Molalla River State Park

By America's State Parks Editorial TeamOutdoor Editor & Trail ExpertFebruary 5, 2026 · Updated May 11, 2026

Molalla River State Park is a public state park in Oregon near Canby. Spanning 567 acres and established in 1971, this park offers a peaceful retreat into nature for visitors of all ages.

Quick Facts

Location & Getting There

Molalla River State Park is located near Canby, Oregon. The park’s coordinates are 45.2956, -122.7025.

Things to Do

Oregon’s state parks showcase the Pacific Northwest at its finest — from towering sea stacks and tide pools along 362 miles of public coastline to ancient forests of the Coast Range, volcanic Cascade peaks, and high desert canyonlands east of the mountains. Popular activities include hiking through old-growth forests and along dramatic ocean bluffs, tide pooling at rocky shores, beachcombing for agates and fossils, camping at oceanfront sites, kayaking and paddleboarding on mountain lakes, fishing for steelhead and salmon, mountain biking volcanic singletrack, rock climbing at Smith Rock, and cross-country skiing on Cascade passes. Oregon’s waterfalls — including Multnomah Falls and Silver Falls — are among the most spectacular in the western United States.

Best Time to Visit

Oregon’s west side (coast and valleys) is wettest from November through March, making June through September the prime outdoor season with warm, dry weather. The coast can be enjoyed year-round — winter brings dramatic storms, whale watching (gray whales migrate December–January), and uncrowded beaches. Eastern Oregon and high desert parks enjoy more sunshine but can be extremely hot in summer. Cascade mountain parks are best visited July through October, when snow clears from trails. Spring brings the famous wildflower blooms in the Columbia River Gorge and waterfall season at Silver Falls. Fall foliage peaks in October, particularly along the McKenzie River and in the Cascades.

Visitor Tips

Oregon state parks are free to enter on foot or by bike. Vehicle access at most day-use parks requires a $5 day-use permit or a $30 annual permit, available at park kiosks or online. Oregon’s entire coastline is public by law — you always have the right to walk on the beach. Camping reservations are made through the Oregon State Parks reservation system up to 9 months in advance. Coastal campgrounds (especially at Cape Lookout and Nehalem Bay) book up fast for summer. Cell coverage is spotty on the coast and absent in remote Cascade parks.

Explore More Oregon State Parks

Molalla River State Park is one of many outstanding state parks in Oregon. Discover more parks in our Best State Parks in Oregon guide, or use our Park Finder to search by activity, location, or features.

Wildlife & Nature

Molalla River State Park protects the confluence of the Molalla and Pudding Rivers as they join the Willamette — one of the most important wetland areas in the Willamette Valley. The park’s 567 acres of floodplain forest, wetlands, and meadows provide critical habitat for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. The Willamette Valley is a major stop on the Pacific Flyway — hundreds of thousands of geese, ducks, and swans winter in the valley’s wetlands. Cackling geese (recently split from Canada geese as a separate species) concentrate here by the thousands. Western pond turtles bask on logs in quiet sloughs. The park’s Oregon white oak groves are among the largest remaining in the valley — less than 1% of the original Willamette Valley oak savanna survives.

Nearby Attractions

Canby has the Canby Ferry — one of Oregon’s last cable ferries — crossing the Willamette. Molalla hosts one of Oregon’s oldest and most traditional Fourth of July rodeos (since 1913). Molalla River Recreation Corridor offers swimming holes and hiking upstream. Champoeg State Park preserves the site of Oregon’s first provisional government (1843). Aurora Colony — a former 1850s utopian commune — now hosts antique shops. Willamette Valley wine tasting rooms are nearby.

More parks nearby: Mary S. Young State Recreation Area is a short drive away, while Falls Creek State Recreation Site lies a short drive away.

About the Author

America's State Parks Editorial Team

Outdoor Editor & Trail Expert

America's State Parks is an independent online guide to the state parks of the United States. Our editorial team compiles and reviews each park profile from official state park agency sources and other primary references, and follows a published editorial and review methodology (see /editorial-review-methodology/). We update profiles and correct errors on an ongoing basis.

200+ state parks visited across 42 states | 8+ years of outdoor writing

View All Articles by America's State Parks Editorial Team →