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Other Whitewater Trips on the Willamette River
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Tributary - Brice Creek, Upper Reaches |
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Tributary - Brice Creek, Champion Creek |
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Tributary - Layng Creek, Rujada Campground |
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Tributary - Row River, Wildwood Falls |
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Tributary - Row River, Dorena Dam |
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Tributary - Hills Creek |
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Tributary - Salt Creek |
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NF of the MF Willamette - Miracle Mile |
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NF of the MF Willamette - Westfir Run |
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Tributary - Fall Creek - Gold Creek |
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Tributary - Fall Creek, Bedrock Campground |
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Tributary - Fall Creek, Fall Creek Dam |
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Tributary - Winberry Creek, Winberry Campground |
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Middle Fork, Oakridge to Lookout Point Lake |
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Middle Fork, Dexter Dam to Jasper County Park |
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Jasper County Park to Alton Baker Park |
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Alton Baker Park to Harrisburg |
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 Lodging in Oregon
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:: NF of the MF Willamette - Westfir Run Whitewater Kayaking & Canoeing Trip
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NF of the MF Willamette - Westfir Run Whitewater Kayaking & Canoeing Trip on the Willamette River |
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Related River Guidebooks on AllAboutRivers |
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NF of the MF Willamette - Westfir Run Info
Use this information at your own risk. See our legal notices. |
| Put In: |
Below the Gorge Section |
| Take Out: |
Westfir |
| Difficulty: |
Class III
, Class IV
Pool Drop
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| Gradient: |
33 fpm |
| Run Length: |
9.5 miles |
| Good Level: |
750 - 2,500 cfs |
| Streamflow Comments: |
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| Season Comments: |
January, February, March, April, May, June, October, November, December
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| Primary Season: |
Rainy/Snowmelt
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| Permit: |
None presently required |
| Character/Similar To: |
This section of river is pool drop with great scenery. Rapids contain fun ledge drops and at high water big wave trains. |
| Hazards: |
Scout Shotgun, Bull's-eye, and Typewriter. At some flows these drops can create sticky hydraulics. Ledges Rapid is difficult because it cannot be scouted, at high water the second drop in Ledges is very powerful. |
| Water Craft: |
kayak,wwcan |
| Land Ownership: |
National old-growth forest |
| Wilderness: |
Yes |
| Camping on River: |
In designated campgrounds |
| Location: |
In the Pacific Region (OR), 111 miles (2 hours 25 minutes) Southeast of Salem |
| Shuttle Logistics: |
Take Out: From I-5 take OR 58 east for 32 miles and turn towards Westfir on North Fork Road. Continue through Westfir, there are a few options for take out spots just outside of the town. Pull into one of the parking areas and scout the take out.
Put In: From the take out continue upstream on North Fork Road for 8 miles and put in at the first bridge over the river.
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| NF of the MF Willamette - Westfir Run on the Willamette River |
The section of river is fun pool drop read and run. There is a good amount of play waves with good eddy service, and enough eddies for the intermediate boater to build skills for harder class IV. At low water this section has a low water creek like feel, while at levels above 2,500 cfs this section feels like big water and the named rapids become class IV-.
There are four notable rapids on this section; they are called Shotgun, Bull’s Eye, Typewriter and The Ledges. Shotgun Rapid can be scouted from the road; it is a fun 3 foot ledge drop with a twisty entrance. Bull’s Eye is the next challenging rapid, look for a large boulder in the main channel of the river at the top of this rapid. Run either right or left of the boulder, the right side has a fun boof off of a small ledge.
I consider Typewriter to be the most difficult and consequential rapid on the run. This drop requires a quick right to left move to avoid a nasty beat down. At high water stay away from the right side of this drop, it looks like a fun boof but the hydraulic is very sticky.
The final rapid is called Ledges, it can be difficult because it is very hard to scout, and impossible to portage. This drop is usually run on the left. The good line down this drop is not visible until you arrive at the top of the rapid. After this rapid there is continuous class II to the take out.
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Last Edited by josho on 5/2/2011
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