Tributary - Zigzag River
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| Put-in: |
Toll Gate Campground |
| Take-out: |
Sandy River |
| Difficulty: |
Class III+, IV-
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| Length: |
3.2 miles |
Tributary - Salmon River
|
| Put-in: |
Wilderness Trailhead |
| Take-out: |
Arrah-Wanna Road |
| Difficulty: |
Class II+, III Continuous
|
| Length: |
5.3 miles |
Marmot Bridge to Marmot Dam
|
| Put-in: |
Marmot Bridge |
| Take-out: |
Marmot Diversion Dam |
| Difficulty: |
Class II+, IV Alder Creek Rapid
|
| Length: |
6 miles |
Sandy Gorge
|
| Put-in: |
Marmot Dam |
| Take-out: |
Revenue Bridge |
| Difficulty: |
Class IV
|
| Length: |
6.0 miles |
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The Sandy River rises off of western Mount Hood and offers a tremendous amount of boating opportunities from steep mountain streams to the lazy lower river. The high elevation of Mount Hood provides snowpack run-off for most of the year.
Whitewater kayakers can enjoy the continuous 5.5 miles of rapids beginning at the McNeil Campground put-in and ending at the take-out at the next bridge. This is almost continuous Class IV+ and is counted among the steepest runnable river segments anywhere in the State of Oregon.
Whitewater kayakers should be prepared with a solid roll, because this is not a run where swimming is much of an option. There are very few places to corral a swamped boat. Although this run feels remote and requires expert skill, the Lolo Pass Road is less than at .3 mile walk from any point in the river, so should an emergency occur, help could be accessed in a short amount of time.
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