The Multnomah Channel moorages are located on a 21.5-mile-long, narrow distributary of the Willamette River.  The channel starts at the southern tip of Sauvie Island where it splits west from the Willamette River.  The channel then flows along the entire western bank of Sauvie Island until it flows into the Columbia River in St. Helens.  The Multnomah Channel begins where Portland’s industrial area ends.  Residents of these moorages enjoy a quick 15-30 minute commute to downtown Portland.  The drive is only minimally affected by rush hour.  Views on the southern end of the Multnomah Channel include some industry in the upriver background.  As as you make your way north along the river, the more pastoral and serene the views become.
Some moorages offer views of Mount Hood, Mount Adams and Mount Saint Helens.  Most of the moorages in this area are positioned across from the Sauvie Island dike which is a protected greenway offering views of nature.  Wildlife is bountiful.  It is not uncommon to see sea lions, otters, beavers, eagles, osprey, cranes, and a variety of migratory birds, or to hear coyotes at night.  Slow currents and scarce boat traffic makes this area ideal for pleasant and calm canoeing kayaking, rowing and paddling.  Fishing is a very popular activity on this river. Some floating home owners enjoy catching fish from their decks, including salmon during the Spring salmon run.
Recreational boating is popular but, with the narrower channel, sailboating is a much more active sport (lots of tacking and jibing) than it is on wider channels. Oregon rules prohibit making wakes near marinas and even though there are 20+ marinas on this stretch of waterway, there are also long stretches of the river where you can enjoy water skiing and wake boarding away from marinas.  More rural in nature, nearly all of these moorages will require you to have a car to in order to access shops and services.  Biking is an easy form of transportation in only about half of the moorages here.  Most of these moorages are located just off of Highway 30 and in some areas the shoulder is narrow.  Once you cross Highway 30, logging trails and hills abound for recreational, road, and mountain bike aficionados.