Clarno to Cottonwood
 
|
| Put-in: |
Clarno |
| Take-out: |
Cottonwood Bridge |
| Difficulty: |
Class II (III)
|
| Length: |
69 miles |
|
The John Day is the perfect river for whitewater rafters and kayakers who are looking to get away from it all, but prefer a mellow paddle to challenging whitewater. This lazy river begins in the Blue Mountains and flows uninterrupted to the Columbia River for 280 miles, making it the longest free-flowing river in Oregon, and third longest in the United States. It was named after John Day, who was a member of the Astor Expedition, a group that left Missouri to explore all the way to the mouth of the Columbia River in 1810.
The John Day is one of Oregon’s finest river canyons with cliffs and palisades towering more than 3000 ft. high above the river. Boaters will discover Indian petroglyphs and homesteads filled with artifacts and folklore throughout their journey this lazy river, and there plenty of hikes and side trips.
Drifting time on the river is spring through June, and the weather is usually glorious this time of year. Rolling hills covered with juniper and sage brush, along with swirling rock veins and patterns along the canyon wall make for spectacular scenery. Expect a sparsely populated landscape, pristine beach camps, and excellent opporuntities for steelheed and bass fishing as well as great bird watching.
|
