Mile 0.1(Grave Creek Falls): Right after the put in is the very first rapid, class III Grave Creek Falls. At high water large hydraulics are formed on either side of the drop, a center line is recommended. When the water is low run the far left of the drop to avoid the shallow rocks on the right. This rapid has been known to sink drift boats and flip rafts at all levels.
Mile 1.5(Rainey Falls): This is a class V waterfall that should be scouted. There are three different lines, the first is the class V line over the waterfall. In the middle is the class IV middle sneak, and to the far right is the class III fish ladder. Always scout this drop.
Mile 4(Tyee Rapids): At class IV Tyee Rapids the river is separated by a gravel bar on the center left. On the right side of the gravel bar the current pushes hard into the river right wall. At high water run the rapid down the tongue on the left side. When the water is low, enter the rapid right of center and run between the right bank and the hydraulics in the center.
Mile 4.5(Wildcat Rapids): Wildcat Rapids is a shallow class III rapid around a right hand corner. Stay in the right channel around the island and watch out for boulders just below the surface of the water.
Mile 6.6(Slim Pickins Rapid): This rapid is a very technical class III rapid. The center line is runnable at all flows but can be very tight. Most rafts and drifts boats will run the right channel to avoid the rocks in the center.
Mile 8.1(Upper Black Bar Falls): It is possible to scout this class III rapid from the river right bank. At most flows the left side is choked with boulders, and the right side line is the only possible route through the rapid. Enter this drop right while moving left to avoid the rock wall on the left.
Mile 8.2(Lower Black Bar Falls): Just below Upper Black Bar is another class III called Lower Black Bar Falls. Run this drop right of center and crash through the large standing waves.
Mile 8.5(Black Bar Lodge): This is the first lodge encountered and it is often the first nights stay on a 3 day lodge trip.
Mile 10.3(Horseshoe Bend Rapid): Although this rapid has a class II lead in, it can be one of the most difficult class III rapids on the run. The current pushes into the river left wall which contains many undercuts, stay away from the left wall.
Mile 12.6(Kelsey Falls): Run this class III rapid down the left channel through a fun splashy wave train. Below Kelsey Falls there are many class I/II rapids until you reach Mule Creek Canyon.
Mile 20.8 – 21.6(Mule Creek Canyon): Mule Creek Canyon is one of the coolest spots on this section of river. In the canyon the river constricts to just over 10 feet in some spots with walls reaching 50 feet tall. Within the canyon is one very challenging rapid called Coffepot. This rapid consists of a large boiling eddy on the left with a very tight entrance. Rafts and drift boats have been known to broach sideways in the narrow entrance. Swimming in the Coffepot can be very dangerous. Run this section one boat at a time.
Mile 22.7(Blossom Bar Rapid): Blossom Bar is a class IV rapid that should always be scouted from the cliff on river right. This rapid consists of a left to right move above a rock fence. Below the fence are many large hydraulics and large boulders with wrap potential. Enter this rapid on the left side and ferry right towards the center above the picket fence. This is a very dangerous rapid because the picket fence is full of many dangers sieves.
Mile 24: Paradise Lodge
Mile 24.3: Half Moon Bar Lodge
Mile 29.1: Clay Hill Lodge
Mile 29.3(Upper Clay Hill Rapid): At high water it is possible to run the rapid down the left channel and avoid all the whitewater in the drop. At lower water run down the left side of the right channel to avoid exposed boulders at the bottom of the rapid.
Mile: 34.4(Take Out): Below Upper Clay Hill Rapid expect a handful of class I/II rapids. The standard take out for this section is at Foster Bar on river right.
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Lodging in Oregon
