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The Lower White Salmon from below Husum Falls to Northwestern Lake is a great beginner run for those who are looking to push themselves to intermediate level paddling. Only an hour drive from Portland near Hood River, the river continues to flow late into the summer. The current is swift and the water is icy cold, a perfect cure for a hot summer day. The picture above shows a couple of paddlers going through Rattlesnake Rapid, a class III mini-drop at the top of the run. Located about 1/4 of a mile downstream from Husum Falls, it is a river-wide ledge that

When paddlers refer to the Upper Clackamas they mean the waters upstream of North Fork Resevoir which is part of PGE’s hydropower facilties on the river. The run from Sandstone Bridge (Three Lynx) down to the Memaloose Weigh Station just above the reservoir makes a great 13.5 mile day trip although many kayakers focus on the 4.2 mile middle section from Fish Creek to Bob’s Hole which serves up the best whitewater and some fine playboating. One of the most popular rivers that our customers use our equipment on is the beautiful Clackamas River in Estacada, Oregon due to its proximity to

The McKenzie River originates at Clear Lake and flows 90 miles west to where it joins the Willamette River just below the town of Coburg. Along the way it flows through layers of volcanic rock. Just above the town of Blue River is Wolf Rock: Rising almost 1,000 feet, it is said to be the largest rock monolith in the state. The McKenzie region is also known for the hot springs that rise from deep underground. Natural springs, heated by geothermal activity, flow to the surface in several locations. The most well-known are probably the commercial development at Belknap Hot

The North Umpqua River originates in Maidu Lake in the Cascade Range. The 34-mile stretch from Rock Creek to Soda Springs Dam is protected as a Wild & Scenic River. The scenery is a mix of rugged canyon walls, towering Douglas firs, and mossy forests, hung with lichen. One of the most unique things about the Umpqua is the aqua-clear water: the underlying lava rock filters all the water before it reaches the river. The North Umpqua is spring fed and has ample flows throughout the summer. Rapids are short, steep pool drops with some Class IVs on the lower

The float from Dodge to Oxbow is a great class II+ run for beginner paddlers looking to progress to more difficult water. This scenic 6.25 mile float begins with the Class III “Pipeline” Rapid then eases into numerous pool drops. Class II rapids intertwine with sweeping vistas and abundant wildlife. This is the starting point for Oregon’s State Scenic Waterway and the federal Wild and Scenic river designation. Estimated paddle time: 4 hours Don’t be fooled by the calm looking water at the Dodge Park launch point. There is some great whitewater on this run. Boulder gardens and wave trains pass through miles of wilderness. If

One of the most popular rivers that our customers use our equipment on is the beautiful Clackamas River in Estacada, Oregon due to its proximity to Portland. It offers diverse sections that cater to a variety of skill levels. LOWER CLACKAMAS The beauty of the Clackamas River for most of those who paddle it is the proximity. It’s only about 20 minutes from Portland and a very popular section especially in the hot summer months. Because we get a lot of questions about this section we’ll outline some of the usual options. Upper McIver Ramp to Lower McIver Ramp This 45-minute