Beta
Iv'e never run the WF Hood at anything but low flows, so I will direct you here for better information on healthy flows.
Stream: I like putting in at Lolo Pass, but many people choose to put in at the Lake Branch confluence to avoid running or portaging a class V upstream.
The section from Lolo Pass to the standard put in is class III-IV with some fun bedrock rapids and one class V-ish bouldery rapid in a small gorge. This one has a semi-strenuous portage high on the left if needed, or I have done a partial portage on the right at low water and paddled the rest of the rapid on the right.
The run below the Lake Branch weaves in and out of gorges with numerous class III-IV rapids. The most unique hazard is a fish ladder half way through the run. This has been run, but it is highly recommended that you make the easy portage on the left. Rumor is there used to be a ten foot waterfall here before the fish ladder was created.
The biggest boulder garden of the run is just down stream and can be boat scouted or shore scouted on the right. Rapids continue down to the take out bridge, some portions being more interesting than others. Either take out on the right and hike up to your vehicles below the bridge or check out Punchbowl Falls just downstream, which is a powerful ten foot plunge usually boofed on the left.
The section from Lolo Pass to the standard put in is class III-IV with some fun bedrock rapids and one class V-ish bouldery rapid in a small gorge. This one has a semi-strenuous portage high on the left if needed, or I have done a partial portage on the right at low water and paddled the rest of the rapid on the right.
The run below the Lake Branch weaves in and out of gorges with numerous class III-IV rapids. The most unique hazard is a fish ladder half way through the run. This has been run, but it is highly recommended that you make the easy portage on the left. Rumor is there used to be a ten foot waterfall here before the fish ladder was created.
The biggest boulder garden of the run is just down stream and can be boat scouted or shore scouted on the right. Rapids continue down to the take out bridge, some portions being more interesting than others. Either take out on the right and hike up to your vehicles below the bridge or check out Punchbowl Falls just downstream, which is a powerful ten foot plunge usually boofed on the left.
Punchbowl is a straight forward move, but missing the line can result in serious downtime.
If you run Punchbowl continue down to the confluence of the EF Hood. Take out on the gravel bar on the right and walk the steep-ish trail up to the decommissioned road and back to your vehicle.
Flows: The run can be done as low as 300 cfs on the WF gauge, but people generally shoot for 500 cfs and up. 700 cfs is medium.
If you are using the Tucker Gage 5-6 feet is medium, 7' is still not high. 4.5 is low but still fun.
Iv'e been down with my dad as low as 3.5' a couple times, most people would not like the run at that flow. The lower the flow, the more inviting Punchbowl is.
Access: Take Hwy 281 out of Hood River to the town of Dee. A bridge crosses the stream in what used to be the middle of a town. Cross this bridge and turn right on Punchbowl Rd. Follow this road until it crosses a bridge. Backtrack 100 feet and you will find a gravel parking area that is the take out (downstream of the bridge). Some people may wish to spot their take out from the bridge or by walking down the road past the gate.
Amercian Whitewater has done good work for this location, in the future the take out may be improved and more obvious to spot.
Amercian Whitewater has done good work for this location, in the future the take out may be improved and more obvious to spot.
The put in is accessed by returning towards Dee, but instead of crossing the bridge continue straight on Lost lake Rd. Following it through farmland and then paralleling the WF Hood 5.4 miles to the standard put in. For the Lolo Pass put in continue upstream 2.5 more miles, then turn left onto NF-18/Lolo Pass Rd and follow that a short way down to the put in bridge.
Notes: The Green Point Creek drainage has seen some attention by locals, this stream enters the WF Hood in a gorge in the last 1/3rd of the run. Here is a trip report from Ryan Scott on the North Fork of that creek.
Notes: The Green Point Creek drainage has seen some attention by locals, this stream enters the WF Hood in a gorge in the last 1/3rd of the run. Here is a trip report from Ryan Scott on the North Fork of that creek.
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