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Friends of Smith & Bybee Lakes

How to Get There

Boat access exists from either the N. Marine Dr. access point or the Columbia Slough boat launch by the St. Johns landfill.

Directions to the parking lot on North Marine Drive
Directions to the St. Johns Landfill

Directions to the parking lot on North Marine Drive

Take I-5 to west N. Marine Dr. (exit 307). (If you’re going north on I-5, the exit road continues for about 1 mile before a right turn onto N. Marine Dr.) After about 2 miles on N. Marine Dr., you'll be on an overpass from which you can see Smith Lake to the left. At the bottom of the overpass, look for a brown and white sign with "Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area". Turn left into the driveway and proceed about 1/8 mile to the parking lot on the left.

To continue to the non-motorized boat launch site: Proceed past the parking lot, continuing for about 1/4 mile to the boat launch on the right. Parallel parking is available on the non-lake side of the roadway.

Map courtesy of Metro

Directions to the St. Johns Landfill

The address is 9363 N. Columbia Blvd.

From I-5: take Columbia Blvd. Exit (306A) and travel west on Columbia Blvd (turn right at the stoplight). Proceed 4.5 miles until the landfill’s grass dome is visible on your right. The road is just past Sally’s Pub (bright red roof and sign that says "the beer is here") and across from Chimney Park. Turn right onto the access road; the green and white "City of Portland Stanley Parr Archives" sign is across Columbia from the access road.

From Highway 30 – St. Helens Rd: take the St. Johns Bridge over the Willamette River. Take a left at the first stoplight and head west toward the Rivergate District (signs may say "truck route" or indicate Port terminals T4, T5 or T6). Proceed on Ivanhoe to St. Louis to Lombard, then on to Burgard. Turn right at the stoplight at Burgard and proceed east on Columbia Blvd. for 0.3 mi. Turn left onto the access road; the green and white "City of Portland Stanley Parr Archives" sign is across Columbia from the access road.

Once on the access road: drive up the road between the cyclone fence and Rueben’s Auto Wrecking. Proceed to the landfill bridge. The boat launch is just downstream of the landfill bridge.