Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Eagle Creek (Clackamas drainage)




The Middle Run begins at the Fish Hatchery, and is class II-II+ with occasional wood hazards before reaching Middle Falls.



The Middle Falls is a clean 15' drop into a forgiving pool, though at higher water the hole in the Middle is a little menacing.  Fortunately, the main line on the right is softer at higher levels.  


 (Jordan's last name is actually Englert) 

 This creek can be a good introduction to creeking if the wood situation is favorable.   

This is the standard boof on the right, it can be a strong impact if you boof.


The Lower section has one more falls that is not as tall, but more consequential.  The line is to boof right avoiding a piton on the center/right, then stay off the right wall.  At higher levels there is an option to run middle, the left is always bad.  

This line taken by the raft is not a good option for kayaks.  Further river-right is most common.
                                                           Photo: Oregon Rafting Team


The mile and a half below the lower falls has some quality class three that reminds me of the Sandy Gorge or Bull Run, at levels around 3' it has a class IV feel if there is any wood present.   This photo was at 1' on the gauge, a good first time flow.

After the steep section below the lower falls it is class 2- or less to the take-out. You will know when you have reached this point because there is a beautiful house on the left with a nice field, then the creek goes between some boulders then obviously gets less gorgey with noticeably smaller rapids.

Keep an eye out for nice surfing options in the runout.


There is a gauge painted at the take out (45.341623760859385, -122.34563150112169)

0.5' is low, but runnable the lower is runnable if you don't mind scraping.
1-1.5' is a good first-time flow for the lower section, but low for the middle
2-2.5' are the connoisseurs' flows, and the surf waves are in, the middle and upper are in.
3'+ is high but runnable.




Lower put in (45.32465008000999, -122.29953748416258) or half a mile upstream at Eagle Fern Park if you want to run the lower falls.

Middle put in (45.27601912611392, -122.20455682380445)