Packers Gulch

 All photos: Priscilla Macy

I try to mix up my trips to the Quartzville drainage these day.  Because the upper section that is the usual draw is short, there are a number of combos that can be had.  The ambitious can head upstream, or even further upstream.  My favorite option is to do the section from Greg Creek down to the reservoir, but sometimes doing a park and plop or adding on a tributary is the ticket for the day. 

This day we did an Upper Qville lap, then with a large group split up.  Some car portaged their rafts around the middle section to avoid Double Dip and Pick up Sticks, others did another lap on the upper run.  Priscilla and I went and checked out Packers Gulch.

The hike in was about 1 mile on a gravel logging road, no shuttle needed.  The first pitch is steep, then it flattens out until reaching a bridge at the put in.  The description in the back of Soggy Sneakers just says "class IV" and that's about how I'd sum it up too.  The run was worth doing once, had a few neat sections, engaging boogie water, problem solving, and two easy log portages.  

We were there January 20, 2019 in the afternoon.

Put In:  44.600335, -122.395380

Take Out:  44.589596, -122.392972

        -jacob

Yellowstone Creek

Yellowstone Creek is a small tributary to Quartzville Creek, if you have run Upper Quartzville Creek you have crossed over this one.  Ben Mckenzie's brother had told him about a small waterfall on the creek, so a couple times after Quartzville we/I had walked up there to take a look.  It looked like a fun drop, but nothing special so each time we made excuses not to bring our boats up there.  Finally, after finishing a trip on upper Quartzville we were driving by mid-day and Priscilla and I couldn't come up with any reason not to carry our boats the short distance up the creek to run the falls.  I'm glad we did, it was a fun plop, good enough that I carried back up for a second go.

I walked a short distance upstream of the falls while we were there and thought the creek looked runnable, and the next week I received this information from Geoffrey Marcus via the Facebook:  I did some stream surveying up their a few summers back and it had decent gradient... Ive only been about 1/2 mile upstream of the drop, and it was mostly steep boulders. A little bit of bedrock here and there but nothing quite like that drop.

So this creek has joined a long list of other creeks that I may or may not run someday.  There is in fact a logging road that crosses the creek up there and some real gradient.  If you are up for a short adventure, consider checking this one out after a morning on Quartzville some time.

The first half mile drops 280 feet, the rest of the run is in the 250 fpm range.  

This was the flow the day we ran Yellowstone Falls, I think the flow we had would be a good first time flow for exploring the rest of the creek as well.

                           -jacob

Thomas Creek: Pumpkin Patch

Each October hunting season rolls around and access to Thomas Creek is allowed.  Like a pumpkin patch you can go in just a short way and get a worthwhile reward, but if you want the biggest and the best you gotta go just a little further.

BETA

Stream: Walk down the short nose of land and put on to a Thomas Creek that has noticeably less water than where you left the take out vehicle.  A short warm up ends at an island, while most of the water goes right I suggest taking the left channel.  Immediately after the channels merge back together the whitewater gets rolling in the form of manky (if you are not on line) class IV whitewater that can and should be scouted.  There is an eddy on the left before the creek turns right and pinches down to half its size between a couple boulders.   It is important you catch an eddy right or left just below this pinch to scout the rest of the rapid, which makes a bend to the left and over "Pumpkin Spice".

Pumpkin Spice has a narrow hallway leading to a ten foot ramp that must be run right (without hitting the right wall) to avoid an atomic piton middle and left.  The line is straight forward, but don't mess it up.  Scout/portage the lead in and Pumpkin Spice on the left, safety can be thoroughly set below.

                                                   Ross George enjoying this seasonal treat.

A nice boof and a short bit of easy water lead to another island that is best run in the right channel (ducking a couple logs at the top in 2016).  Shortly below this island is a bridge, then some easy floating through some island and boulder bar style rapids before the whitewater builds again as the creek approaches and then passes under another bridge.  This second bridge signals that you are VERY close to Thomas Creek Falls, separated by only two short class III-IV rapids.  There are small eddies just above the plunge, that should be caught one boater at a time.   If you are feeling cautious or the water is high you can chose to walk down to the falls from this bridge along the road and then down a short trail.

The line on the 30-40' Thomas Creek falls is obvious along the right side and away from the log in the center.  The lead in is straight forward, the landing soft and the pool friendly.  The log is intimidating and would likely be disastrous to collide with.  Boaters around here typically assume if there is a runnable drop in the area it was likely run back in the day by Eric Brown or Dan Coyle.  Yet not knowing for sure, this drop did not see a descent for many years (the log was cited as the concern).  In 2010 Matt King demonstrated to our generation of boaters that the line is manageable for skilled paddlers.  Since his run, numerous others have followed.

                                                    Kory Kellum staring down the barrel. 

Thomas Creek Falls can be portaged via a thrown and go from the lip on river-right, or a sloppy up and around route on the same side.

Patrick Beville sans boat

Below the falls are a couple more III-IV rapids in a gorge before the stream flattens out for awhile.  Somewhere amongst these boulder bars you enter the Standard Stretch, and about 4 miles of beautiful and classic class III-IV whitewater later the take out.

Vaclav out front

  
Flows: We had ~1,000 cfs and dropping slow.  I'd guess 900-1500 cfs is a reasonable range on the USGS Guage @ Scio (and it's probably ok if the gauge is reading a bit higher so long as the flow is dropping).    If levels are lower you can still put in at and run the falls (down to 400 or so cfs).

Access: The take out is located less than 15 miles East of Scio, OR.  Take Hwy 226 to Thomas Creek Dr, following until it turns to gravel which is where the gate is.  If it is Cascade Deer or Elk hunting season, the gate has historically been open (call this number to be sure 888-741-5403).  If not, it will be closed and your only option is to find access through the Santiam State Forest via the Rock Creek drainage out of Mill City or hike a long way.

Assuming the gate is open, continue along Thomas Creek Drive 2.2 miles (past the Sheriff's posse) and make a right turn down to the take out bridge.

To get to the put in return to Thomas Creek drive and continue the way you were going 3.8 miles (stay right at 2 and 2.9 miles) where you will meet up with a more heavily travelled road, merge right.  2.9 miles past this merge (stay straight at 1 mile, drive through a yellow gate shortly after, then pass the road leading down to Thomas Creek Falls at 1.8 miles) you will cross over Thomas Creek, there will be notably less water than at the take out. Stay left on the road along the creek, 3/4 of a mile past this bridge you will reach another bridge over a tributary with an obvious parking area.  Walk down the nose of land to the creek to put in.

A mileage map starting at the take out.
It is worth cache-ing this area on your phone before leaving reception and using the GPS if you have that function.

click to enlarge

Notes:   My friend Jarred voiced concern about the right wall below the falls appearing undercut on a trip he took to Thomas, and thus chose to portage the falls.  I have been there at low flows and it was not an issue.  At the flow the pictures for this page were taken we had about 1,000 cfs and the wall proved to still be a benign obstacle.  Anything that flowed towards it was stopped short of the wall by the water rebounding off the wall short of collision, and subsequently pushed quickly downstream into the pool.  We were even comfortable jumping off the falls and swimming past the wall.  The clips below were put together to showcase how the wall can be...

A) avoided
B) a non-issue if you are pushed toward it

That said, analyze the situation for yourself when you are there.  Especially if the flows are up.

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Trip Report
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The day before Emile and I had checked out Thomas Creek from the top, exploring 7.5 miles of stream I knew nothing about aside from what I had seen on maps and a tantalizing picture Pete Giordano had sent me.

It was a fun day of adventure, though we had portaged the rapid Pete sent the photo of.

The next day a group of boaters wanted to go to Thomas so we planned on giving the rapid a better look before continuing through the falls and Standard Stretch.

A couple boaters in the group were uncomfortable putting on this high so planned to meet us at a bridge above Thomas Creek Falls.  We walked down to Thomas Creek near a confluence and quickly worked our way down to where the whitewater picked up.  The scouting and safety setting took some time, but eventually Priscilla decided to go first.  We felt that because she was in an IK on this trip it gave her more margin for error with the padding those craft provide.  She ended up getting spun at the lip and dropping over backwards but came out upright and unscathed.

Ross went next with a perfect line, with Kory and I following not long after.

  It took us a little while to get down to the bridge to meet the rest of the team who were pretty worried it had taken us 1.5 hours to run that section.  They decided that since it was now 2pm and it would be dark by 7pm they were not comfortable continuing on for fear of running out of light, we wished them well and continued on downstream.

There was a section of easy floating before the whitewater picked back up as we reached another bridge.  This signaled we were near the falls so we proceeded cautiously down the next couple of short rapids.   We caught the eddy on the right above the falls one at a time and set about scouting or portaging Thomas Creek Falls.

Kory went first, followed by Nick, Ross and myself.  The others chose to save this one for another day.

Nick hopped in the IK for this one.

We continued on through the classic Standard Stretch, having a blast and arriving back in Albany before the sun faded.   Aside from Ross getting lost on the shuttle the day went very smoothly.

  -jacob

Thomas Creek: Upper

Photo: Lucas Rietmann


BETA

Stream: A fantastic intermediate trip in the mid-Willamette Valley that is only accessible during hunting season unless you are navigationally savvy and willing to put in a long day.  Keep an eye out for wood the whole day, but in Fall 2016 there were no portages.

There is some easy floating through boulder bars to warm up in before the Runaway, the first rapid.  In Runaway the current is forced against the right wall creating a rapid that ends in a short plunge into a powerful hydraulic.  Run this final plunge on the left side of the right channel with a strong right stroke, staying away from the right wall.  You can scout/portage this rapid on the left, but it's also easy to find yourself past the eddies before you realize you are in the rapid.

Runaway

                                                              Photo: Lucas Rietmann

More easy floating is below here before this section of Thomas really reaches its prime as bedrock begins to line the stream and the green walls are in stark contrast to what is turbid water if the flows are not low.

Sustained and enjoyable pool and drop class III begins to become the norm.  

As flows rise past 1,000 cfs the difficulty creeps up, never reaching class V (even at 8,300 cfs) but as flows approach 2,000 cfs the eddy situation gets loose and people have reported floating downstream alongside flotsam in a class IV environment.

                                    Photo: Lucas Rietmann

The last three rapids are the most exciting, and come in quick succession.  The first (Firebox) comes after a right hand turn, and is rowdy at flows upwards of 1,000 cfs.  I like to start right, working back to center and hold steady through a violent but forgiving bottom hydraulic that empties into a large pool.  At some flows you can sneak more center/left, and scouting is always possible from either side.

Firebox

Shoo Fly is next and pushes into the left wall if you run left, but has a line to the right of a folding hydraulic that allows for easy passage.  It can be scouted from an island just upstream of the rapid.

Shoo Fly

After another pool the creek enters the final set of ledges at Caboose Juice which make for a terrific finale and can be run right down the tongue, just keep that nose up.  

Caboose Juice

If you are looking for more action, put in a little higher to tack on the Pumkpin Patch, which has some IV (V) and a beautiful 30-40' runnable waterfall.
  
Flows:  This stretch can be run as low as 400 cfs, but ideally look for 800-1,500 cfs for a class III-IV trip.   USGS Gauge Thomas Creek @ Scio.

Access:  Directions from Anthony Boesen.  

If it is Cascade Deer or Elk hunting season, the gate has historically been open (call this number to be sure 888-741-5403).  If not, it will be closed and your only option is to find access through the Santiam State Forest via the Rock Creek drainage out of Mill City or hike a long way.

Oregon's Best Class V

Matt King finishing up the gorge on the West Fork Wallowa River.

It has been said that Oregon lacks true class V kayaking runs and Canyon Creek in the South Santiam drainage is really the only stream in Oregon that earns that rating. I disagree.  Of the streams I have run, here are what I believe to be the top 10 best class V runs in Oregon.

*This list is about if I had run each of these once, which would stand out as my favorite.  If

Best Class V Runs:


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(10) Christy (Lower):   Christy rewards the adventurous paddler with hard, steep boulder gardens and some big bedrock rapids.  The presence of wood is worth noting, but not a big issue.  Now that the lower put in has been established, the run is much better than old literature may lead you to believe.    TRIP REPORT
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(9) Canyon: This classic class Willamette Valley run is everything Oregon minus waterfalls.        TRIP REPORT
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(8) Deschutes (Upper): As the summer drags on the levels ramp up here and it just keeps getting better as the streams elsewhere in the state drop out.  If there were not miles of flat water between the rapids, it would see a lot more traffic.                                                                                                             TRIP REPORT
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(7) Salmon (SRG):  Do this one for the place, its one of the more captivating areas around.  The run alternates between difficult waterfalls and class II.  Hard access and challenging river obstacles make this one of the best boating adventures in the PNW.                                                                             TRIP REPORT
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(6) Fish Creek (North Umpqua Drainage): This is the hardest run on the list.  It's like Oregon's version of the Clear Fork Cowlitz.  There is lots of scouting, some portaging, and twice as many class V rapids (or more) than any other run on this list.                    
                                                                                                                                                                      TRIP REPORT
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(5) Lostine: This run has the most sustained quality whitewater on the list, 3 miles of clean IV-V boulder rapids and a couple challenging bedrock rapids to end the trip.       500-1000 cfs                              TRIP REPORT
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(4) Gladiator:  If I was judging only the whitewater, this run would be number 1 on the list.  However, it is difficult to access, has sub par water quality and the scenery is mostly clear cuts.  Get this hidden whitewater gem if you can, most paddlers will fall short of overcoming the access hurdles.                             TRIP REPORT
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(3) Imnaha (Headwaters): An anomaly for the state, this run seems like it belongs in California.  Long class IV-V gorges separated by open class IV-IV+ sections in a truly unique setting.    500-2000 cfs                            TRIP REPORT                                  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Eagle:  This run has a nice hike, beautiful gorges, impressive waterfalls, great water quality and even a few rapids thrown in.  The deepest parts of the gorge always give me a sense of well being. Your non-boating friends can hike along the trail too.                                                                                    TRIP REPORT
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(1) NF Silver (Illinois tributary):  This is an incredible run accessible to the ambitious class IV/V boater.  It is classic State of Jefferson creeking with committing gorges and some manageable must run.  We did it as an overnighter, an approach I would highly recommend as the run is over 20 miles long.                              
                                                                                                                                                                     TRIP REPORT
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Honorable Mentions:
Collawash - The Big Dog rapid is a contender for my favorite rapid in Oregon. TR
Henline - Short, contender for the most exciting 100 yards of kayaking in Oregon. TR
Sweet - See Henline description.  TR
Sardine - I have not run this, but if rumors are true it may deserve a top ten distinction. 
Elkhorn - Quality stream-bed, lots of wood in 2014.   TR
Battle Axe - Super fun, but only one class V rapid.  Clean ledges for days.  TR
Tanner - Access will keep most boaters away.  TR
WF Wallowa (Gorge) - Its short, but stacked and hard.  A reasonable detour on the way to/from Idaho.  TR
Briggs Creek - This one could take the place of numbers 6-10 on the top 10 list, but they can't all be on there.  TR

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Being based in the Willamette Valley, a bias is apparent in the runs I have done and the choices on this list.  For example, I am aware of a number of runs in southern Oregon that may be top ten quality that I have never done.  I am also sure there are good ones I have never heard of.  The take away message is that there is plenty of class V in Oregon, especially if you are willing to leave the comfort of the Columbia Gorge.  Input welcome, I would love to have a few more runs to add to this list in a couple of years.

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Class V training grounds:
Miracle Mile (NFMF Willamette)
MeadowCamp (Deschutes) - The Lava Island section can be added to the beginning.
Upper East Fork Hood

Other Mentionables:
Cedar
Oak Grove Fork
NF Clackamas
Graves (Upper)
Pistol
SF Coquille
EF Eagle (Wallowa's)
EF Coquille
Jenny

Lucas Glick enters Pure Hate Gorge on Quartzville Creek

     -jacob

Wiley Creek

BETA

Stream: 

Wiley Creek is a class III-IV run near Sweet Home with some wood, lots of read and run, and a couple of low end class Vs.  

Above Richochet the creek is nondescript, but can be entertaining if there is not much wood.  If you are driving just continue up until the creek no longer looks like something you want to paddle and put in there.  If you are hiking, put in below Richochet (44.323889, -122.537968).

Whether you are hiking or driving will depend on whether the gate is open.

Portaging Ricochet in 2020.

The creek is fun below Richochet, the next notable spot has a creek coming in from the left over a cascade, and a nice ledge in Wiley Creek.  This ledge can offer a good boof, and can be lapped.  It's worth a scout, as the hole can be sticky.

Not too far downstream is Taint Natural, we were glad we scouted from the road on the way in circa 2020 because there was tricky wood in the lead in, and eddies are less prevalent here than other parts of the creek.  We had a quick portage on the left in the lead in, from which point we could scout Taint Natural itself.

Taint Natural has a couple ledges, the first has a notable hole.  At 450 it was no problem punching over/through.

Downstream the fun continues for a bit, then some wood was present in 2020 as things transitioned to boulder bars.  This boulder bar section lasts for awhile, and islands present decisions to make.  Pick the right route and you may not have to get out of your boat the whole time, pick the wrong route and you are likely to find a strainer.

Below the boulder bars things consolidate for the final mile, my favorite part of the creek.  The first rapid is Cascade Falls, a powerful, unique and fun rapid with minimal consequences.

If you have enough daylight, it's worth doing a couple laps here.

Cascade is below the gate, so this last mile can be run more often than the full run.

*Sean brought this tail stand down cleanly.

Downstream, fun ledges dot the creek all the way until the last 1/4 mile where easy floating leads to the take out bridge at the rock quarry.

If you have seen everything else and want to see check out something new, head to Wiley creek, it'll leave you with a smile.

 
Wiley Creek with the CCC from Jacob Cruser on Vimeo.



  
Flows:  500-1,000 is going to be the most friendly and clean, people run it from 300-1,500 according to the guidebooks.

Access:  Just East of Sweet Home, Highway 20 crosses over Wiley Creek.  The first road on the East side of the creek is Wiley Creek Rd, follow this upstream 4 miles and turn right at the confluence with Little Wiley Creek.  In less than 1 mile you will reach the rock quarry at the take out (44.36354421526515, -122.61037721129792)

To put in continue upstream on the same road.  In about 1.3 miles there is a pull out at Cascade (44.34968938492463, -122.5928280449569).

If you are hiking past the gate to the put in, or flows are high, you'll probably want to put in here (44.326233531316895, -122.54251620796829), just below Ricochet.

If you are driving, continue upstream until the creek doesn't look fun anymore and put in there.

  

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Story/Notes
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Whenever I hear someone say Wiley Creek an image pops into my head of Nate with his fist raised, crying out "Wiiileeeey!!!" similar to the way Simpsons character Mcbain cries out "Mendoza!!!"



I talked to Nate after doing this TR and he informed me the original comes from star trek.  Clip shown below.

)

That image came about after we had been thwarted yet again by this reputed mediocre creek in the Mid-Willamette Valley on a day other good stuff was in.  Nate had been jonesing for Canyon Creek but Anna had cast a charm by posting on the Facebook and convincing us that Wiley would put a smile on our faces. 

We ended up giving up that day when confronted with low water and a gate.  It was one of those days everything went wrong and after hiking off a different run, cracking a boat, and various other mayhem we all had a sour feeling towards Wiley (except Anna).  This culminated in Nate raising his fist to the sky and and proclaiming to the world he would never have another day of kayaking impeded by Wiley Creek.

    -jacob

Silver Creek (Silverton)

This run was always on the back of my mind being close to school, but I had never gone for it thinking it was a big mission so as such it was on a large list near the bottom.  I may have been reading between lines that weren't there in the existing literature, but I was under any Winter trip to Silver Creek would be a fight against darkness.  Fresh off a different big mission and a sore hind quarters from a bad line off Cascada De Los Ninos Nate and I decided we were just fine with a moderate mission.  John Edwards thought that sounded like a good time too, Silver seemed the ticket and levels were there so went for it.

Kayaking was banned in the park at some point, but AW is in talks with State Parks to see if an agreement could be reached that would allow kayaking.  Stay tuned.  

We didn't see anyone else up there, maybe it was a weekday or something.  I don't recall.

The levels were not as high as we expected, more of a healthy-low.  The snow put us in a good mood as we walked and dragged our boats down the trail. 

 We may or may not have run Drake Falls, which may or may not be the funnest 20 footer around.  This drop no longer has wood in it.  Twin and Lower North were definitely wood riddled as of 2012.  

If you really want it there is a line.

Once we reached the confluence there was an easy slide or two before reaching Crag Falls.  We ran this on the right, the best line being as close to the tree as you are comfortable, too far to the right of the tree and you may find a chest level rock in the landing.

There was some tame water below here with some moderate scenery.  Eventually we caught the easy eddy on the left above Dobo Falls.  Dobo is a weird falls that saw three upright lines, but lets just say I’m glad the camera wasn't recording my descent.  

Nate gets it done.

Just below was a ledge we ran on the right with a more interesting looking line on the left.

Following that was a lengthy class two stretch before Dirty Falls that has a slide on the right that is smoother than it appears from the lip.

There was a bridge with a slide best run center left below here, then another extended class two float to Murrays Rapid.  This one had a sticky hole, and we were a bit lethargic after nodding off through the easy section and all snuck the hole either left or right.  

John takes a lefty on the right.

 This was the last drop and we were soon on the reservoir, with the take out on the far side.

Silver Creek may have a unique appeal:  John pointed out this would be a good run to take a newer boater.  Someone would need to be able to catch eddies and have some form of a roll, but there is a lot of good class two on the run to practice on with a variety of different types of the easy variety rapids, with a couple more interesting drops for the teacher to have fun on and introduce the newer boater to some of the more advanced techniques involved in kayaking (larger drops are easily portaged).  The most challenging moment would be Dirty falls where a wave hole guards the river right eddy.  A further up eddy can be caught before the lead in though.

3000 cfs on the Molalla seemed low and friendly, but the run would be floatable down to 2000-ish.  Also, while the run is 11 miles, we were on the water less than 4 hours.

I now use the Butte @ Monitor gauge for Silver Creek, I don't have it dialed but 400 cfs is a low runnable, and 1,000 is probably a filled in and padded med-high flow. 

It can also be run at flood level.

    -Jacob

post script:  There is a clean 50 footer above the put in that gets run.

Lake Creek Slides

Beta

1 mi

Stream:   This is a unique run in Oregon's Coast Range, with fun slides in the beginning (unusual for Oregon) and some boulder gardens in the second half (typical of Oregon).  The run starts right where the lake exits into the creek, just upstream from a bridge with the foot gauge on it  44.1617, -123.5707 .

The first 1/3rd of the run is made up of slides and can be scouted from a nice walkway and mini-park at the end of the walkway. This scouting area is accessed by parking here 44.1594, -123.573.

The slides start out low angle, gradually tilting steeper as they approach the only vertical drop of the run (10-15').  

The main line on this drop is down the center, what to do after landing is the biggest cause for pause.

When there was still a log in the main line people used to put in on river right at the lip of this drop (missing out on the low angle slides upstream) for a fun hop, skip and splash.

Joe Kemper running the right side of the first drop, back when there was still a log in the main line.

(log gone as of 2016)

Photo: Lucas Rietmann

The runout here is odd, but people bounce their way through.  Alternately, boof into the eddy on the left next to the fish ladder to do a quick portage around the boulder pile. 

 Next is another fun ramp run on the left that ends in a short drop, with a nice eddy to regroup in just below on the left.  Good clean fun.

The trickiest slide is next.  Here a tough to scout (if flows are up) boulder garden pushes left at the lip of the slide which is not where you want to be.  Either make a quick portage of this lead in on the left or stay in control and drive back to the right through a couple small holes to run the final slide center or right and avoid a nasty log and root-wad on river left at the bottom.

Both the paddle and portage routes are shown here.

The slide below, with the log hazard visible at the bottom left.

It is possible to lap one or more of these slides, but generally it is not considered convenient enough to do a whole bunch of laps on all of them.  The easiest to lap is the middle slide if the water is lowish.

The pool below the final slide exits into the IV-V (depending on flow) boulder garden stretch, which takes up the middle third of the run and blind parts should be scouted for wood, though the run was portage free in January 2021.

The boulder gardens are pretty steep and considered fun by most Willamette Valley boaters, but not by all.  The final drop in this section is the most unique and can provide exciting lines.

Below this airplane move, the last 1/3rd or the creek eases from III-IV down to moving flatwater as it approaches the bridge.  Stay on guard here as Iv'e seen a couple hiccups through here and wood is usually still present.

The only thing left to do is reset shuttle and head up for another round.  While the first lap can take a couple hours, 20-30 minutes laps are common once the wood situation is known and lines are dialed.

Flows:  The definitive gauge is the visual "Triangle Lake gauge" that exists on the put in bridge. The gist with some wiggle room is 7.0-7.5 is low but fun, 7.5-8.0 is medium, 8.0-8.5 is pushy.

- Over 8.5 (water even with the step in the concrete) is high but even at 10' it did not look un-runnable (most paddlers would not run it at that flow though).

- Minimum is users choice, people have been known to slide down a couple of the slides in the Summer.  Though most boaters, myself included, would consider flows under 7' too low and 6.5 an un-floatable flow.

To ballpark flows before heading out, use the Siuslaw Gauge near Mapleton.  Look for between 6' and 9' for class IV/V levels, though it goes much higher (looked doable for the elite at 18'). Keep in mind the Siuslaw gauge is far downstream on a much larger river, so is only reasonable for estimation purposes.

If you get there and it is too high for your taste, check out either the Play Run or Sweet Creek.

Access:  Find Triangle Lake on a map (West of Eugene).  The run begins immediately as the run exits the lake on the south side.  

There is a gravel parking area near the Blachly Lane Picnic area (44.161891, -123.570914), and path leading upstream to a convenient put in. 

The take out is at a bridge about 1 mile downstream (44.147849, -123.582892), after a turn onto Fish Creek road.  There is limited parking, refer to the map below.  

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Original write-up

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We joined Nate Pfiefer and crew last weekend to check out the section of Lake Creek exiting Triangle Lake.  There have been many descents of this section, but up to this point no online documentation aside from a short video from Oregonkayaking. 

This section has got a lot of descents this year, and the general consensus is that it cleans up as the water starts to rise, but once the rocks are covered, it becomes hard class V in a hurry.  Emile ran it years ago in a playboat on several occasions at 10-12' and said it was good to go, but they did not run the boulder gardens below the slides.  There are rumors of it being run even higher.

Here is a video of Kory and I running it in 2015 at about 7.75' on the put in/Triangle Lake Gauge.                    0:00 - 1:30


Birthday Boating with Kory Kellum from PMacy on Vimeo.

This run is really not to be missed if you are a local, its short, but a blast.  3 good slides and a half mile of 4/5 boulder gardens depending on flow.  The river carves through sandstone instead of the usual Oregon Basalt, providing unique rapids.

    -Jacob