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.

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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