I am heading out to Northern California and Oregon this month for a family vacation- will be in the Sacramento area, then up in the Sierra's (Carson Pass), then by train to Portland- not that I will get a chance to paddle, but I am curious about what I will be near and missing- I have no ideas about what ww runs are in these areas- How about some education from the western c-boaters? As I ride the train from Sac. to Portland I can dream about what I am missing!
Brendan
NoCal and Oregon- paddling
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oregonmatt
- Pain Boater
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2003 9:49 pm
- Location: Portland, OR
I could try to describe all of the great runs in Oregon you'll be passing on your trip, but there's no way my description could be even close to complete. Check out Jason Rackley's Oregon Kayaking website at www.kayaking.peak.org for an idea of what there is to run out here.
Of course, many of the rivers on that site are runnable only in the rainy season, but we are fortunate enough to have at least one or two year-round runs in each class from I-V, plus great surfing out at the coast. In particular, some Columbia River Gorge runs such as the White Salmon and Little White Salmon go all summer. Great pics of both of these rivers are on the Oregon Kayaking website (and looking at pics of the Little White Salmon on the web may be as close as I ever get to running it...).
Others that you will pass on your trip that could be runnable, roughly from south to north, are: some of the creeks in the headwaters of the Rogue drainage, the famous Rogue wilderness run (to the west of Grant's Pass, OR), the North Umpqua (pretty and fun class III, east of Roseburg), the Mackenzie (short, scary class V or miles of easy class II-III with some playspots), the Miracle Mile on the N. Fork Middle Fork Willamette (SE of Eugene - the water could be very low for this run by the time of your trip), and a short section of the Middle Santiam (east of Corvallis - fun but short class III-IV dam release run).
Matt
Of course, many of the rivers on that site are runnable only in the rainy season, but we are fortunate enough to have at least one or two year-round runs in each class from I-V, plus great surfing out at the coast. In particular, some Columbia River Gorge runs such as the White Salmon and Little White Salmon go all summer. Great pics of both of these rivers are on the Oregon Kayaking website (and looking at pics of the Little White Salmon on the web may be as close as I ever get to running it...).
Others that you will pass on your trip that could be runnable, roughly from south to north, are: some of the creeks in the headwaters of the Rogue drainage, the famous Rogue wilderness run (to the west of Grant's Pass, OR), the North Umpqua (pretty and fun class III, east of Roseburg), the Mackenzie (short, scary class V or miles of easy class II-III with some playspots), the Miracle Mile on the N. Fork Middle Fork Willamette (SE of Eugene - the water could be very low for this run by the time of your trip), and a short section of the Middle Santiam (east of Corvallis - fun but short class III-IV dam release run).
Matt
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Hutch
Paddling Oregon
Get a copy of -
Paddling Oregon by Robb Keller
(Falcon Publishing)
Looks to be a excellent and comprehensive guide. (I have the book but haven't gotten back out to Oregon recently). It'll make for good reading on the long train ride, too. You should be able to get it on line somewhere - or at Powells when you get to Portland
(better late than never).
Hutch
Paddling Oregon by Robb Keller
(Falcon Publishing)
Looks to be a excellent and comprehensive guide. (I have the book but haven't gotten back out to Oregon recently). It'll make for good reading on the long train ride, too. You should be able to get it on line somewhere - or at Powells when you get to Portland
(better late than never).
Hutch