Clackamas River Rafting Guided Trips

River Description / Natural History

Mile by Mile River Guide

River Flows

Area Camping and Lodging

Guidebooks / Additional Information

About These Websites

The following whitewater rafting river description was derived primarily from Western Whitewater - From the Rockies to the Pacific by Cassady, J., Cross, B., & Calhoun, F. (1994), Berkeley, CA: North Fork Press. This book is an exceptionally well written and very thorough guide book covering rivers throughout the West. To order, please click here!

The most popular section of the Upper Clackamas is the Three Lynx to North Fork Reservoir run. This section is thirteen miles long and offers a winning combination of powerful whitewater, great scenery and good camping. Highway 224 follows this reach closely and allows easy access and scouting of rapids.

Mile 0 - River access is on the left bank at the upper Highway 224 bridge (Sandstone Bridge). The two large drops above the power station should be scouted. The river first splits around an island , the right channel is recommended but flows into a midstream wrap rock known as Pancake Rock. Just downstream is Powerhouse (III+) where the river flows gradually to the right then sharply to the left and piles into the right bank. Stay to the left to avoid the wall and a powerful eddy on the right.

Mile 2.3 - Immediately below the powerstation are several class 2 rapids that build to The Narrows (III) where the river narrows to about 15' in a mini-gorge.

Mile 4 - The Roaring River rapid (III) is a rock garden leading to a 5' drop, common runs are down the center or left. Roaring River enters on the right just downstream of the rapid.

Mile 5 - Hole-in-the-Wall (IV) is the next rapid and scouting is recommended. The river funnels down a steep rocky chute on the left and collides with a headwall on the left that divides the current. Stay right; the tongue leads into a powerful, turbulent eddy/whirlpool with sheer walls. Boats and swimmers can be trapped here. A chain ladder is bolted to the wall to allow swimmers to haul themselves out of the eddy.

Mile 7 - The next few miles are playful with many Class II rapids. Downstream of the second bridge, just after Fish Creek enters from the left, the river spilts around an island. Both channels are usually runnable with the left prefered but watch out for the big hole in the center of the left channel.

Mile 7.9 - Carter Bridge Rapid (IV) is just above the second bridge after Fish Creek. Scout left or from the shuttle. The river drops sharply over an angled ledge with the safest route far left.

Mile 9.3 - The Big Eddy (III) is just downstream of the Big Eddy Picnic Area. Immediately below is Rock and Roll (III+) and then a couple hundred yards downstream the river takes a right bend into Toilet Bowl (III) where big lateral waves develop at the bottom at high water. One-third of a mile further is Bob's Hole, a popular kayak play spot.

Mile 12.8 - The remaining three and half miles have some Class II rapids and are generally easier than the rapids above. There are a few ledges with pourovers that should be avoided at high water. Take out is on the right across from Memeloose Weigh Station.