spot with hand-hewn log tubs accessible via a 1.4-mile-long trail that continues on into the Bull of the Woods Wilderness.
During the warmer months, the river is a great place to relax and recharge. You can rent paddleboards and kayaks from Clackamas River Outfitters for a leisurely float on Estacada Lake from Timber Park. For splashy thrills on the river’s more riotous sections, book a whitewater-rafting trip with Blue Sky Rafting to bounce through Class III and IV rapids. Meet fellow river enthusiasts at the two-day Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival, which kicks off in May each year. Milo McIver State Park sits along the southern banks of the river in town and offers ADA-accessible fishing from a dock, 44 RV sites with electrical hookups, nine tent sites for camping and disc-golf courses at the Riverbend Day-Use Area. To stretch your legs, try the 2.1-mile Dog Creek and Rivermill Trail Loop.
Murals, Art Classes and Amazing Gifts
Estacada’s rich history — from the Native peoples who lived along the river to the town’s boom years as one of the country’s largest exporters of ginseng — comes alive in 20 murals painted around town by the nonprofit Artback Collective. Don’t miss works like “Heart of the Clackamas,” a painting that celebrates the founding of the town, which turns 120 years old in 2025.
Estacada’s creative nerve center sits on Broadway Street at the Spiral Gallery, a co-op where artists display their paintings in watercolor and oil, and sculpture in wood and metal. You’ll also find jewelry and pottery inside. Time your visit for the first Friday of the month when this co-op offers wine, snacks and live music. The Artsmith nearby sells supplies but also holds classes and showcases paintings, prints and handmade cards made by locals.
For more gift ideas, swing by Mossy Rock for birdhouses and feeders, as well as crystals and natural-history books. Wade Creek Vintage Marketplace houses antiques and other vintage items from more than 25 vendors in a main building, a barn and an old chicken coop on-site.
Where to Eat and Get a Beer
When it’s time to refuel, Estacada has a variety of food trucks, restaurants and markets to keep you going. Start your day with a buttermilk-pancake breakfast at The Country Restaurant & Lounge. Want to get outside? Swing by The Grind Coffee House for your morning jolt to go as well as turkey pita sandwiches.
On Saturdays May through September, the Estacada Farmers Market offers produce from local vendors as well as crafts and toys. The Old Mill Saloon has burritos, birria and homemade salsas, as well as an outdoor fire pit for warming up. The Cazadero Steakhouse — named after a dam on the Clackamas River built in 1904 — overlooks the river and delights guests with seafood pastas, fried chicken and steaks. Lew’s Drive-In keeps it real with vintage diner decor, three-patty burgers, chili dogs and milkshakes.
Time Travelers Brewing does Friday-night prime rib dinners, chicken-and-dumpling Sundays, and finger foods like candied bacon and homemade hummus with veggies. Be sure to try the brewery’s namesake, a Time Travelers Scotch Ale that packs a potent punch of 9.2% alcohol by volume. The dog- and family-friendly Bent Shovel Brewing has a beer garden with heated shelters and a bonfire, making it a great place to toss back a hand-crafted ale or lager. A rotating cast of food carts in the beer garden will keep you fed.
