Elk River
Location - Southern Coast of Oregon
Difficulty - Class II-III-IV Length - 12.5 miles
Level - 4 feet Date - 1/19/2008
Difficulty - Class II-III-IV Length - 12.5 miles
Level - 4 feet Date - 1/19/2008
The Elk River is a gorgeous run set in a deep valley cutting
through the coast range of southern Oregon. Just inland of
Port Orford, this river’s crystal clear water, wildly sculpted
bedrock canyons, and fun rapids make it a run worth paddling.
Much of the river is class II, but there are a bunch of distinct
canyons and several other sections that hold interested rapids.
Twisted White Oak hang over the canyon rim, huge Steelhead
spawn in the gravel bars, and raptors cruise the sky above the
Elk.
A large group of us from Eugene decided to make a weekend
trip to the southern coast for some paddling and hiking.
Although the Elk was running at a low level, our twelve person
crew made the entire twelve mile run by putting in at Butler
Bar. Sunny skies were a treat and the aquamarine blue waters
of the Elk let us spot many salmon swimming below. We were
on the water by noon and temperatures were hovering around
fifty degrees, a welcome respite from the cold winter we had
been having in the Willamette Valley.
through the coast range of southern Oregon. Just inland of
Port Orford, this river’s crystal clear water, wildly sculpted
bedrock canyons, and fun rapids make it a run worth paddling.
Much of the river is class II, but there are a bunch of distinct
canyons and several other sections that hold interested rapids.
Twisted White Oak hang over the canyon rim, huge Steelhead
spawn in the gravel bars, and raptors cruise the sky above the
Elk.
A large group of us from Eugene decided to make a weekend
trip to the southern coast for some paddling and hiking.
Although the Elk was running at a low level, our twelve person
crew made the entire twelve mile run by putting in at Butler
Bar. Sunny skies were a treat and the aquamarine blue waters
of the Elk let us spot many salmon swimming below. We were
on the water by noon and temperatures were hovering around
fifty degrees, a welcome respite from the cold winter we had
been having in the Willamette Valley.
The run eases back to quickwater with an occasional class II/III rapid and deep
eddy lines to keep things interesting. The river through here is gorgeous and the
road, which is always close by, is hardly noticed. Somewhere in this section we
were lucky enough to have seen a Redtailed Hawk and two Bald Eagles hanging
around a gravel bar covered with dead salmon.
Just when it seems like the river will never start to drop again the next stretch of fun
whitewater is reached. The Elk has picked up some volume from feeder streams
and the whitewater is a little more powerful as the river drops over ledges in a
bedrock canyon for the next mile or two. Lots of nice eddies and boat scoutable
class III/III+ drops are encountered. The sculpted canyon walls are incredible and
even if the run were all flatwater it would be a place worth exploring. At the low
flows that we had some of the bigger drops had rocks inconveniently located just
below them, so stay on guard and choose your lines carefully.
eddy lines to keep things interesting. The river through here is gorgeous and the
road, which is always close by, is hardly noticed. Somewhere in this section we
were lucky enough to have seen a Redtailed Hawk and two Bald Eagles hanging
around a gravel bar covered with dead salmon.
Just when it seems like the river will never start to drop again the next stretch of fun
whitewater is reached. The Elk has picked up some volume from feeder streams
and the whitewater is a little more powerful as the river drops over ledges in a
bedrock canyon for the next mile or two. Lots of nice eddies and boat scoutable
class III/III+ drops are encountered. The sculpted canyon walls are incredible and
even if the run were all flatwater it would be a place worth exploring. At the low
flows that we had some of the bigger drops had rocks inconveniently located just
below them, so stay on guard and choose your lines carefully.
Another longer stretch of quickwater and easy rapid is reached, but again,
enough small features keep things interesting and the scenery remains
spectacular. Still, you will be ready for some rapids by the time the last canyon
on the run is reached. This quarter long gorge cuts through a different kind of
rock than the granite found upstream, but produces whitewater similar in
nature. A sharp right bend and obvious canyon walls mark the entrance. The
first drop is the most difficult, with the hardest line being on river left and an
easier move on the right of an outcrop. Swirly water leads up to the last class IV
drop which has a hole in the center and is best run on river right, riding the
outflow around a huge cliff face into the pool below.
About a mile of river remains to the takeout and everyone was tired by the time
we reached the boat ramp at the fish hatchery. A chilly fog and mist had crept
up from the ocean and took away our hopes of relaxing in the sun, but the
shuttle was not terribly long and soon we were headed back to our motel. The
Elk is not the most difficult or continuous run around by any means, but even at
low water holds some really fun canyons and dramatic scenery. I really like
exploring new places and making longer runs, so this was a very enjoyable day
of boating for me. I wouldn’t hesitate to return when there is more water in the
south coast rivers to check out the Elk again and explore some of the other
whitewater in the area.
enough small features keep things interesting and the scenery remains
spectacular. Still, you will be ready for some rapids by the time the last canyon
on the run is reached. This quarter long gorge cuts through a different kind of
rock than the granite found upstream, but produces whitewater similar in
nature. A sharp right bend and obvious canyon walls mark the entrance. The
first drop is the most difficult, with the hardest line being on river left and an
easier move on the right of an outcrop. Swirly water leads up to the last class IV
drop which has a hole in the center and is best run on river right, riding the
outflow around a huge cliff face into the pool below.
About a mile of river remains to the takeout and everyone was tired by the time
we reached the boat ramp at the fish hatchery. A chilly fog and mist had crept
up from the ocean and took away our hopes of relaxing in the sun, but the
shuttle was not terribly long and soon we were headed back to our motel. The
Elk is not the most difficult or continuous run around by any means, but even at
low water holds some really fun canyons and dramatic scenery. I really like
exploring new places and making longer runs, so this was a very enjoyable day
of boating for me. I wouldn’t hesitate to return when there is more water in the
south coast rivers to check out the Elk again and explore some of the other
whitewater in the area.
After a nice stretch of fun whitewater the river opens briefly
before dropping into another tight canyon that holds an obvious
horizon line. This is the biggest drop on the river and it is
probably worth scouting for wood or other obstructions. The line
here involves paddling through some boogie water in the lead in
while working to the right of the prominent boulder just above the
horizon line. As you enter the steepest part of the rapid an
obvious ramp is seen on river right and this is your target. Drive
right to get up onto the ramp to boof past the pit of a large hole
taking a good bit of the main flow. This is a class IV drop and the
most powerful rapid on the run at this level. Everything seemed to
be flushing through here and it was possible to eddy out in the
canyon below the main drop. Everyone came through with no
problems, but one boater was shoved into a river right eddy
immediately below the drop and had to work pretty hard to get
back into the main flow. The exit of the canyon is a fun class III
rapid. Nice whitewater continues for a good distance to another
steep drop just above a sharp bend to the right. Run this tight left
to hit the weakest part of a river wide hole. From upstream this
rapid look intimidating, but as you approach the move reveals
itself and looks easy. Still, I came through with a few lazy strokes
and was backendered, almost landing in the hole and going for a
ride. Even at low water the tight canyons make for strong rapids.
before dropping into another tight canyon that holds an obvious
horizon line. This is the biggest drop on the river and it is
probably worth scouting for wood or other obstructions. The line
here involves paddling through some boogie water in the lead in
while working to the right of the prominent boulder just above the
horizon line. As you enter the steepest part of the rapid an
obvious ramp is seen on river right and this is your target. Drive
right to get up onto the ramp to boof past the pit of a large hole
taking a good bit of the main flow. This is a class IV drop and the
most powerful rapid on the run at this level. Everything seemed to
be flushing through here and it was possible to eddy out in the
canyon below the main drop. Everyone came through with no
problems, but one boater was shoved into a river right eddy
immediately below the drop and had to work pretty hard to get
back into the main flow. The exit of the canyon is a fun class III
rapid. Nice whitewater continues for a good distance to another
steep drop just above a sharp bend to the right. Run this tight left
to hit the weakest part of a river wide hole. From upstream this
rapid look intimidating, but as you approach the move reveals
itself and looks easy. Still, I came through with a few lazy strokes
and was backendered, almost landing in the hole and going for a
ride. Even at low water the tight canyons make for strong rapids.
The run starts out with a long stretch of shallow class II before entering a short but
very tight class III+ canyon that twists and drops over a few ledges. This is an easy
boat scout, but any wood wedged in here could cause big problems. After the slot
canyon the river returns to shallow class II until a large landslide becomes visible
on river right. This slide has sent much debris into the river and created a jumbled
section of class III/IV rapids that reportedly turn into big class IV at high flows. At
low water the main feature is a narrow slot dropping about five feet through a
crack between a large boulder and river left ledge. A strong boof is a good idea to
avoid the powerful hydraulic that managed to backender a bunch of the gang.
Although it seemed like the slot had the potential to be shallow and pinny, a few of
the bigger boats on the trip went really deep here and no one reported having hit
bottom. After a short pool the river drops through a fun class III section with a few
moves to make and fun eddies to catch.
very tight class III+ canyon that twists and drops over a few ledges. This is an easy
boat scout, but any wood wedged in here could cause big problems. After the slot
canyon the river returns to shallow class II until a large landslide becomes visible
on river right. This slide has sent much debris into the river and created a jumbled
section of class III/IV rapids that reportedly turn into big class IV at high flows. At
low water the main feature is a narrow slot dropping about five feet through a
crack between a large boulder and river left ledge. A strong boof is a good idea to
avoid the powerful hydraulic that managed to backender a bunch of the gang.
Although it seemed like the slot had the potential to be shallow and pinny, a few of
the bigger boats on the trip went really deep here and no one reported having hit
bottom. After a short pool the river drops through a fun class III section with a few
moves to make and fun eddies to catch.
This view is typical of the canyons found on the Elk River of Oregon's southern Coast Range. Fun
rapids are set in these narrow gorges even at the lowest of runnable levels.
rapids are set in these narrow gorges even at the lowest of runnable levels.
One of the bigger rapids on the Elk is formed by a large river right landslide. This narrow and
powerful slot led into the rest of the rapid and provided some excitement.
powerful slot led into the rest of the rapid and provided some excitement.
The run out of the landslide rapid is a fast and technical class III-III+ that
bends around a corner. When we made the run this whole stretch was
clear of wood and other debris.
bends around a corner. When we made the run this whole stretch was
clear of wood and other debris.
One of the bigger rapids on the Elk is formed by a large river right landslide. This narrow and
powerful slot led into the rest of the rapid and provided some excitement.
Photo by Steve Stuckmeyer
powerful slot led into the rest of the rapid and provided some excitement.
Photo by Steve Stuckmeyer
Here I am dropping into the largest rapid on the Elk after successfully making the move to the
right needed to avoid the swirling hydraulic taking most of the flow.
Photo by Steve Stuckmeyer
right needed to avoid the swirling hydraulic taking most of the flow.
Photo by Steve Stuckmeyer
Steve catches the last eddy on river right above Elk Creek's big drop. At
low water this is the best place to scout from, but at high flows it is unlikely
that this eddy would exist.
low water this is the best place to scout from, but at high flows it is unlikely
that this eddy would exist.
The final gorge on the Elk as seen from the road on the way to the put in.
This quarter mile canyon holds some fun rapids in a spectacular setting.
This quarter mile canyon holds some fun rapids in a spectacular setting.
Nate paddling away from the big drop on Elk Creek which can partially be seen behind him
contained between sheer rock walls. This rapid was not very tough, but the water is powerful
and the dramatic setting made it memorable.
contained between sheer rock walls. This rapid was not very tough, but the water is powerful
and the dramatic setting made it memorable.
Dan paddles away from a fun class III in one of the Elk's bedrock canyons about half way
through this long twelve mile run.
through this long twelve mile run.
The toughest move in the last canyon is barely visible at the top of this
picture, but a bunch of fun rapids like the one seen here were hidden
between these steep cliff walls.
picture, but a bunch of fun rapids like the one seen here were hidden
between these steep cliff walls.
The last drop in the final canyon looked tricky from above, but a nice line twisted through on
river right.
river right.