New Jet Boat Tour Offers Stargazing on the Willamette River
On an unusually warm and sunny night last April, a handful of us piled into a jet boat just outside Newberg and sped south along the Willamette River—and into the heart of the night.
We were there, 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 had no idea what to expect from the experience—maybe a shooting star or a brief Mars sighting—which added to the excitement as the sun slowly drifted toward the horizon.
Over the course of a few fascinating hours, NW Jet Boat Charter's new Stargazing Experience on the Willamette River revealed more than a few shimmering stars. The trip gave us front-row seats to a cotton-candy sunset, included a few unexpected wildlife sightings, and culminated with us craning our necks to take it all in. By night’s end, each segment of the journey had deepened our collective connection with the natural world around us and the night skies overheard.
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 all-new 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 explained 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 saw firsthand just how captivating the river could be on our tour. Only the faintest wisps of clouds hung lazily in the sky on that April evening, providing the perfect backdrop as we sped past hop fields and hazelnut orchards lining the shore. At times, Heesacker stopped or slowed down to see some of the wildlife that calls the area home; that included an osprey nest, a great blue heron rookery, and even a few beavers darting around islands and wetlands near the riverbanks.
On tours, Heesacker also takes time to explore the human history of the river—discussing historic efforts to protect its delicate ecosystems, showing how nearby farmers plant trees to protect their crops against whipping winds, and showing 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 sped toward an island on the Willamette River before getting out and relaxing around a campfire while Heesacker prepared our twilight dinner—which on this evening included sandwiches, salads, and cookies from Red Hills Market in Newberg.
As the sky gradually darkened, Roger Pence, a retired middle school science teacher and local astronomer, set up his Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and provided insight on what we might see that night—which planets might appear, how long they might stick around, and how the views would change as the sky darkened 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 disappeared 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 pointed his telescope toward the Moon. When it dipped below the trees behind us, he turned toward Mars. After about two fascinating hours, we’d seen Jupiter, admired star clusters, and spied a few shooting stars. When we returned to the boat shortly before midnight, we did 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 this fall. As of this writing in August 2025, guests can book individual seats (or the whole boat—which holds five attendees) on NW Jet Boat Charter stargazing tours throughout October 2025.
In addition to a dazzling show above, each tour includes a jet boat ride of up to 14 miles, a family-style dinner, roasting s'mores around the campfire, and an overview of the night skies led by Pence. If clouds obscure the stars, Heesacker says the group will enjoy a campfire talk about stargazing, how different cultures relate to the night sky, and how telescopes have changed our relationship with the broader universe.
