Deschutes River, OR
Location - Cline Falls to Lower Bridge
Difficulty - Class I-III Length - 12 miles
Level - 450 cfs Date - 11/3/2007
Difficulty - Class I-III Length - 12 miles
Level - 450 cfs Date - 11/3/2007
Like its counterpart just upstream, the run from
Cline Falls to Lower Bridge on the Deschiutes
River is dewatered by an irrigation project for most
of the year with runnable flows being found from
late fall to early spring. This twelve mile run takes
paddlers through quickwater, class II, and a few
class III rapids set in several pretty canyons that
feel isolated. The scenery is top notch and there
are enough rapids to keep most paddlers
entertained, although long stretches of
smoothwater are to expected. This stretch of river
is perfect for low end intermediates or open
boaters looking for a cool place to paddle.
The run starts out at the bridge over Route 126
and snakes its way through shallow and brushy
class II rapids. It is important to keep to the left
here to take out above the dam at Cline Falls.
The dam is no more than a quarter mile below the
put in bridge and the best carry is on river left
around a wire fence and down a path to the river
below the falls. The portage is easy, but if the spill
gates for the dam were opened paddlers it would
be wise to exercise caution above the drop.
Immediately below the falls the Deschutes is very
narrow and a fun class III rapid is found. The drop
has the heaviest water of the trip, but the line is
simply to run down the center. There is little room
for maneuvering and few obstacles to avoid.
Good eddies can be found on river right and left
below the rapid. Nice canyon walls line the river
for the next mile or so before things open up and
the pace slacks off for a fair distance. Juniper
trees lines much of the run and their fragrance
adds to the high desert feel that this section of the
Deschutes provides. In several places the river
divides into multiple channels and forces paddlers
to search for lines with enough water. Still, 450 cfs
is plenty of water to make an enjoyable run down
this piece of river. We were lucky to have crystal
clear skies again and although it was quite cold in
the morning, temperatures eventually rose to
reach the mid to upper sixties. It is always great to
escape to central Oregon for sunshine when the
Willamette Valley is socked in clouds.
Cline Falls to Lower Bridge on the Deschiutes
River is dewatered by an irrigation project for most
of the year with runnable flows being found from
late fall to early spring. This twelve mile run takes
paddlers through quickwater, class II, and a few
class III rapids set in several pretty canyons that
feel isolated. The scenery is top notch and there
are enough rapids to keep most paddlers
entertained, although long stretches of
smoothwater are to expected. This stretch of river
is perfect for low end intermediates or open
boaters looking for a cool place to paddle.
The run starts out at the bridge over Route 126
and snakes its way through shallow and brushy
class II rapids. It is important to keep to the left
here to take out above the dam at Cline Falls.
The dam is no more than a quarter mile below the
put in bridge and the best carry is on river left
around a wire fence and down a path to the river
below the falls. The portage is easy, but if the spill
gates for the dam were opened paddlers it would
be wise to exercise caution above the drop.
Immediately below the falls the Deschutes is very
narrow and a fun class III rapid is found. The drop
has the heaviest water of the trip, but the line is
simply to run down the center. There is little room
for maneuvering and few obstacles to avoid.
Good eddies can be found on river right and left
below the rapid. Nice canyon walls line the river
for the next mile or so before things open up and
the pace slacks off for a fair distance. Juniper
trees lines much of the run and their fragrance
adds to the high desert feel that this section of the
Deschutes provides. In several places the river
divides into multiple channels and forces paddlers
to search for lines with enough water. Still, 450 cfs
is plenty of water to make an enjoyable run down
this piece of river. We were lucky to have crystal
clear skies again and although it was quite cold in
the morning, temperatures eventually rose to
reach the mid to upper sixties. It is always great to
escape to central Oregon for sunshine when the
Willamette Valley is socked in clouds.
The next real landmark is a low bridge across the river at Barlow
Crossing. According to local guidebooks, this shallow spot in the river
was a historic crossing point for Native Americans and early settlers to
the region. The low canyon walls would make this a logical place to
ford the Deschutes and a few scattered buildings are found here
today.
A mile or two below this bridge is a significant drop that falls about
twelve feet over a broken ledge of lava rock. For a canoe this class
IV+ rapid is a likely portage and while it would certainly be runnable in
a kayak, many boaters that would enjoy the whitewater on this section
of river may not be comfortable running the narrow and steep chute.
Luckily a simple portage can be made over open rocks on river right.
The scenic drop provides a great location for a lunch break. We
basked in the surprisingly warm late October sunshine and enjoyed
relaxing before continuing on.
Below this small falls the Deschutes enters another canyon that
shelters the river for the rest of the run to Lower Bridge. One of the
best rapids on the run, a sloping five foot ledge, comes just below the
falls. The best line down this class III rapid is on river right and
running a dry line in a canoe is tricky. Large eddies are found on
either side of the river for setting up safety or for bailing. Everyone in
the group managed good lines over this drop and we moved along,
eager to explore the remainder of the canyon. For the next several
miles canyon walls rise up and while an occasional home can be seen
perched at the edge of the rim, the run feels remote and the scenery
is very nice. Collumnar basalt pillars are found in several places and
from time to time we spotted hawks perched on the cliffs.
A fair bit of smoothwater is encountered throughout the remainder of
the, but the current is always strong and the river is predominantly
class I and II. Every now and then a tricky class II-III drop would be
encountered that required tight maneuvering. In several places
steeper drops were found that rated easy class III. Luckily some
tributaries join the Deschutes by this point. The additional volume
gave some of these rapids more padding and a little more push than
those encountered on the run immediately upstream. For open
canoes just enough whitewater can be found on this stretch of river to
make it a challenge, but enough easy water exists to allow for nice
cruising. While intermediates could run most of the drops in a tandem
canoe, several spots are tricky enough to warrant advanced skills.
Novices open boaters would likely have a tough time trying to
negotiate the bigger rapids on this run.
Crossing. According to local guidebooks, this shallow spot in the river
was a historic crossing point for Native Americans and early settlers to
the region. The low canyon walls would make this a logical place to
ford the Deschutes and a few scattered buildings are found here
today.
A mile or two below this bridge is a significant drop that falls about
twelve feet over a broken ledge of lava rock. For a canoe this class
IV+ rapid is a likely portage and while it would certainly be runnable in
a kayak, many boaters that would enjoy the whitewater on this section
of river may not be comfortable running the narrow and steep chute.
Luckily a simple portage can be made over open rocks on river right.
The scenic drop provides a great location for a lunch break. We
basked in the surprisingly warm late October sunshine and enjoyed
relaxing before continuing on.
Below this small falls the Deschutes enters another canyon that
shelters the river for the rest of the run to Lower Bridge. One of the
best rapids on the run, a sloping five foot ledge, comes just below the
falls. The best line down this class III rapid is on river right and
running a dry line in a canoe is tricky. Large eddies are found on
either side of the river for setting up safety or for bailing. Everyone in
the group managed good lines over this drop and we moved along,
eager to explore the remainder of the canyon. For the next several
miles canyon walls rise up and while an occasional home can be seen
perched at the edge of the rim, the run feels remote and the scenery
is very nice. Collumnar basalt pillars are found in several places and
from time to time we spotted hawks perched on the cliffs.
A fair bit of smoothwater is encountered throughout the remainder of
the, but the current is always strong and the river is predominantly
class I and II. Every now and then a tricky class II-III drop would be
encountered that required tight maneuvering. In several places
steeper drops were found that rated easy class III. Luckily some
tributaries join the Deschutes by this point. The additional volume
gave some of these rapids more padding and a little more push than
those encountered on the run immediately upstream. For open
canoes just enough whitewater can be found on this stretch of river to
make it a challenge, but enough easy water exists to allow for nice
cruising. While intermediates could run most of the drops in a tandem
canoe, several spots are tricky enough to warrant advanced skills.
Novices open boaters would likely have a tough time trying to
negotiate the bigger rapids on this run.
The most memorable rapid on the lower reaches of this stretch came
near the end. The river was moving through a vertical walled canyon
that had just opened up when an obviously steeper rapid was
approached. This class III featured a fast line on river left with. A
boulder blocked the middle of the river and took a fair bit of the
current, forcing boaters to drive left. Several of us were thrown much
farther left than we had anticipated by the strong pillow formed on the
boulder. This toss to the left pushed both of us that were in canoes to
crash into partially submerged rocks on river left at the base of the
drop. Despite the chunky line, the drop was fast and fun.
A few more defined rapids followed, but soon the river mellowed to
shallow and quick class I rapids that headed almost directly into the
setting sun. At times downstream vision was completely blocked by the
strong glare coming off of the water, but only a few miles remained to
the take out. By the time we reached Lower Bridge the sun had
dropped below the canyon rim and the day that had been so warm just
a few hours ago cooled off with incredibly speed.
I was glad to change into nice warm and dry cotton after another long
day on the river. In all, this weekend trip to paddle two seldom run
stretches of the Deschutes was very worth while. The scenic canyons
can not be accessed by any means other than boat, the weather was
incredible for late October, and the whitewater was interesting enough
to keep me entertained in my tripping canoe. If these reaches of river
were not almost completely dewatered by irrigation projects during the
summer months the 30 miles of river that we navigated would be a
premier paddling destination likely to attract many recreational
paddlers. The establishment of a navigable minimum flow would
bolster recreation on the Deschutes River and potentially alleviate
overcrowding found on some other stretched of this river. Without a
doubt the riparian habitat would benefit from a higher minimum flow
that more closely approximates historic natural flows once found on
these upper reached of the Dechutes.
Until such a plan is brought forth and then implemented, these
forgotten canyons of the Dechutes will remain passable only for a few
short months during the often cold winter of central Oregon. While late
falls offers the best possibility for good weather, early March typically
sees higher water levels and longer days. Either way, this is a
resource that is certainly worth utilizing. Its proximity to Bend and
Redmond make it easily accessed and it would be great to hear of
more paddlers enjoying these canyons.
near the end. The river was moving through a vertical walled canyon
that had just opened up when an obviously steeper rapid was
approached. This class III featured a fast line on river left with. A
boulder blocked the middle of the river and took a fair bit of the
current, forcing boaters to drive left. Several of us were thrown much
farther left than we had anticipated by the strong pillow formed on the
boulder. This toss to the left pushed both of us that were in canoes to
crash into partially submerged rocks on river left at the base of the
drop. Despite the chunky line, the drop was fast and fun.
A few more defined rapids followed, but soon the river mellowed to
shallow and quick class I rapids that headed almost directly into the
setting sun. At times downstream vision was completely blocked by the
strong glare coming off of the water, but only a few miles remained to
the take out. By the time we reached Lower Bridge the sun had
dropped below the canyon rim and the day that had been so warm just
a few hours ago cooled off with incredibly speed.
I was glad to change into nice warm and dry cotton after another long
day on the river. In all, this weekend trip to paddle two seldom run
stretches of the Deschutes was very worth while. The scenic canyons
can not be accessed by any means other than boat, the weather was
incredible for late October, and the whitewater was interesting enough
to keep me entertained in my tripping canoe. If these reaches of river
were not almost completely dewatered by irrigation projects during the
summer months the 30 miles of river that we navigated would be a
premier paddling destination likely to attract many recreational
paddlers. The establishment of a navigable minimum flow would
bolster recreation on the Deschutes River and potentially alleviate
overcrowding found on some other stretched of this river. Without a
doubt the riparian habitat would benefit from a higher minimum flow
that more closely approximates historic natural flows once found on
these upper reached of the Dechutes.
Until such a plan is brought forth and then implemented, these
forgotten canyons of the Dechutes will remain passable only for a few
short months during the often cold winter of central Oregon. While late
falls offers the best possibility for good weather, early March typically
sees higher water levels and longer days. Either way, this is a
resource that is certainly worth utilizing. Its proximity to Bend and
Redmond make it easily accessed and it would be great to hear of
more paddlers enjoying these canyons.