The Lower Columbia River Water Trail Web Site should not be used for navigation purposes. Paddlers should consult and carry the applicable National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Charts for the lower Columbia River when our paddling the river. Charts show undulations of the coastline in detail, as well as underwater rocks, mud flats, aids to navigation and details like powerlines and bridges. For additional details, paddlers should carry topo maps as well. Maps are better at showing the landscape's elevation, contours such as valleys and mountains, plus the location of town, roads, houses, and other 

The following five NOAA charts cover the 146 miles of the Lower Columbia River Water Trail.

18531 Bonneville to Vancouver (RM 146 – RM 107)

18525 Vancouver to St. Helens (RM 107 – RM 87)

18524 St. Helens to Crims Island (RM 87 – RM 56

18523 Crims Island to Harrington Point (RM 56 – RM 24)

18521 Harrington Point to Pacific Ocean (RM 24 – RM 0)

NOAA Marine charts for the Lower Columbia River are available at many local paddling shops and through a number of on-line sources.