Lint Slough

If you're looking for an easy kayaking adventure with great bird watching, Lint Slough is a great option. Lint Slough is a small area of backwater off of the Alsea River estuary. It's a great area for watching wildlife. Birds such as herons, egrets, and mallards can be seen in large numbers. Hawks and bald eagles can be seen catching fish out of the water and taking them to nearby trees to eat. Juvenile salmon and other small fish are found in the estuary as well.

Access to the bay is available at the Port of Alsea dock in Waldport for an $8.00 fee. There is also public parking along the slough on Mill Street that provides easy access if the tide is high enough. The mud flats become exposed at low tides, and navigation becomes difficult. The trip starts out by paddling under the Alsea highway bridge. From there you can make your way up the slough while watching for wildlife and enjoying the peace and quiet as you move away from town. The farther upstream you paddle, the narrower the slough becomes, eventually terminating at an impassable spot where fallen trees cover the water from edge to edge.

Keep an eye on the tides to ensure you don't bottom out during low tide.