Upper Collawash (Big Dog)

Jesse Shapiro, Priscilla Macy and I ran the "Big Dog" section of the Collawash after the Clack fest and found that the run has changed a fair bit and is a good run.  Possibly one of the better sections of whitewater in Oregon.

A young Newt at the put in.

The core beta for this run is captured well in both Soggy Sneakers and a trip report from Oregonkayaking.  The report here is a 2014 perspective of the run complimentary to those descriptions, the biggest difference being the improved wood situation and the change to the Churn.  The second large logjam is no longer a portage and there were only 2 mandatory portages on the whole run.

We paddled the 4 miles of class two broken up by a log portage and one small but tricky rapid before arriving at one of Oregon's largest log jams.  The class II moves along well enough, and the classic Oregon greenery helps.  On the second trip I paddled the last 1/2 mile of the EF Collowash at the start of the day, so got some nice class IV rapids in before the class II began.  The maps show an alternate approach that would drop a boater in just below the large logjam noted in the guidebooks.  This approach would be faster, but require more effort.
* A map showing this approach is included at the end of this report.

Andrew in the exception to the rule in the class II paddle in.  

Speaking of the mega logjam, the portage is a simple affair as the logs are large and sturdy enough that a nimble boater can do the whole portage without taking their boat off their shoulder until the final 15 yards in under 10 minutes. We started center and worked right, it was neat to see so many logs piled together in one place.  We did feel the logjam might be smaller than it used to be when the original guidebook description was written.

It is still a large logjam,.

 We put back in and paddled another hundred yards, then drug our boats across a grass covered island to the river left channel to avoid another short log portage.  Other routes across the jam are available.

The grass was tall and my irrational side kept checking for the Compsognathus from Jurassic Park.

On our second trip, we recognized the jam coming up and portaged early on the left, this took about half the time and effort.  I'd go left every time in the future.

Shortly below here Dickey Creek came in on the left.  The alternate access would be at about this point.  Oregonkayaking.net describes this next section well as "eerie".  The large, dead trees rising out of the water and slow current create this effect.

The sentinels

 Shortly below the "sentinels" the river eases to the right and there is an obvious horizon line.  This first class IV ends in a moving pool making for a fun and straight forward rapid.

The next horizon line is "Big Dog", a large class V rapid that is the first of the rapids in this stretch to have changed for the better. The log in the bottom left chute is no longer there, turning this into a good rapid.  Running far left the whole way worked well, be sure to take a peak around the corner as another smaller rapid waits just below.  As the guides mention; scout left, portage right.

 

Photo: Andrew Bradley

The Churn seems to have changed since the original descriptions.  It starts off with a lead in and the ledge with a pin spot, below which we eddied out to scout the second part which was a challenging boulder rapid dropping 15 feet or so over 40 yards.  I do not recognize the Oregonkayaking picture of the second part of the Churn, we believe a landslide has occurred; the resulting rapid is still good.   Take care to mind the holes, the first one provided a solid rodeo for a member of our group.  This section reminded me of Upper Canyon Creek, OR.

Kory Kellum take his turn in the first part of The Churn.

Below here the gorge offered one more class IV rapid and the seriousness of the rapids eased slightly but everything is still really fun.  However, don't let your guard down.  The rapid pictured on Oregonkayaking described as being just above "The Cave" surfed another member of our group and caused a swim. This drop through the cave has a class V-ish feel. The large log jam described on the Oregonkayaking site in this section has been altered and we were able to paddle under it on the far left.  "The Cave" itself was clear of wood and good to go, being mindful of the undercut left wall.  A few more class IV rapids keep you entertained to the take out bridge, though I recommend heading the advice on OregonKayaking and continuing down through Boulder Dash and taking out at the first tributary entering on the left.

Kory dashes through the boulders.

By the time we reached the take out bridge we had forgotten the class two paddle at the top and were all smiles.  Truly an enjoyable run for the adventurous boater.

Some more good news is the scouting and portaging is no longer as difficult as it used to be, the landslides must have settled as we felt moving around on the bank was not an issue.

After wrapping up, its easy to tack on Pegleg Falls and Blister Creek Falls before heading home.

Kory Kellum: Blister Creek Falls

Footage: Andrew Bradley

FLOWS:  We had 2200 cfs on the Clackamas at Three Lynx in 2014 and thought that was a nice level, but I think levels were a bit funky.  The  Oregonkayaking trip report was done at 2500 cfs at Three Lynx though there was more water in the Collawash on our trip. We noted the Hot Springs Fork was contributing very little water. Low flows would be trashy due to the landslide nature of the rapids.  We returned at 3,000 cfs or so and dropping in 2018 and the run filled in and was more of a strong medium.  More hydraulics and less rock.

ACCESS:   Take Out (There is a right turn onto Collawash river rd/NF-63, 4 miles past Ripplebrook on the Clackamas River hwy, it's another 5.5 miles or so to the Farm Creek take out below Boulderdash, then another 1/2 mi further to the guidebook take out): 44.9659104709281, -122.05527024831231

Put In (near Elk Lake Creek trailhead):  44.89766813327258, -122.00639656112921

There are three put in options up near the Elk Lake trailhead access:  The first is the regular put-in at the bridge.  This is hassle-free and gets right into 4 miles of class II floating.

The second option is on the East Fork Collawash, and involves 1/4 mile of class III-IV boulder gardens to start the day.  This requires a short bushwhack in off the 120 rd.

If you have the time, and the wood situation isn't too bad, hiking up a bit over 1/2 mi to run the final gorge on Elk Lake Creek is definitely the most exciting start to the trip.  That gorge has 2 large ledges, a clean 20'er and a couple boulder gardens.  It's worth scouting whether the ledge located here (44.88913539295887, -122.0126375620346) is runnable first though, as to portage that drop is rather involved.  

The final access option probably isn't going to get used often, if at all.  And then probably only if a group is short on time, or really opposed to a class II warm up.   It's a steep and challenging way down to the river through the woods, but does get paddlers to the water below the large log-jam, and right at the start of the whitewater.  Whether a steep bushwhack down to the river is better than 4 1/2 miles of class 2 and a logjam portage is a personal choice, the option is there.  

Short-on-time alternate access option

        -jacob

Nohorn Creek

 

BETA

Stream: The run starts off with a nice 10'er at the put in.  From this point until Cookie Monster there is loads of quality class III-IV whitewater in a small and intimate streambed.  Hugh Creek adds some water when it enters from the right and the creek seems to get even better for awhile. 

 

About 2 miles downstream of Hugh Creek is Cookie Monster, just after a gradual 180 degree turn in the river to the right.  The horizon line is obvious, and while there is a good eddy on the left, it can be partially blocked by wood so stay frosty.   Cookie Monster is easier at low water, at high water a large hole forms. 

Cookie Monster.

 In the next mile below Cookie Monster are a couple ledges that are taller than what has been typical for the creek.  The first is easiest far right.  The second should be scouted from the bridge on the drive up to locate the best landing zone, center-ish.  Downstream it's boogie to the Hot Springs Fork of the Collowash confluence, and then in a 1/4 mile of easy floating you will be able to see the horizon line for the finale at Pegleg Falls.   Pegleg is an off-vertical 15' drop into a forgiving pool with many line choices, a good way to finish a good run.  



This is a high mountain Oregon stream, so keep an eye out for wood.  There are usually some portages, and some wood dodging, but historically the wood has not kept the run from being worth doing.

Since you are so close, instead of gearing down, consider driving downstream less than 1/4 mile to the bridge over Blister Creek.  There is a beautiful 30' park and huck visible just upstream of the bridge.
  


Flows:  Clackamas at Three Lynx at 5,000 cfs is considered medium.  3,000 is a low, but still worth doing flow.  I haven't heard of anyone taking a trip up there and having too much water yet.

Access:  Take out at Pegleg Falls (44.9572, -122.1619), or continue through the Hot Springs Fork of the Collowash as far as you have time for.  

From Estacada, take Hwy 224 SE up the Clackamas River for 29 miles (passing the Ripplebrook Ranger Station at 24.5 miles).  At the 29 mile mark turn right onto NF-63 where you will quickly cross the Clackamas and less than a mile later the Collowash.  Following the Collowash upstream for 3.5 miles past the turn off Hwy 224, and turn right onto NF-70/Bagby Rd.  In 5.5 miles is Pegleg Falls, which is no longer operational.  However, you can still park at the gate and walk down into what used to be the campground to confirm you are at the right spot by looking upstream (you will see Pegleg).

To get to the put in, continue upstream on the same road 3.9 miles (stay right at 1.8 and 3.5 mi).  Looking down into the creek you should be able to see a log jam, put in below it, which is just above the first ten foot drop (44.9352, -122.2117).


Notes:  You can read about pioneering this creek over at Oregonkayaking.net.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trip Report
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We headed up to Nohorn creek yesterday (May 8, 2011).  It was low but still a good time at 3,000 cfs on the Clackamas @ Three Lynx gauge.



 We used the upper put in that Pete Giordano found last year.  The snow situation meant the last mile of the road was not drivable, but also that we could drag our boats.  This upper put in added a small slide and a nice ten foot boof.  Followed by a short log jam portage and some other splashy rapids.  I would choose this upper put in for any trip to Nohorn.

The rest of the run is well documented over at Oregonkayaking.net.

Once Hugh creek come in on the right the creek enters a fun mini gorge section with good quality III-IV rapids.  There are some in-between sections that were a bit dull at this level, but at normal levels these would move right along and the classic Oregon scenery helps pass the time as usual.

 We kept thinking every horizon was Cookie Monster.  But it was pretty obvious when we got there.  We snuck into an eddy at the lip on the left.  Though catching an eddy higher up might be a good idea if there is more water in the stream.

 Nate and Luke point out the issues with the rapid.

The low water meant the big hole that usually dominates the left side of Cookie Monster wasn't in play.  A couple of us ran it, but it had enough going on that most took the portage route on the left.

 The six foot ledge has a log in it now.  Luke went for the rail slide which was pretty sweet, with more water I would suggest running middle or right.

Be sure to take a look at the ledge visible from the bridge on the drive up.  It should be run center, but the shallow lead in makes it difficult to fall into the deep part in the center.  We wanted to take out at Pegleg, so continued on the short distance to this beautiful and forgiving 15' falls.  Lap one we all went for the plug on the left, trying to maximize downtime.  The falls is easy to lap and there are many line choices so there was no reason to pack up in a hurry.

Luke, round 2.

 Luke picks out another route.

Our trip in fast forward.

To get to the upper put in.  Go towards these coordinate points (can copy paste these into google maps).  44.931235489969055,-122.2170639038086

If you are looking at the creek (should be the first good view you get since crossing Hugh Creek) and see a short bedrock slide with a tree spanning the creek right over the slide.  

Put in there, just above the slide to save yourself some mank upstream.

   -Jacob

Hot Springs fork of the Collowash

BETA

Stream: About 4-5 miles of the highest quality class II-III paddling Oregon has to offer, with a forgiving 15' waterfall near the beginning, and a class IV boulder garden near the end.  Watch for a nice green surf wave where a boulder bar pushes the river against a bedrock right wall after things have eased up.
  
Flows:  2,000-7,000 cfs on the Three Lynx gauge (3k-4k seems like the goldilocks zone).  It could likely be run with plenty more water, but I just don't know how it looks up there with lots of water.

Access:  Take out at Kingfisher campground (44.977569925922566, -122.0903011923093), or where the road is near the creek around a mile upstream to skip the last class IV.

Put in where NF-70/Bagby Rd crosses over Nohorn Creek (44.953138734910425, -122.17237318319891).

Iv'e also walked up the trail towards Bagby Hot Springs to where the footbridge crosses the Hot Springs fork and put in there.  That adds a couple nice ledges, but also a couple log jams.  

Notes: The gauge is far downstream, and the Hot Springs Fork is a tributary of a tributary of the river the gauge is on.  Iv'e been up there when 2,000 cfs was a healthy flow, and also when 2,000 was too low.  A good backup option is the lower Collowash, from the Hot Springs fork confluence to the confluence with the Clackamas (June Creek section).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Story
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 My first time doing this creek was back in High School, we were in the area camping with my family near Bagby Hot Springs.  I had my kayak and an IK in the event we might paddle the Clackamas on the way home, or maybe paddle Pegleg Falls if there was enough water.  Driving up to our campsite I noticed we were paralleling a beautiful mountain stream.  I had been to the area before to run Pegleg in an IK, but wasn't aware of what was below other than my dad had told me before that he had heard of someone running a large class V rapid just before the confluence with the Collowash.

We set up at a nice campsite along the stream, and went up to Bagby Hot Springs for the afternoon.  I noticed that the road didn't seem all that steep, so maybe the gradient was manageable?  I hadn't done much off the beaten path kayaking at this point, but I was really called to the stream.  That night we did camp stuff and the next morning my family agreed to head up to Pegleg Falls, I was going to kayak it and my step dad thought he might be interested in trying out kayaking too.

After watching me go over the falls a couple times, my step-dad decided he was interested in giving it a try in the inflatable kayak.  I explained best I could what to do, and off he went.  Nailed it.

I was impressed with how well he had done at the falls and how receptive to learning he was, so we decided we would float back down to camp.  We scrapped our original plan of having my step-brother ride in the back of the IK, which was probably for the best.

Downstream was mostly class II-III, with some cool areas and a couple III+ rapids that we scouted, including a long sliding section that was good fun..  It was a magical trip for me, heading downstream with no idea whatsoever what was around the corner, and it turning out to be gorgeous at every turn.  Other than one quick pin, it was smooth sailing start to finish.  It was quite a feeling paddling into camp that night, and I reflect on this run as one of the trips that sold me on exploratory boating.



Here is a video from a trip on Clack fest weekend.  We went up and ran the Hot Springs fork after the events.  This was a trip where a couple of us hiked up to the Bagby footbridge.
Hot Springs fork of the Collowash from Jacob Cruser on Vimeo.