Henline Creek

BETA
0.3 miles

Stream: Upon arriving at the bridge over the creek, cross over it and use the parking spot on the right.  They give tickets here if people are parked in the road and many areas are signed "no parking".   While this area requires a parking pass in the summer and they vigilantly patrol that time of year, the enforcement is pretty lax during the boating season.
Next, take a look upstream and downstream from the bridge to gauge flows and scout the line through this section as you don't get another good opportunity once on the creek.  If this section looks fun, flows are good.

   Photo: Emile Elliott

If you are unfamiliar with the creek, I recommend you scout from the areas marked by yellow circles in the following graphic before putting on.  If you do that you will see all the rapids of note before putting on.  It is also possible to hike down the trail to scout the take out above Triple Falls.

After scouting, hike your boat up the moss covered rock slab in the following photo until the terrain flattens out, walk parallel to Henline Creek for a hundred yards or so until the terrain sends you down to creek level, this is the put in. 

Photo taken from bridge over Henline Creek.

The first series of drops ends in a clean, narrow ten footer and can be scouted on the right before getting in your boat.

Nick Chambers

   Photo: Emile Elliott

The next set of drops around the corner are the rapids visible from the bridge.  You can take a look at the beginning of this series from river level on the left, but the best look was at the beginning of the day from the bridge.  Hopefully you looked both up, and downstream.

 Photo: Christine Moon

Some people do laps on the top section by taking out on river right immediately below the series of drops ending just downstream of the bridge.  There is a use-path that goes steeply up to the road there.

After a short straight away below the bridge, the river bends left and enters the series of rapids visible from the trail scout, the lead in can be re-scouted from river-level.  If in doubt below the bridge, go middle.

  Photo: Emile Elliott

Below this series of drops the creek gives boaters a few seconds of bouldery class III before one last 5-10' horizon line that can be scouted from river level for the cleanest transition, usually run right.  Below this last ledge is a small bouldery island, the take out is on the right just above this island.  Not far downstream is Triple Falls, a large unrunnable falls landing in Opal Gorge.

The trail is right next to the creek here, so either hike it back up to the road, or if you left a car at Salmon falls use the trail to portage Triple Falls into Opal Gorge.

Henline Creek is short, so while the first lap might consume a couple hours including all the pre-scouting, second and third laps can be done in just a few minutes.  Emile paddles Henline Creek in the video below.

Henline Creek from Difficult E on Vimeo.

**If you continue into Opal Gorge**

Scout Sierra Slot from the trail on the right before putting back on, it becomes a clean river-wide ledge.
I haven't seen the rest at high flows, but here is what I have heard:

Fishladder becomes a big pillowy flume ride down the right side at 3,000 cfs.  I have heard from others that at 5,000 cfs a line even opens up to the left where the portage route usually is.  The rest of the run is big waves except for a drop shortly above Fishladder which Dan mentioned was big (He didn't describe it but if Dan mentions a rapid is big it definitely grabs my attention).

  
Flows:  A visual check is needed to determine if Henline is running.  You can see 25% of the run from the bridge when you get there, so if that section looks like fun, flows are good.  It's a small creek and needs lots of rain. 

To determine whether it's worth a visual check, people look at the Little North Santiam @ Mehama gauge.
My experience has been that even if flows drop below this threshold during the day, I like to see at least 3k the morning or night before I try for Henline, though sometimes it comes in at 2.5k.  I am not sure what maximum flows are, but 5k usually still equates to a medium flow.

Access:  Take I5 to Salem and head East on Highway 22 towards Detroit Reservoir.  In about 22 miles turn left at a flashing yellow light onto N Fork Rd just past the town of Mehama. 14 miles after turning off Hwy 22 you pass Salmon Falls, which can be used as a take out for those adding on the second half of the Opal Gorge run. 

To get to the bridge over Henline Creek, continue upstream on N Fork Rd, after a few miles the road turns to gravel.  Less than a mile after the road becomes gravel you will cross the bridge over Henline Creek. There is a parking spot just past the bridge on the right.

Hike up the moss covered rock slab in the following photo until the terrain flattens out, walk parallel to Henline Creek for a hundred yards or so until the terrain sends you down to creek level, this is the put in. (photo taken from the bridge over Henline Creek).

Downstream of the last drop below the bridge there is an actual trail on river-right next to the creek that can be used to return to the cars, or to portage Henline Falls and continue through the bottom of the Opal Gorge run down to Salmon Falls.

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Notes
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This is a neat run that is the next half step up from Sweet Creek.  A first time trip here for someone stepping up to the run often results in some wide eyes and just one lap.  Once you get a second lap in, you realize it's pretty manageable and knowing the lines and what's coming up makes it less of a stimulation overload.


2019 update:  The creek is as clean as it's ever been, no wood blockages.

2018 Update:  The wood above the bridge has shifted, and you can get by to the right of it.

2016 Update:  There is some wood just above the bridge, it's in a bummer of a spot. I personally won't bother running the creek until it has moved.

2011 Update: Jan 15 we had 3,000 cfs in the LNF@Mehama dropping to 2500 by midday, it rained all day and by midnight it had spiked to 8,000 and hit 20,000 cfs the next day.  Flows were medium in Henline while we were there.  There was wood visible upstream of the bridge.  I decided not to run the creek in my kayak, I felt this one wood portage made the work:reward ratio beyond my interest for the day.  Jeff and Dan were able to blast over the log in their raft. They were able to run everything, the ten footer near the top was a little weird though so Jeff R1'ed it.  The rafters portaged Triple Falls and continued through the lower half of the Opal Gorge run.  They reported Fishladder was more runnable at these flows than when water is lower and the rest of the run was big waves except for a drop shortly above Fishladder which Dan mentioned was big (He didn't describe it but if Dan mentions a rapid is big it definitely grabs my attention).  Dan R1'ed the center line at Salmon Falls, really burly.  He had a good line.

2010 Update: Jan 2 I ran Henline creek with Chris Arnold and Ryan Cole. LNF@Mehama was ~3300 dropping to ~2900. This was a good level, more water would have been fine.  Bringing a small handsaw to this run is never a bad idea.  We scouted everything before putting on.

Other resources with photos:

Nate Pfiefer
James Bagley/EJ Etherington

November

November is the best month for boating in Oregon in my opinion. That is because all the hunting gates are open and the snow hasn't blocked access to high elevations runs. This means I get to see some new runs without having to hike for them. This year we got on a few really fun sections and I felt we took advantage of the opportunities presented.

Unfortunately, the tape was ruined by water that contained a few of my favorite shots. Fortunately, I was able to recover the lost footage when the tapes were dried out a little bit. (electronic equipment in the oven at 100 degrees for about 15 minutes often works for me, then again, I have ruined stuff by putting it in there too hot or too long). In the video there are some scratchy moments due to the tapes not being in perfect condition. But really I'm just excited that they turned out at all.

Here is a collection of our missions from the last month.

When the gates open from Jacob Cruser on Vimeo.

-Jacob

Battle Axe Creek: Lite

Photo: Priscilla Macy

BETA

Stream: I have used both the put in described here and the lower put in described below. If you make it to the top, you do get some extra rapids that are fun.  However, the hike is longer and generally all uphill, while the lower trail is shorter with less uphill.  While I felt it was worth doing the longer hike for the upper part once, I will use the lower put in for any future trips where the bang for buck ratio is higher. 

After the 3 mile hike to Jawbone (these work like a charm), shoulder your boat, cross over Battle Axe Creek and check flows. 

 Looking upstream from the bridge at the very minimum of runnable flows.
While the snow looks pretty in photographs, its not preferable on the water or the hike.

 

The Battle Axe bridge in Jawbone is a good place to take a short break, check the level, and switch from wheels to shoulders.  We were able to drag on this trip due to the snow.

Keep hiking (route described in the info section) past the bridge to the faintly marked Whetstone trail and veer left.  This leads to the creek at the lower put-in, in less than a mile (downstream of S.O.B.). 

The creek consists of many 5-10+ foot bedrock rapids with logs sprinkled throughout.  You can expect a few easy log portages, but mostly they can be dodged.   

Even at very low flows there are some fun ledges.

This drop is the largest and means you are close to the end, it can be run left-of-center or right (I like left-of-center).

That's about all there is to say, no unusual hazards, no class V, just fun rapids with some logs.  If there wasn't a hike it would be done all the time.  If you didn't get an early enough start hike back out from Jawbone the way you came in, or continue to Cascadios de los Ninos/Sawmill Falls.  If you built in enough time to continue through Upper Opal, I would recommend that.  Or if you are really efficient you can paddle down to Three Pools or tack on Opal Proper.

                                              Battle Axe through Salmon Falls @ 1,100 cfs

Double this flow is better, but if you have a rock boat, Prijon or ZET plastic it can still be worth checking out at these flows if you want something new added to an Opal trip.

The Battle from Difficult E on Vimeo.

Flows:  2,000 cfs on the Little North Santiam gauge is minimum enjoyable.  All the rapids are well channelized.  3,000 cfs is a healthy medium and the upper limit has not been found.  In the Spring when there is a snowmelt component it can be run all the way down to 1,000 cfs if your kayak has strong plastic.

VISUAL CHECK

Looking at the ledge below the Battle Axe Bridge in Jawbone.

• If the blue line is the only runnable line (like in this photo) you have low water.
• If you could feasibly paddle the route indicated by the orange line, water is medium.
• If the orange line looks padded out, you might be in for an exciting day.

Medium/High flows, I wouldn't want much if any more on a first trip down. Snagged from this video of the last 1/4 mile of the creek.

Access:  Take I5 to Salem and head East on Hwy 22.  In about 22 miles turn left at a flashing yellow light onto N Fork Rd.  In about 15 miles the road turns to gravel, and at 21 miles you will reach a gate where you leave the vehicles, a location that has a $5 fee to park.  

Get your gear carrying devices out and head past the locked gate up the gravel road about 3 miles to Jawbone Flat along a nice gravel road.  Then cross over Battle Axe and continue upstream along the road next to Battle Axe until a trail heads off to the left (marked as Whetstone in 2017) that leads down to the put in a mile or two above Jawbone.  Or continue to the upper put in.

Notes: Do some research to make sure there isn't snow above Jawbone, hiking/paddling in the snow isn't a whole lot of fun, and might make for lower flows than expected if some of the water is locked up in its solid state.  TRIP CHECK is a good resource.

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Trip Report
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Battle Axe Creek: Lite

2010:  Nate checking in from the land of Funemployment.

I woke up Tuesday morning with tentative plans to go kayaking. Matt and I had planned to get up leisurely, check levels, and maybe tackle something close to Portland. I finally pulled myself out of bed around 8 o’clock and got on USGS to find that EVERYTHING was in. Overnight, the Little North Santiam @ Mehama had gone from somewhere just below 1000cfs all the way up to 2700... and rising. The first thing that came to mind was Battle Axe creek, a small trib high up in the Little North Santiam drainage. The creek is described on Oregonkayaking as having all the elements of a 'classic creekin run'. With amazing geology, great scenery, and lots of waterfalls, battle axe has been on the top of our list for a long time. However, there are two issues that keep this creek from being run all the time. 1. You need lots of water! At least 2500cfs in the LNS gauge. 2. Access is a bit of a nightmare. From the parking area where you begin your hike into the normal Lower Opal creek run, it is over 3 miles to reach Jaw Bone Flat, the take out for Battle Axe. From there, it is another two miles of hiking up the creek to 3369 trail crossing, which was the put-in used by the oregonkayaking crew a few years back. Needless to say, this creek is an all day affair.

Back to the story. Having woken up at 8, Matt and I were not able to get on the road until 9, which would seem to be far to late into the day to attempt such a time consuming mission. As I mentioned, this run has been on our radar for some time now, so much so that Matt had already devised a plan to get us into Jaw Bone with far less time and effort than the standard hike. At 11 am sharp, we rolled into the Opal Creek trail head and unloaded our boats, our gear, and the bike cart! Within a few minutes we had the two kayaks loaded onto the cart, along with all our gear, and we were peddling up the dirt road toward Jaw Bone. (this particular cart is rated up to 300lbs) We must of looked like some sort of circus act as we headed up the road, being that Matt was towing the cart on a single speed bike, every once in awhile I would have to jump off my bike and push from the back to ascend particularly steep sections. The cart did tip over once or twice, but it held up nicely and we rolled into Jaw Bone (the take out) within 30 minutes of leaving the car.

Here is where things started to go a little south. As we waited for Caitlin, who had come along to enjoy the beautiful day in the woods (did I mention we had gorgeous weather?), we started chatting with the live-in care-takers of JB. They were all very nice and we had a good time talking with them about their life style up in the woods, however, we did get one piece of bad advice, which we followed. They recommended that rather than follow the trail right up the creek, we should continue on the road, which would eventually meet back up with the trail and was not nearly as steep. We decided to go along with this plan thinking that we could continue to bike all the way to the put-in, rather than shouldering our boats. After tackling a few steep switch backs, we were making good time up the valley with the creek far below us slowly rising up to the meet the road.

After we had gone a considerable distance we found a substantial trail coming up from the creek and intersecting our road. After some discussion, we decided that we had made it to the crossing and our intended put-in... but the intersecting trail didn't seem to have any access towards the river and was actually trending back down towards JB. At this point, we decided to just drop into the creek through the woods and put on, our rationale being that if anything, we were above the put-in used by the Oregon Kayaking crew. As we put on, two drops were visible upstream, each about 10-15 ft tall. One had wood in the base, the other was clean. It would have been a terrible bush-wack to get above these drops with our boats, so we kept with the plan and put on. At this point we actually thought we might be dropping in above the nasty upper section described on oregonkayaking.

Within 100 yards we came to sizable ledge drop leading into another ledge that appeared to be pretty sticky. A quick scout revealed a fun twisting drop with a retentive hole near the bottom. The drop went well and was free of wood. We actually had no wood portages on our entire run. After a few more ledges we came to a big horizon line that was creating a truly amazing vista. The drop consisted of 3 ft. ledge that fed right into an 15-18 ft. water fall. This drop is called Battle ax falls and was run on the far right by the oregonkayaking crew due to wood in the center of the drop. The drop was clean as whistle on this particular day and the center line was the preferred choice. A sloping 5 ft slide into a flake! Great drop.

The only bummer about running Battle Ax falls was the realization that we had dropped into the creek too soon and had missed a significant amount of the gradient. Taking the lower grade road turned out to be a huge mistake and resulted in a longer walk and less paddling . If you do this run, just follow the normal trail right up next to the creek, it isn't very steep and is well maintained.

After this realization, we made the call to continue down to Cascada de los Ninos on the Little North Santiam to get some extra paddling in. We bombed down what remained of Battle Axe enjoying the numerous ledge drops and the final falls below the bridge at Jaw Bone before hitting the confluence. 10 minutes saw us at the lip of Cascada. Matt took a quick peak, which was pretty difficult to do given the high water and signaled me over the drop. He followed shortly after and we took off the river feeling a little bitter sweet about our experience on Battle Axe. Given the ease at which we had attained the creek, we didn't feel too dejected about the drops we missed, but it was still a bummer to have come so far to boat so little. We'll know next time. Despite our folly, a great day was had by all. The creek is excellent and I encourage everyone to get up there and see for themselves, just be sure to put on at the proper spot.

After ditching our boats, we walked back up to Jaw Bone to meet Caitlin, who had been so kind as to ride the bike trailer down the hill for us. After a few games of horse shoes and exploring the old mining village, we were on our way back down the hill. After a quick stop to load up the boats we arrived at my car and were on our way home.

Thanks go out to Caitlin for helping with the bike cart and to those who found this gem and made it known to the world.

Until next time.

Nate

A better way to run The Fluffster

Here is Matt trying out a line that has been attempted a couple times by people in our crew this year. While it lines you up nicely and is probably a good low water line, both Matt and Nate say its hard to get speed, so a little surfing may be in the cards if you try this line over a thousand. I bet its golden at low water though. And is probably as close to a hero line as you can get without it turning into the beatdown line.

 

 I think the money line over a thousand cfs invloves going as far river left as possible, for as long as possible, and actually going through the eddy (but not stopping as to keep your speed), then driving back to the right near the lip. As you can see it worked out well this time, but due to some miscommunication on my part the result is all you can see. Im sure we will get some video of the entire line at some point.

 
 Videos taken by Jeff Hartley ..........................................................................................................................-Jacob

How Not to Run Big Fluffy.

Little North Santiam: Opal Gorge

Photo: Matt King


BETA

Stream: Most people do this run as an extension of the Classic Opal stretch, but locals do it as a stand-alone run all the time if they are looking for a shorter trip.  Either way you start this section at Three Pools.  It is easy to walk up to the top of Thor's along a short trail to get some action in right away.

The stream exits the Pool at the base of Thor's and goes around an island.  At low flows both sides are rocky, right is the standard route.  The next mile is class II and gives you a chance to get warmed up.  The entrance to the gorge is obvious as the walls rise up and a rapid presents itself.  This is the longest, yet least challenging rapid of the section.  You can run the entrance wherever, though I like to stay along the right bank.  The lines converge near the bottom and a boulder in the center of the river creates a ledge.  At low and high flows it is best to boof off the left edge of this boulder (covered at high flows) and at medium flows it is fun to boof off the right shoulder of it.

This lands you in the calm pool above the Mystery AKA the Un/Un (unscoutable/unportageable).  The standard line is 6 inches off the left wall at the lip, pointed towards 1 o clock and letting your nose drop.  If you have the correct angle a shelf will shoot you out cleanly into the aerated pool below.  Angled too far left or right and you will likely receive a glancing blow from either wall before being shot out into the pool below.  
The right channel gets run too, but not as often.  There is even a middle boof at high flows as well.

                                               A right side run of Mystery AKA the Un/Un at very low flows.

                                                              Photo: Lucas Rietmann

There is a small ledge below here that develops a respectable hole at high flows before another calm pool.  The next horizon line is the Undertaker, as far as I know this drop has been run once at 5,000 cfs (by Willy Dinsdale) and portaged by every other boater who has ever run this stretch of river.  The left side portage is quicker, but there are about 5' of this exposed portage that are slippery and this keeps a lot of people who would otherwise enjoy the run from paddling Opal Gorge.  I don't want to tell people it's no big thing, and it's true that if you fell it would likely be the end of you, but lots of people have made the portage without issue and most of them are more than willing to repeat the trip.   The decision is always yours, and if you really get freaked out you can always attain back upstream to get to the river-right portage at med-low flows and below.  At 6.5' on the Elkhorn gage and above, the Undertaker should be portaged on the right. 


                                                                             Don't fall

                                                                       Photo: Matt King

                     Eric Foster-Moore is all smiles after passing the crux of the Undertaker portage.

                                                                  Photo: Matt King

There is another boulder just below the Undertaker (Tombstone Rock) that can be run on either side so long as you are driving strongly back to center.

The next rapid is Unicorn, a long Boulder Garden that is entered on the center/right and then run down the main/center channel the rest of the way.

A moving pool separates the runout of Unicorn from Henline Rapid which can be scouted from the right at normal flows and left or right at low flows.  Lines exist far right and far left, avoiding the center of the rapid (where most of the current funnels) at the top and bottom.  There is an undercut bottom-left that makes me squeamish here at low flows, but it is covered at normal flows.


                                                Brian Butcher runs left at Henline Rapid.

                                                           Photo: Lucas Rietmann

The next horizon is the Sierra Slot, which used to have a boof on the right but things seemed to have changed a bit and that line seems to flip people onto their head.  The new standard line is the same as the old, running the right channel driving hard left with a right stroke into a fold that can rinse out the sinuses but lands in a forgiving pool.

Below here you are free of the gorge, a half mile of class II leads to the last portage at Elkhorn Falls.  If you look at this rapid and decide it looks like something you may want to run (main line or sneak), first walk out onto the finger of rock creating a pinch in the outflow and see for yourself how much of the river actually flows under there.  The portage is ultra easy on the left.

                                Michael Freeman making the first move of Elkhorn Falls at flows under the            .                                                    recommended flow range (still a class V rapid).

                                                             Photo: Lucas Rietmann

A half mile downstream is the Elkhorn bridge with a staff gauge underneath on river right.  I generally like taking out at the Elkhorn bridge these days as it avoids another mile of class I and flatwater down to Salmon Falls, the other take out option.  

That said, Salmon Falls is a good drop, and if you have never paddled it before I would encourage you to paddle down to it and make up your own mind about whether it's worth the flat water or not.

Salmon Falls can be scouted thoroughly along a retaining wall on river-left, you won't be able to see much from river-right.   For me, if levels are below 1,000 cfs I choose to portage the lead in to Salmon Falls and seal launch at the lip.  Over 1,500 cfs the center to left line Rick Cooley demonstrates below is most appealing.  At 1,000-1,500 cfs I usually take out at the Elkhorn bridge.  

                                                                     Photo: Matt King

Then there are those who try the far left lead-in to Salmon Falls, some of these people even manage to go over the main drop upright. 

                                                             Photo: Lucas Rietmann

  
Flows:  400-2,000 cfs on the Little North Fork Santiam Gauge is the range I am comfortable with; ideal first time flows on the Elkhorn Gauge are 5-6'.  At 6.5' and above the Elkhorn gage, the right side portage at Undertaker should be used.

If you are a well-traveled class V boater, I have heard 3,000 cfs and stable or dropping is a magical level to do Classic Opal through Opal Gorge.  Though I can't recommend that flow to anyone who doesn't already know the gorge.  At this level Mystery is run center, and the Undertaker needs to be portaged on the right.

Locals have done the run up to 5,000 cfs, some of them have regretted that decision while others have had a great time. 


Access:  Take I5 to Salem and head East on Highway 22 towards Detroit Reservoir.  In about 22 miles turn left at a flashing yellow light onto N Fork Rd. 14 miles after turning off Hwy 22 you pass Salmon Falls, which is the lower take out.  To use the upper take out continue upstream 1 mile and park your vehicle at the intersection of Elkhorn Rd (which leads promptly to the take out bridge) and N Fork Rd.  At the end of the day you can walk to your car and drive it down to the bridge to load gear, but locals don't like boaters leaving vehicles at the bridge all day. 

From either take out continue upstream on N Fork Rd to get to the put in, after a few miles the road turns to gravel.  Just under 2 miles after this happens you will make a sharp right onto a road marked by a kiosk and some boulders that leads downhill.  Just under a mile after making this turn, pull right into the paved Three Pools day use area (not signed in 2015).  Stairs at the far end of the parking lot lead down to the put in.

Notes:   Iv'e been asked a couple times how to scout Mystery before putting on, since it can't be done once on the water.  This is how Iv'e done it.    
 -    After crossing the bridge over Henline Creek, the road will go uphill slightly for a couple hundred yards or so, when it switches to going downhill look for a place to pull out on the right near the crest of the hill.   Walk perpendicular away from the road straight towards the Little North Santiam, you will reach some cliffs overlooking the gorge.  If you poke around for awhile, you will be able to see whether the left side of Mystery is clear.    44.840054, -122.332117

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Original Write-up
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Well, Matt and crew seemed to have a lot of fun on Opal Gorge a couple weeks ago, so Nate and I decided we would head back for each of our second runs down this PNW classic. I had to be back to class that evening, so we met at the Swiss Village restaurant at 10am. I was a little apprehensive about the drizzle (the conventional wisdom in 2010 was not to do the gorge if it was raining). Nate had done the left side portage before and was confident it would be manageable. Plus, if it was really that bad, we figured we would just do the right side portage.

We put in and putted around the put-in pool for a couple minutes, then were on our way. The class II went by quick, then we were at the first boulder garden.  This boulder garden is a good skill check, if you feel comfortable on this drop the rest of the run will be within your ability but maybe a half class harder.

This put us in the pool above the Un-Un. I didn't feel like hanging out here thinking too long, so caught the final eddy for a peak, didn't see much, then dropped over the left side where a quick reconnect propelled me into the pool below (don't boof).  Nate joined shortly after with a similar line.

After the next small drop we eddied out on the left above the Undertaker. When I had portaged on the right side, the drop looked runnable (as in Tyler Bradt or Eric Boomer runnable). This time I got a better look and I no longer think that.

*This drop has been run, at around 5,000 cfs by Willy Dinsdale a flow high enough for the sieve to get partially covered*

When we got to the portage, Nate and I walked the route first without boats to suss things out.  Instead of the friction climbing, mountain goat, totally gripped tightrope walk I was expecting, we found a manageable, if exposed, portage route. We did pass the boats to each other at one spot to be safe. The issue is definitely the fact that IF you were to slip and fall, you would have very close to zero chances of living.

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At the time this video was shot (a time before GoPro!) you can tell we were taking the portage awfully seriously.  After finding it a manageable affair even in the rain on this trip, the stigma of the portage was broken for me.  While I still take the portage seriously, I am no longer apprehensive about it and have returned over 25 times to paddle through what has become one of my favorite gorges.

Level was about 650 in the video, which is a friendly level.

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Opal Gorge from Jacob Cruser on Vimeo.

Here is another video half a decade later that shows the left side portage route at Undertaker, with the gauge reading 500 cfs or so.

After the run we scouted access to Evans Creek, a nearby waterfall studded creek that I have concluded after a return trip to canyoneer is not something I need to kayak other than maybe the last 1/4 mile for novelties sake some day.  Then it was back to class, Opal Gorge is a place to see if you are a boater in Oregon.

-Jacob

Little North Santiam: Classic Opal

Photo: Priscilla Macy

BETA

Stream: This section of the Little North Santiam River (usually referred to as Opal Creek) is one of the best whitewater trips in Oregon.  There are miles of fun and forgiving class III-IV rapids and 3 stand out rapids (two are class V-ish).

After a short walk in along a gravel road you reach the put in at an abandoned and barricaded mine.  Most people put in just below Hypoxia a short ledge with a hole backed up by an adjacent channel.  Paddlers coming down from the upper section usually sneak it over the shallow part on river-right.

                                                                Photo: Priscilla Macy

  The river is busy from the get-go with some pool and drop II-III separated by calm pools.  The water clarity is such that you can see the river bottom on a typical day.  Paddlers quickly pass by Gold Creek coming in on the right as the class II-III+ continues. 

Below the rapid above (smear the right wall at low flows to avoid a piton) is a gorgeous regrouping pool and then the whitewater really begins, with numerous boat-scoutable class III-IV rapids with fun boofs and unique lines.  This is a run where it is more fun to follow someone down who knows the run the first time because the rapids are not big enough to warrant a scout, but there are some small bugger rocks you are likely to bounce off of if you are boat-scouting yourself down at lower flows.

There are a couple stand out rapids before Big Fluffy including a rapid ending in two large boulders, be sure to dart to the right of them to avoid a small sieve in the center.  Too far right though and you may find yourself pushed into the right wall which has a small but generally benign pocket.

Another notable rapid is this ledge, proceeded by a deep pool between beautiful walls.  There is some nice cliff jumping here and provides an excellent place to take a break, it really captures the essence of this beautiful section of river.

Jesse Shapiro paddles back into the ledge for some enders.
Photo: Priscilla Macy

More pool and drop class III-IV continues down to Big Ugly, which is proceeded by a small rapid that pushes paddlers close to the right wall.  As you pass the wall the river turns 90 degrees to the right, the small horizon line at the end of the straight away is Big Ugly, which can be scouted right or left but is portaged right.  The left wall is the obvious hazard and becomes more of an issue as flows drop.  There is a sneak option on the right at some levels.

A boater snaking by that left wall at the bottom of Big Ugly.
Photo: Priscilla Macy

The next rapid below Big Ugly is a slot through a channel against the right bank.  Start left, driving hard back to the right through the slot.  It's easy and forgiving, but occasionally flips lackadaisical paddlers.  

There is a short bit of class II before the walls rise back up and the river disappears into the lead in at Big Fluffy, it is easy to eddy out on the right just above the horizon.

                                                              Photo: Clinton Begley

Scout and portage (via a seal launch) Big Fluffy on the right, this is where most of the pictures come from that people associate with the Opal Classic run.

The green boat is at the spot most people seal launch from.  Make sure to aim for the center of the river if seal launching, falling off to the right/downstream can result in a nasty piton.

                                                                Photo: Priscilla Macy

To run Big Fluffy I like to run the entrance ledge wherever is clever, then as I approach the pinch along the left wall I make sure I have momentum and angle to get to the left wall as I come through the pinch.  I then scrape (if levels are low) along the left wall until I am about 6 feet above the lip, at which point I drive back to middle and get in a left stroke to keep my nose up.  If you follow the current, you will find it pushes hard into the left wall.  

                                                            Ben Mckenzie gets it right
                                                              Photo: Lucas Reitmann

 The hole spices up at high flows and is not afraid of dishing out beatings and swims.
  I like to take the line drawn in the photo below at all levels, even when it requires scraping over an exposed shelf at low flows.
                                                           Photo: Lucas Reitmann

Things are a half class easier below here but the whitewater keeps rolling along, a small rapid with large boulders has a hungry mid stream sieve that is not obvious from above.  When you see those boulders, make sure you end the rapid on the far left.  


                                           Scouting the rapid with the sieve below.

The next innocuous spot is about half a mile to a mile below the bridge where Cedar Creek enters from the left.  Nondescript boulder gardens are the name of the game as the river makes a gradual left and the main flow crashes into a pile of boulders, make a strong move to the left or right of them, or sneak along the right bank.  This is one place where following a veteran is nice, fortunately the consequences for a mistake is just bouncing into some rocks.  Rolls can be unpleasant here.

There are a couple of long class II-III rapids below here and then the Little North Santiam pools again and bends to the left above the finale, Thor's Playroom.  

                                                                 Thor's Hammer
                                                              Photo: Priscilla Macy

The entry drop out of the pool and into Thor's has a number of options, nearly every time I take the second door from the right but don't let that keep you from checking out the other options.   Door two is through 2 soft ledge holes, I recommend a right stroke off the top one.

The current picks up again after the entrance and drops away through a fun flume run down the tongue with some offset waves.  As you slow down from the flume you will find yourself floating slowly (at normal flows) towards the final drop, a fast tongue into a ledge.  Eddy out on the right before dropping over to give it a quick peak from your boat.

I like to run this one moving right down the tongue, finishing right.  Otherwise follow the tongue straight over a boof that most people kind of just plop over, but every once in awhile it offers up a nice pop.  If you are looking for some extra fun aim for the seam between the boof and the hole on the bottom right.


                                             Ben drops into the final segment of Thor's Playroom.
                                                            Photo: Priscilla Macy

Take out on the gravel bar in the pool below this drop on the right.  There is a short set of stairs up to the parking lot.

The water quality is probably the thing people talk about most after their first trip to Opal Creek.

Paddlers: Nicole Smedegaard and Sean Bowen                                                                       Photo: Priscilla Macy

Flows:   This run can be done at a wide range of flows, and gets run anywhere between 350-5,000 cfs on the Little North Santiam @ Mehama gauge.  The most common and cleanest levels for running all the rapids are 700-2,000 cfs.   Much higher and Big Fluffy is usually portaged, much lower and Big Ugly is usually portaged.  And of course you can assume there will be other concerns that arise with flows outside of the ideal range though the difficulty does not change much until you get passed 3,500 cfs.

The gauge is far downstream, so the definitive gauge is the stick gauge at Elkhorn.  5-6' on that gauge is good for all the rapids, but it's visual only.

Access:  Take I5 to Salem and head East on Highway 22 towards Detroit Reservoir.  In about 22 miles turn left at a flashing yellow light onto N Fork Rd.  In about 15 miles the road turns to gravel, just under 2 miles after that turn right (there is a kiosk and some boulders at this location).  Just under a mile after turning right at the kiosks, pull right into the paved Three Pools Day use area (not signed).  This is the take out.

To reach the put in return to the kiosks on N Fork Rd and turn right.  Continue a little over 4 miles to a gate and park (there is a $5 fee).  Carry your kayak past the gate along the road, in half a mile you will cross over the compelling, yet log choked Gold Creek.  In another hundred yards veer right onto an overgrown spur road that leads down to the put in at the location of a decommissioned mine shaft.

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Some Opal Media
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Opal Creek 2009 from Jacob Cruser on Vimeo.