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Breitenbush River - Cleator Bend Campground to Detroit Reservoir Whitewater River e-Guidebook |
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AllAboutRivers Forums for OR
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Cleator Bend Campground to Detroit Reservoir Info
Use this information at your own risk. See our legal notices. |
| Put In: |
Cleator Bend Campground |
| Take Out: |
Detroit Reservoir |
| Difficulty: |
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| Gradient: |
75 ft/mi |
| Run Length: |
8 miles |
| Current Streamflow |
179 cfs @ 10/12/2008 02:00 AM - BREITENBUSH R ABV FRENCH CR NR DETROIT, OR., reading taken from USGS
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| Good Level: |
500-2,000 cfs |
| Season Comments: |
Most boaters run this during the spring runoff months but water is usually available during the fall rainy season and sometimes during the winter.
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| Primary Season: |
January,February,March,April,May,October,November,December |
| Permit: |
None presently required |
| Character/Similar To: |
The Breitenbush River runs through a beautiful, narrow canyon with crystal clear water. Its a pool and drop run and most of the rapids can be boat scouted. The road follows the river for most of the run. The Breitenbush has lots of Class III and IV. |
| Hazards: |
Logs are always a concern on the Breitenbush River. The water is cold and fast. There are many rapids but the main ones to know about are The Slot, Barbell, and Woo-Man-Chew. |
| Water Craft: |
kayak,canoe |
| Camping on River: |
Yes at Cleator Bend Campground |
| Location: |
In the Pacific Region (OR), 53 miles Southeast of Salem, OR |
| Shuttle Logistics: |
Take-out: From Salem go east on Hwy 22 to Detroit Lake. Turn on Hwy 46 toward Breitenbush Hot Springs and proceed to a turn out on the left side of the road. The only distinguishing marker is a green government gate blocking vehicle access to the river. Upper Arm Campground further downstream but as of 5/05, was closed to the public.
Put-in: Continue on Hwy 46 toward Breitenbush Hot Springs and proceed to Cleator Bend Campground.
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Paddling Schools near Cleator Bend Campground to Detroit Reservoir
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| Cleator Bend Campground to Detroit Reservoir on the Breitenbush River |
The Breitenbush River is a beautiful gem in Central Oregon. It's tight canyon and steep drops are spectacularly pitted against the lush vegetation and moss covered rocks.
The action starts immediately from the put-in with the first rapid, 'The Slot', coming at about a mile downstream of Cleator Bend Campground. The Slot, a 6-8' drop, contains a large rock slab in the middle causing a river wide hole at higher water. At lower water the rock splits the current into a left side hole and a right side hole...both very sticky. There is boof potential over the rock however boiling water and tricky currents tend to slide boaters off to either side of the rock.
Many technical rapids and potential log hazards continue for the next 5 miles to the OR 46 bridge. 'S-Turn Rapid' is a long rapid with large holes and waves. The river snakes through the canyon here and forms an S.
'Sharon's rapid' is a steep drop with a large log spanning the river that you must duck under before going over the drop. The drop itself is about an 8 footer with a smooth runout and calm eddies waiting downstream.
Class III boogy water continues to the OR 46 bridge. There is always lots of wood in the river. Care must be taken to scout every drop and eddy out frequently. Many of the wood hazards can be manuevred, but never hesitate to portage bad looking logs.
At the bridge, a steep short hike leads to the road for an alternate access point. This run continues another 1.5 miles where the river widens a bit. You'll find two more class IV rapids called Barbell and Woo-Man-Chew.
About a mile after the bridge, Barbell Rapid is difficult to scout and/or portage. At normal flows there is a rocky slide into a pool on the left side of the rapid. The right side is a very sticky hole.
Another .5 mile below Barbell is Woo-Man-Chew Rapid. A sticky hole on the left hole is the usual line. At some flows a rocky slide on the right side is possible. There is a smaller, easier drop just upstream of Woo-Man-Chew that sometimes fools paddlers.
The take-out is on river left a short distance after this last rapid. A trail leads up to a turnout with a grean government gate blocking vehicle access to the river.
When Detroit Reservoir is low, you can continue to or past the town of Detroit. The river continues its steep and fast descent the entire way.
---Brad Goettemoeller |
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