Drift Creek
Location - Lincoln City, OR
Difficulty - Class II-III Length - 8 miles
Level - 800cfs Date - 3/2/2008
Difficulty - Class II-III Length - 8 miles
Level - 800cfs Date - 3/2/2008
After several weeks of consistently low snow levels and cold weather
most of our favorite runs in the Cascade foothills were inaccessible. A
steady stream of storm systems had been rolling in from the Pacific
and even the higher elevations of the Coast Range were getting
closed in with heavy snow. On the first weekend in February we were
forced to look to the lowest elevation runs. Several good options exist
in the Coast Range, but I was up for doing a little exploring so I joined
Steve Stuckmeyer and the Willamette Kayak and Canoe Club to check
out a seldom paddled little river near Lincoln City called Drift Creek.
This remote Coast Range run was supposed to cut through a slickrock
canyon and contain a few fun rapids. It's always fun to check out new
runs, especially when new boaters are along that are challenging
themselves. Checking out new rivers is one of the things I like best
about paddling so this was sure to be a good day.
most of our favorite runs in the Cascade foothills were inaccessible. A
steady stream of storm systems had been rolling in from the Pacific
and even the higher elevations of the Coast Range were getting
closed in with heavy snow. On the first weekend in February we were
forced to look to the lowest elevation runs. Several good options exist
in the Coast Range, but I was up for doing a little exploring so I joined
Steve Stuckmeyer and the Willamette Kayak and Canoe Club to check
out a seldom paddled little river near Lincoln City called Drift Creek.
This remote Coast Range run was supposed to cut through a slickrock
canyon and contain a few fun rapids. It's always fun to check out new
runs, especially when new boaters are along that are challenging
themselves. Checking out new rivers is one of the things I like best
about paddling so this was sure to be a good day.
We left Eugene early in anticipation of the long and winding route to
Lincoln City and stopped to join another boater from Corvallis. To our
surprise, we encountered accumulating snow on the roads to the west of
town and were slowed to a crawl in several places. Luckily most of the way
was clear and by the time we dropped down to the coast the precipitation
was falling as rain. Soon our entire group had assembled and we drove to
the takeout only a few miles upstream, of where Drift Creek drops into
Siletz Bay.
We wound our way up a narrow one lane road following signs for Drift
Creek Camp and gained quite a bit of elevation. Soon we were into snow
again and it became pretty deep real quick. I was in the lead vehicle, a
large four wheel drive truck, and we were having no trouble, but the small
compact car that followed with the rest of our crew started to get bogged
down. It was obvious that we were just about at the high point on the road,
but it was impossible for the small car to continue. At the first place the car
plowed its way into a turn out and we continued on with the truck, planning
to double shuttle the last five or six miles of the drive.
In less than a half mile we ran into a truck spinning its way up from the
other side of the pass and we worked our way over to the side of the road.
The kid driving the truck was pretty frazzled and got completely stuck in the
middle of the road since his four wheel drive did not appear to be
functioning properly. Eventually we got him on his way and after some
digging with our paddled managed to get our truck off of the side of the
road. We returned to the car to discuss strategy and almost bailed on the
trip, but eventually decided to load everyone into the truck. All seven boats
were piled into the bed, the cab was stuffed full, and I rode in the back,
happy to have a new drysuit which kept me from getting hypothermia. I
actually covered my hands with my spray skirt and ended up being pretty
comfortable. After a few miles we descended enough to loose the snow
and the mossy look of a lowland Oregon winter returned.
Since it had taken so long to get this shuttle done it felt like we were in the
middle of nowhere, but in reality the run was only about 8 miles long. Still,
the river valley had a nice and wild feel to it and low clouds helped close us
in and contribute to the sense of isolation.
Lincoln City and stopped to join another boater from Corvallis. To our
surprise, we encountered accumulating snow on the roads to the west of
town and were slowed to a crawl in several places. Luckily most of the way
was clear and by the time we dropped down to the coast the precipitation
was falling as rain. Soon our entire group had assembled and we drove to
the takeout only a few miles upstream, of where Drift Creek drops into
Siletz Bay.
We wound our way up a narrow one lane road following signs for Drift
Creek Camp and gained quite a bit of elevation. Soon we were into snow
again and it became pretty deep real quick. I was in the lead vehicle, a
large four wheel drive truck, and we were having no trouble, but the small
compact car that followed with the rest of our crew started to get bogged
down. It was obvious that we were just about at the high point on the road,
but it was impossible for the small car to continue. At the first place the car
plowed its way into a turn out and we continued on with the truck, planning
to double shuttle the last five or six miles of the drive.
In less than a half mile we ran into a truck spinning its way up from the
other side of the pass and we worked our way over to the side of the road.
The kid driving the truck was pretty frazzled and got completely stuck in the
middle of the road since his four wheel drive did not appear to be
functioning properly. Eventually we got him on his way and after some
digging with our paddled managed to get our truck off of the side of the
road. We returned to the car to discuss strategy and almost bailed on the
trip, but eventually decided to load everyone into the truck. All seven boats
were piled into the bed, the cab was stuffed full, and I rode in the back,
happy to have a new drysuit which kept me from getting hypothermia. I
actually covered my hands with my spray skirt and ended up being pretty
comfortable. After a few miles we descended enough to loose the snow
and the mossy look of a lowland Oregon winter returned.
Since it had taken so long to get this shuttle done it felt like we were in the
middle of nowhere, but in reality the run was only about 8 miles long. Still,
the river valley had a nice and wild feel to it and low clouds helped close us
in and contribute to the sense of isolation.
The put in for Drift Creek is at a small bridge leading to a campsite
popular with fishermen. It was nice to find a good solid flow in the
river and really gorgeous scenery. Since we would paddling easy
rapids all day it was nice to have lots of water and stunning scenery.
The river ran a milky green color and passed through lush coast
range forest with tall Douglas Fir and Big Leafed Maple draped in
moss so thick it seemed like they would collapse. Nice class II lead
for some distance with strong eddies and a few nice little surf spots.
We took our time and I burned off energy by slaloming around from
eddy to eddy. The river quickly leaves the campground and enters a
surprisingly steep sided gorge with an occasional waterfall dropping
in from the rim high above.
In about a mile the pace starts to pick up and the rapids become
more powerful with a few really nice surf spots and many fun moves.
Lots of fast eddies and cool moves could be made at this flow, but
the hardest rapid with still easy class III. A fast chute with a large
cedar hanging out over the bank marks a fun class III that ends in a
moving pool above the first more difficult drop on the river.
This first tougher drop is relatively long strong class III or III+
requiring a couple of moves and containing a few holes and drops.
The group got out to scout on river right while I boat scouted my way
down to set up for taking pictures at the bottom. The lead in was
quick and fun and the rapid ended with a three foot drop on the right
or a tough move to the left to miss a big hole and hit a clean tongue.
Everyone opted to stay right and run the easy drop. The runout of
this rapid is a narrow and wildly sculpted mini canyon with smooth flat
ledges on river right. I pulled out here set up for taking pictures while
providing safety with a throwbag in case anyone swam. Everyone
did just fine and soon the group headed downstream through a few
more fun class II-III rapids. This whole stretch conatined some fun
little surf waves and lots of deep eddy lines. It would have been a
blast to run this in a playboat, but I made the most of it and goat
great work out by staying busy in the Blunt.
Eventually the river settled down and quickwater with an occasional
rapid carried us several miles downstream. The scenery was
incredible, but it was nice to see the rapids starting again after a mile
or two of easy river. Fun class II+ and easy class III rapid picked up
and led to a steeper section of river with two chutes. All of us headed
down the sloping ledge on river left, but either side looked like it
would have been fine. Immediately after this fun drop the river spilled
down between some large boulders in the last real rapid of the run.
Many lines existed, but most of the flow headed to the left. Again, no
one had any problems and I was able to take some pictures of the
lush rainforest like atmosphere.
popular with fishermen. It was nice to find a good solid flow in the
river and really gorgeous scenery. Since we would paddling easy
rapids all day it was nice to have lots of water and stunning scenery.
The river ran a milky green color and passed through lush coast
range forest with tall Douglas Fir and Big Leafed Maple draped in
moss so thick it seemed like they would collapse. Nice class II lead
for some distance with strong eddies and a few nice little surf spots.
We took our time and I burned off energy by slaloming around from
eddy to eddy. The river quickly leaves the campground and enters a
surprisingly steep sided gorge with an occasional waterfall dropping
in from the rim high above.
In about a mile the pace starts to pick up and the rapids become
more powerful with a few really nice surf spots and many fun moves.
Lots of fast eddies and cool moves could be made at this flow, but
the hardest rapid with still easy class III. A fast chute with a large
cedar hanging out over the bank marks a fun class III that ends in a
moving pool above the first more difficult drop on the river.
This first tougher drop is relatively long strong class III or III+
requiring a couple of moves and containing a few holes and drops.
The group got out to scout on river right while I boat scouted my way
down to set up for taking pictures at the bottom. The lead in was
quick and fun and the rapid ended with a three foot drop on the right
or a tough move to the left to miss a big hole and hit a clean tongue.
Everyone opted to stay right and run the easy drop. The runout of
this rapid is a narrow and wildly sculpted mini canyon with smooth flat
ledges on river right. I pulled out here set up for taking pictures while
providing safety with a throwbag in case anyone swam. Everyone
did just fine and soon the group headed downstream through a few
more fun class II-III rapids. This whole stretch conatined some fun
little surf waves and lots of deep eddy lines. It would have been a
blast to run this in a playboat, but I made the most of it and goat
great work out by staying busy in the Blunt.
Eventually the river settled down and quickwater with an occasional
rapid carried us several miles downstream. The scenery was
incredible, but it was nice to see the rapids starting again after a mile
or two of easy river. Fun class II+ and easy class III rapid picked up
and led to a steeper section of river with two chutes. All of us headed
down the sloping ledge on river left, but either side looked like it
would have been fine. Immediately after this fun drop the river spilled
down between some large boulders in the last real rapid of the run.
Many lines existed, but most of the flow headed to the left. Again, no
one had any problems and I was able to take some pictures of the
lush rainforest like atmosphere.
The last few miles of Drift Creek are quickly moving flatwater. Thebanks open up and meadows look like tempting places for elk to hang out
although we did not see any. A few log jams force quick portages, but nothing is too troublesome. Some houses become visible from the water and
eventually the take out bridge is reached.
Overall Drift Creek is a great class III river that should not be missed by strong beginners looking for a challenge, intermediate boaters wanting to
work on technique, or anyone that wants to explore a gorgeous and seldom visited piece of water. We made our run at a nice medium to high level
and this is probably best for Drift Creek. Low water would slow things down significantly and reduce the quality of the bigger rapids.
although we did not see any. A few log jams force quick portages, but nothing is too troublesome. Some houses become visible from the water and
eventually the take out bridge is reached.
Overall Drift Creek is a great class III river that should not be missed by strong beginners looking for a challenge, intermediate boaters wanting to
work on technique, or anyone that wants to explore a gorgeous and seldom visited piece of water. We made our run at a nice medium to high level
and this is probably best for Drift Creek. Low water would slow things down significantly and reduce the quality of the bigger rapids.
Snow on the way to the put in forced us to consolidate all seven boaters and their gear
into and on the nice big four wheel drive Ford which made short work of the drifts.
into and on the nice big four wheel drive Ford which made short work of the drifts.
A gorgeous waterfall plunges into the valley while a boater floats past and enjoys
the view.
the view.
This fun class III rapid had a couple of nice surf waves and led to a short pool
above what is probably the most significant rapid on Drift Creek.
above what is probably the most significant rapid on Drift Creek.
The run out of the first larger rapid on Drift Creek is a gorgeous mini canyon with
sculpted walls that appear to be slightly undercut in a few places.
sculpted walls that appear to be slightly undercut in a few places.
Ken entering the biggest rapid on Drift Creek, a nice class III+featuring a few juicy
pourovers and a couple of nice waves and holes.
pourovers and a couple of nice waves and holes.
A boater runs a fun chute in the second stretch of entertaining class III whitewater on
Drift Creek. Many eddies exist through here and make for a natural slalom course.
Drift Creek. Many eddies exist through here and make for a natural slalom course.
Looking downstream at the end of the second class III section on Drift Creek.
Most of the flow goes left, but many lines are possible.
Most of the flow goes left, but many lines are possible.
One of the bottom chutes in the toughest drop on Drift Creek was a little
shallow even at the nice level we made the run at.
shallow even at the nice level we made the run at.
A boater looks back upstream at a nice drop about halfway through the second set of bigger rapids. If the whole rum were like this it would
be one of the best intermediate runs around.
be one of the best intermediate runs around.