Bike to Swim — Willamette River Rides
Joseph Bicycles leads summer rides to Willamette River swimming holes — Duckworth Dock on Wednesdays, Audrey McCall Beach on Tuesdays and alternating Fridays.
The vibe
Pedal to the river, jump in
Portland summers are made for this kind of ride. Joseph Bicycles runs a rotating schedule of short evening rides to Willamette River swimming spots, making it absurdly easy to cap a workday with a cool dip. Tuesdays and alternating Fridays, the group rolls from Bar Botellon on NE Davis to Audrey McCall Beach — a 3-mile spin that deposits you riverside with enough evening left to float and linger. On Wednesdays, the departure point shifts to Gorges Beer Co. on SE Ankeny for a 2-mile cruise out to Duckworth Dock.
Distances are short by design. This is about the destination, not the training load. Bring pool noodles, floaties, or just your swimsuit and a towel. The Willamette has cleaned up considerably over the years and the swim spots have a devoted summer following — expect a mix of regulars, newcomers, and people who discovered this event and immediately cleared their weekly calendar.
After the swim: just hang. Sunset viewing, people watching, and the particular Portland luxury of a river that’s close enough to ride to on a Tuesday evening.