Lake Creek
Location - Deadwood, Oregon
Difficulty - Class III Length - 5 miles
Level - 10 to 12 feet Siuslaw Gauge Date - 2007/2008
Difficulty - Class III Length - 5 miles
Level - 10 to 12 feet Siuslaw Gauge Date - 2007/2008
Lake Creek is the best playboating run close to Eugene.
Don’t let the name fool you, Lake Creek is a good sized
river that carries several thousand cfs when it is at prime
levels for surfing. Originating in Triangle Lake, Lake Creek
flows for thirty miles almost due west to its confluence with
the Siuslaw River near the village of Deadwood. Although
there is a cool series of slides and falls where the river exits
Triangle Lake, the river is known for its prime playspots
farther downstream Only an hour away from Eugene and
Corvallis, Lake Creek sees a good number of boaters
during high water events.
Lake Creek starts to get fun at levels over 8.5 feet on the
Siuslaw Gauge in Mapleton, with the best play found at
levels between 9.5 and 13 feet. The large river is runnable
all the way up to 20 feet and beyond, but park and play
options disappear and paddlers should be ready for big
water action with all of the accompanying hazards. If the
Don’t let the name fool you, Lake Creek is a good sized
river that carries several thousand cfs when it is at prime
levels for surfing. Originating in Triangle Lake, Lake Creek
flows for thirty miles almost due west to its confluence with
the Siuslaw River near the village of Deadwood. Although
there is a cool series of slides and falls where the river exits
Triangle Lake, the river is known for its prime playspots
farther downstream Only an hour away from Eugene and
Corvallis, Lake Creek sees a good number of boaters
during high water events.
Lake Creek starts to get fun at levels over 8.5 feet on the
Siuslaw Gauge in Mapleton, with the best play found at
levels between 9.5 and 13 feet. The large river is runnable
all the way up to 20 feet and beyond, but park and play
options disappear and paddlers should be ready for big
water action with all of the accompanying hazards. If the
level is rising and it is early in the season be ready for quite a bit of wood to be coming down the river’s chocolate brown waters. I always need to
remind myself that in Oregon, wood in the water can mean fifty foot logs. Don’t get plastered by one of the suckers while you are surfing.
If you put in at the Lane County park the first playspots are found about a hundred yards below the drift boat launch on river right just upstream of a
small bridge. The main spot here is a shallow ledge hole that is very gentle and has a long recirculation. The soft and friendly hole is great for spins
and gives paddlers a nice place to warm up. For beginners it is a nice place to practice side surfing and edge control. A thin eddy lies in the
branches on river right and gives access for repeat rides if you like it here. Most people will only spend a few minutes here and quickly paddle away
into the half mile or so of class II water leading into The Ledges.
remind myself that in Oregon, wood in the water can mean fifty foot logs. Don’t get plastered by one of the suckers while you are surfing.
If you put in at the Lane County park the first playspots are found about a hundred yards below the drift boat launch on river right just upstream of a
small bridge. The main spot here is a shallow ledge hole that is very gentle and has a long recirculation. The soft and friendly hole is great for spins
and gives paddlers a nice place to warm up. For beginners it is a nice place to practice side surfing and edge control. A thin eddy lies in the
branches on river right and gives access for repeat rides if you like it here. Most people will only spend a few minutes here and quickly paddle away
into the half mile or so of class II water leading into The Ledges.
A sweeping right hand turn with a small but nice looking
breaking wave marks the start of The Ledges, a long class
III section of ledges that produce some fun surf spots and
holes that get bigger and bigger as the level of Lake Creek
rises. Above 15 feet some of the holes start to get burly, so
be ready for that if you find yourself here when the river is
pumping. River right avoids most of the biggest hydraulics.
At prime play levels be on the look out for super smooth
breaking waves and holes created by the sandstone ledges.
Just about all of these features are on the fly waves as
eddies are few and the current moves right along.
As the river swing gradually back to the left the rapids ease
as Lake Creek gets ready to crash through The Horn, a
class III+ rapid with a big water feel to it at higher levels.
Basically the river steepens and funnels through a drop
created by a ledge of harder erosion resistant basalt. As the
river steepens and narrows big waves are kicked up and
some holes form at certain levels. Most often the best line is
down left or left center. The middle of the river is not best
because of a large ledge outcrop that becomes a big hole
at some flows. The run out is powerful and some breaking
waves and swirling eddy lines make for very fast surfing and
provide a bit of excitement. The first tail wave below The
Horn gives up great bouncy rides at certain flows, but it can
also be trashy and hard to stay on. Either way, the river left
eddy is huge and repeat rides are easy.
breaking wave marks the start of The Ledges, a long class
III section of ledges that produce some fun surf spots and
holes that get bigger and bigger as the level of Lake Creek
rises. Above 15 feet some of the holes start to get burly, so
be ready for that if you find yourself here when the river is
pumping. River right avoids most of the biggest hydraulics.
At prime play levels be on the look out for super smooth
breaking waves and holes created by the sandstone ledges.
Just about all of these features are on the fly waves as
eddies are few and the current moves right along.
As the river swing gradually back to the left the rapids ease
as Lake Creek gets ready to crash through The Horn, a
class III+ rapid with a big water feel to it at higher levels.
Basically the river steepens and funnels through a drop
created by a ledge of harder erosion resistant basalt. As the
river steepens and narrows big waves are kicked up and
some holes form at certain levels. Most often the best line is
down left or left center. The middle of the river is not best
because of a large ledge outcrop that becomes a big hole
at some flows. The run out is powerful and some breaking
waves and swirling eddy lines make for very fast surfing and
provide a bit of excitement. The first tail wave below The
Horn gives up great bouncy rides at certain flows, but it can
also be trashy and hard to stay on. Either way, the river left
eddy is huge and repeat rides are easy.
A short stretch of fastwater follows and leads into the Little Horn, another steeper class III formed by more low angle ledges with a nasty hole
extending out from the lefty shore at the bottom that can hand out a beating at certain flows. Stay center or right to avoid this and don’t miss the
nice surf waves at the very top of the rapid. The top wave has a nice foam pile, but it is never quite as fast as you would like it to be and return eddy
service is pretty marginal.
Bellow Little Horn Lake Creek bends back to the left and some low brushy islands are seen on river left. Just around the corner and next to the cliff
face on river right is a giant uniform hole called, the Bus Stopper. The hydraulic is created by a sharp U shaped ledge and it looks violent and
extremely sticky. A thin line can be run on river right, but staying left makes a lot more sense. Apparently pro boaters have surfed Bus Stopper on
purpose, but this is not something that most paddlers would want to do. The farther left the better at this one. Stay on the lookout for some fun surf
spots just below here that change with the level.
extending out from the lefty shore at the bottom that can hand out a beating at certain flows. Stay center or right to avoid this and don’t miss the
nice surf waves at the very top of the rapid. The top wave has a nice foam pile, but it is never quite as fast as you would like it to be and return eddy
service is pretty marginal.
Bellow Little Horn Lake Creek bends back to the left and some low brushy islands are seen on river left. Just around the corner and next to the cliff
face on river right is a giant uniform hole called, the Bus Stopper. The hydraulic is created by a sharp U shaped ledge and it looks violent and
extremely sticky. A thin line can be run on river right, but staying left makes a lot more sense. Apparently pro boaters have surfed Bus Stopper on
purpose, but this is not something that most paddlers would want to do. The farther left the better at this one. Stay on the lookout for some fun surf
spots just below here that change with the level.
An alternate put in is passed on river left before reaching
what many consider to be the best playspot on the river.
Grassy Lawn is a wide and fluffy ledge hole with a nice
corner on surfers left. At low water the surf is really smooth,
the hole is not very sticky, and there are a few shallow
spots. Good boaters are still able to throw just about any
trick even at lower flows. As the level increases Grassy gets
better and better. The speed of the surf picks up and things
become more violent. At some point this probably gets a
little munchy, but at those flows the eddy on river left is likely
to be washed out. Most groups spend at least an hour or
two at Grassy Lawn. I'll always take a big fast wave over a
hole for playboating, but Grassy Lawn is a lot of fun and if it
is not crowded it would be easy to stay here all day.
Below Grassy Lawn Lake Creek flows under a bridge and a
mile long stretch of class II / II+ follows with a few nice on the
fly waves. Eventually some old mill buildings come into view
on river right and the river appears to build to easy class III.
Some great waves will be obvious, and while these do not
have eddies near them, they are very worth catching. All
have nice piles. One in particular is a large breaking curler
formed at an angle that gives up some really cool rides at
levels above ten feet. It looks a little trashy from above, but
is surprisingly smooth. There is no eddy here, so make
sure you get in a few good strokes and catch this one on its
upstream end.
what many consider to be the best playspot on the river.
Grassy Lawn is a wide and fluffy ledge hole with a nice
corner on surfers left. At low water the surf is really smooth,
the hole is not very sticky, and there are a few shallow
spots. Good boaters are still able to throw just about any
trick even at lower flows. As the level increases Grassy gets
better and better. The speed of the surf picks up and things
become more violent. At some point this probably gets a
little munchy, but at those flows the eddy on river left is likely
to be washed out. Most groups spend at least an hour or
two at Grassy Lawn. I'll always take a big fast wave over a
hole for playboating, but Grassy Lawn is a lot of fun and if it
is not crowded it would be easy to stay here all day.
Below Grassy Lawn Lake Creek flows under a bridge and a
mile long stretch of class II / II+ follows with a few nice on the
fly waves. Eventually some old mill buildings come into view
on river right and the river appears to build to easy class III.
Some great waves will be obvious, and while these do not
have eddies near them, they are very worth catching. All
have nice piles. One in particular is a large breaking curler
formed at an angle that gives up some really cool rides at
levels above ten feet. It looks a little trashy from above, but
is surprisingly smooth. There is no eddy here, so make
sure you get in a few good strokes and catch this one on its
upstream end.
Soon the second great park and play spot on the run is
reached. Mill Wave is created by a small ledge and a
constriction in the river. The wave changes significantly with
the level and can be different depending on whether or not
the river is rising or falling, but it is generally best from 8.5
feet to 11.5 feet. Sometimes it has a big pile like a hole, and
sometimes it is pretty flushy. At twelve feet on up only fast
older boats will be able to get rides here, but they are likely
to be really fun.
The next right hand turn features another easy class III with
some big waves on river left and a huge eddy at the base of
a large outcrop. At levels from 8.5 to 11 feet a fun little
wave, known as Rd Hill Wave, forms. Lower tends to be
better for this one, as it is narrow and extremely fast. When
it is in the bouncy rides here are really nice and although it’s
tough to stay on, big moves are possible.
This marks the end of the best play on Lake Creek. About a
mile of quickwater and class II lead down to the takeout in
Tide with a few more chances to catch some smaller waves
on the fly. Te take out is at the boat ramp on river right just
upstream of the waterfall entering on river left and the
second water pipe spanning the river. If you did it right you
should be really exhausted when you get to the end of this
run.
reached. Mill Wave is created by a small ledge and a
constriction in the river. The wave changes significantly with
the level and can be different depending on whether or not
the river is rising or falling, but it is generally best from 8.5
feet to 11.5 feet. Sometimes it has a big pile like a hole, and
sometimes it is pretty flushy. At twelve feet on up only fast
older boats will be able to get rides here, but they are likely
to be really fun.
The next right hand turn features another easy class III with
some big waves on river left and a huge eddy at the base of
a large outcrop. At levels from 8.5 to 11 feet a fun little
wave, known as Rd Hill Wave, forms. Lower tends to be
better for this one, as it is narrow and extremely fast. When
it is in the bouncy rides here are really nice and although it’s
tough to stay on, big moves are possible.
This marks the end of the best play on Lake Creek. About a
mile of quickwater and class II lead down to the takeout in
Tide with a few more chances to catch some smaller waves
on the fly. Te take out is at the boat ramp on river right just
upstream of the waterfall entering on river left and the
second water pipe spanning the river. If you did it right you
should be really exhausted when you get to the end of this
run.
When the Mill Wave is in on Lake Creek it is my favorite spot on the entire run. Here I am enjoying a
fast front surf at just about the perfect level.
Photo by Pete Erslev
fast front surf at just about the perfect level.
Photo by Pete Erslev
The Mill Wave changes from a hole like feature to a breaking wave as the levels on Lake Creek rise.
Eventually the wave greens out and gets hard to ride in short modern playboats.
Photo by Pete Erslev
Eventually the wave greens out and gets hard to ride in short modern playboats.
Photo by Pete Erslev
At about ten feet Grassy Lawn is a mellow hole that has some shallow spots but stays deep enough
and sticky enough to do just about any move.
Photo by Pete Erslev
and sticky enough to do just about any move.
Photo by Pete Erslev
The surfer's left shoulder on Grassy is just about always a nice wave that lets paddlers rest and orient
themselves between rides in the hole.
Photo by Pete Erslev
themselves between rides in the hole.
Photo by Pete Erslev