Jet Boat Tour Offers Stargazing on the Willamette River
On an unusually warm and sunny spring evening, a handful of us pile into a jet boat just outside Newberg and speed south along the Willamette River—and into the heart of the night.
We're here, patiently awaiting sunset, to see stars, planets, and other celestial wonders in the Willamette Valley’s dark night skies on a tour through local outfitter NW Jet Boat Charter. We have no idea what to expect from the experience—maybe a shooting star or a brief Mars sighting—which adds to the excitement as the sun slowly drifts toward the horizon.
Over the course of a few fascinating hours, NW Jet Boat Charter's Sunset Cruise and Campfire on the Willamette River reveals more than a few shimmering stars. The trip gives us front-row seats to a cotton-candy sunset, surprises us with unexpected wildlife sightings, and culminates with our group craning our necks to take in the cosmic wonders above.
If you’d like to learn more—and sign up for your own stargazing experience—keep reading for more about NW Jet Boat Charter's nighttime cruise.
Sunset Trip Includes Wildlife-Watching, History Lessons
Photo Credit: Andrea Johnson Photography
Scott Heesacker, owner and operator of NW Jet Boat Charter, first launched his company to help guests connect with the 187-mile-long Willamette River.
As Heesacker explains on our tour, most people never see this stretch of the river, which sits south of Newberg and is known as the Newberg Pool. Sure: A few folks might paddle the slow-moving stretch of water, which measures nearly 30 feet deep with almost no current, but most of us find few parks or easy access points on its banks.
That means the area feels more remote and rugged than its location in the heart of the Willamette Valley might indicate.
We see firsthand just how captivating the river can be on our tour. Only the faintest wisps of clouds hang lazily in the sky, providing the perfect backdrop as we speed past hazelnut orchards and hop fields (which provide flavors and aromas for local craft beers) lining the shore. At times, Heesacker stops or slows down to see an osprey nest, a great blue heron rookery, and even a few beavers darting around islands and wetlands near the riverbanks.
Heesacker also takes time to explore the human history of the river—discussing past efforts to protect its delicate ecosystems, showing how nearby farmers plant trees to protect their crops against whipping winds, and detailing how different groups have tried to conserve the river over the years (often with mixed results).
Night Skies Reveal Planets, Constellation, Other Wonders
But what sets NW Jet Boat Charter’s newest tour apart is what happens after the sun drops below the horizon.
We speed toward an island on the Willamette River before getting out and relaxing around a campfire while Heesacker prepares our twilight dinner.
As the sky gradually darkens, Roger Pence, a retired middle school science teacher and local astronomer, sets up his Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and provides insight on what we might see tonight—which planets might appear, how long they might stick around, and how the views will change as the sky darkens above us. Heesacker says that when he first met Pence, he knew he’d found the right person to lead the stargazing portion of the tour. “He loves to just teach and talk, and he's super warm and friendly,” Heesacker says.
Eventually, the final tendrils of sunlight disappear entirely, leaving our group alone with Ursa Major (home to the Big Dipper), Cygnus (a constellation that takes the shape of a swan), and the rest of the night sky.
At times, Pence points his telescope toward the Moon. When it dips below the trees behind us, he turns toward Mars. After about two fascinating hours, we’ve seen Jupiter, admired star clusters, and spied a few shooting stars. Some of us take breaks from the telescope and lay down on a blanket nearby, trying to take in the infinite expanse of the sky above.
When we return to the boat shortly before midnight, we do so with a newfound appreciation for the beauty of the Willamette Valley’s dark night skies—and all the wonders they hold.
Photo Credit: Andrea Johnson Photography
How to Book Your Own Stargazing Tour
Our experience was emblematic of what guests can expect when they book a tour between spring and early fall—but Heesacker has made tweaks to what the program includes to give guests more choices around their experience.
Every stargazing trip includes a 12-mile ride up the Willamette River, sunset views, and a campfire with s'mores. When the skies are dark enough, the tour transitions to what Heesacker calls "entry-level" stargazing, which makes use of mobile apps, telescopes, and binoculars to admire the night sky.
Beyond the basics, guests have the option to enlist the services and expertise of Pence, to add food and dinner options, and to include a line-up of guided pours from local outfitter A Vineyard Wine Tour. Guests can also add another 90 minutes on the water, pre-sunset, if they'd like to see more of the Willamette River and its scenery. (And if you're staying the night, learn about 10 luxurious lodgings in Oregon Wine Country where you can relax in style.)
If clouds obscure the stars, Heesacker says the group enjoys a campfire talk about stargazing, how different cultures relate to the night sky, and how telescopes have changed our relationship with the broader universe.
