Siletz River
Location - Central Coast Range, OR
Difficulty - Class II-III (IV) Length - 10 miles
Level - 2,300 cfs approx Date - 12/2/ 2006
Difficulty - Class II-III (IV) Length - 10 miles
Level - 2,300 cfs approx Date - 12/2/ 2006
On the first weekend of December in 2006 I joined a
WKCC trip on the Siletz River located deep in the Coast
Range about an hour outside of Corvallis. The drive to
the put in is a series of dirt roads heading through
extensive areas of active logging. While the timber
industry is vital to Oregon's economy and our American
way of life, it is hard not to cringe at the devastation
caused by removing every last tree from the sides of
entire ranges of mountains. Up until several years ago
the Siletz was apparently one of the last rivers in the
coast range flowing through untouched old growth and
its beauty was revered by paddlers. Today a thin
riparian buffer zone hides the worst of the destruction
from river users, but the extent of the clear cutting is
readily visible from the drive to the out in at Elk Creek.
After an hour of working our way up the muddy dirt track
we reached the river and prepared for the run.
WKCC trip on the Siletz River located deep in the Coast
Range about an hour outside of Corvallis. The drive to
the put in is a series of dirt roads heading through
extensive areas of active logging. While the timber
industry is vital to Oregon's economy and our American
way of life, it is hard not to cringe at the devastation
caused by removing every last tree from the sides of
entire ranges of mountains. Up until several years ago
the Siletz was apparently one of the last rivers in the
coast range flowing through untouched old growth and
its beauty was revered by paddlers. Today a thin
riparian buffer zone hides the worst of the destruction
from river users, but the extent of the clear cutting is
readily visible from the drive to the out in at Elk Creek.
After an hour of working our way up the muddy dirt track
we reached the river and prepared for the run.
At the put in the Siletz is good sized river and has plenty of water for a fun trip when
running at 2,300 cfs. Entertaining class II+ whitewater starts the trip and leads to two
class III rapids in the first mile of the run. These rapids are ledgy and there are many
routes through each. At this flow no large hydraulics develop, but higher levels could
produce some big holes so caution should be used here when the water is up. The river
mellows after these larger ledges, but keeps interesting with occasional class II-III rapids
and a few nice surf waves. Deep eddies can be found and this is a great run for
playboats.
The Siletz is one of Oregon's premier salmon rivers and we paddled it after the fall runs.
Spawning salmon head into the tiniest of tributaries to lay their eggs and die soon
afterwards. This year early rains produced extremely high water on the Siletz and
washed the carcasses of many of these salmon downstream, leaving their bodies in
varying degrees of decay scattered on the riverbanks and stuck high in the alders lining
the river. The left over fish were an interesting addition to the trip although in a few
places the stench of rotting fish was quite strong.
running at 2,300 cfs. Entertaining class II+ whitewater starts the trip and leads to two
class III rapids in the first mile of the run. These rapids are ledgy and there are many
routes through each. At this flow no large hydraulics develop, but higher levels could
produce some big holes so caution should be used here when the water is up. The river
mellows after these larger ledges, but keeps interesting with occasional class II-III rapids
and a few nice surf waves. Deep eddies can be found and this is a great run for
playboats.
The Siletz is one of Oregon's premier salmon rivers and we paddled it after the fall runs.
Spawning salmon head into the tiniest of tributaries to lay their eggs and die soon
afterwards. This year early rains produced extremely high water on the Siletz and
washed the carcasses of many of these salmon downstream, leaving their bodies in
varying degrees of decay scattered on the riverbanks and stuck high in the alders lining
the river. The left over fish were an interesting addition to the trip although in a few
places the stench of rotting fish was quite strong.
The upper stretch of river again mellows and leads to
another series of fun class III rapids that contain more fun
surf waves. Eventually a bridge is reached thats signifies
the approach of Silache, a long class III-IV rapid that is by
far the most difficult on the run. We had scouted the
hardest move in this long boulder garden on the drive in,
but experiences boaters should have no trouble boat
scouting this entertaining stretch. Silache makes a great
natural slalom course at medium flows since many eddies
are created by the jumble of rocks. A few good surf spots
can be found throughout the many drops and there are
lots of opportunities to practice making tough moves in a
forgiving rapid. At high flows Silache is supposed to get
really big and contain a few giant holes that need to be
avoided. Today was a different story, but there were
several newer boaters on the trip and we plenty of
excitement in this rapid. Steve was happy with the
excellent job he did running Silache in his solo canoe,
since this is a considerably trickier drop in an open boat.
another series of fun class III rapids that contain more fun
surf waves. Eventually a bridge is reached thats signifies
the approach of Silache, a long class III-IV rapid that is by
far the most difficult on the run. We had scouted the
hardest move in this long boulder garden on the drive in,
but experiences boaters should have no trouble boat
scouting this entertaining stretch. Silache makes a great
natural slalom course at medium flows since many eddies
are created by the jumble of rocks. A few good surf spots
can be found throughout the many drops and there are
lots of opportunities to practice making tough moves in a
forgiving rapid. At high flows Silache is supposed to get
really big and contain a few giant holes that need to be
avoided. Today was a different story, but there were
several newer boaters on the trip and we plenty of
excitement in this rapid. Steve was happy with the
excellent job he did running Silache in his solo canoe,
since this is a considerably trickier drop in an open boat.
We left our vehicles here at Quarry Rapid and made a
steep but short climb out of the river at the end of the
day. My feet were completely numb at this point and
totally white from lack of blood flow and the cold. They
wouldn't fully regain warmth for the next hour or so.
Several more miles of river remained below or takeout,
but the number and quality of rapids is supposed to
diminish so no one felt as though they missed anything
great. Overall this was a fun and enjoyable stretch of
river that would probably produce some really nice
surfing and a few exciting rapids at high water levels.
steep but short climb out of the river at the end of the
day. My feet were completely numb at this point and
totally white from lack of blood flow and the cold. They
wouldn't fully regain warmth for the next hour or so.
Several more miles of river remained below or takeout,
but the number and quality of rapids is supposed to
diminish so no one felt as though they missed anything
great. Overall this was a fun and enjoyable stretch of
river that would probably produce some really nice
surfing and a few exciting rapids at high water levels.
Below Silache the gradient eases again, but frequent class II-III rapids with some fun
play spots are found. After a mile or so a series of ledges are encountered which can
generally be run just about anywhere. A couple of great surf waves were found below
these drops, but I had been in my playboat for so long that intense foot pain kept my
rides fairly short. Despite the clear skies and sunny weather the temperature barely
rose above freezing today and this was a long enough run that getting to the end was
starting feel like a good idea.
The final bit of excitement on the run was actually one of the bigger and most powerful
rapids on the run. Quarry Rapid is made by a series of ledges set in a narrow canyon
and while the line is pretty straightforward, the water is pushier than anything found in
Silache at this level. A couple of large holes lurk on river right and a few strong surf
spots wait scattered throughout the drop. This is a class III+ rapid and if you are unsure
of your ability the best line is to stay in the center of the river while paddling hard.
play spots are found. After a mile or so a series of ledges are encountered which can
generally be run just about anywhere. A couple of great surf waves were found below
these drops, but I had been in my playboat for so long that intense foot pain kept my
rides fairly short. Despite the clear skies and sunny weather the temperature barely
rose above freezing today and this was a long enough run that getting to the end was
starting feel like a good idea.
The final bit of excitement on the run was actually one of the bigger and most powerful
rapids on the run. Quarry Rapid is made by a series of ledges set in a narrow canyon
and while the line is pretty straightforward, the water is pushier than anything found in
Silache at this level. A couple of large holes lurk on river right and a few strong surf
spots wait scattered throughout the drop. This is a class III+ rapid and if you are unsure
of your ability the best line is to stay in the center of the river while paddling hard.
Steve pulls over to bail his canoe and relax after successfully running the toughest part of Silache
Rapid at a nice medium level.
Rapid at a nice medium level.
After battling heir way upstream to spawning beds in tiny side
creeks Salmon die and their decomposing bodies return
nutrients to the land.
creeks Salmon die and their decomposing bodies return
nutrients to the land.
Kate and Megi smiling at the Elk Creek put in for our long day on the Siletz River deep in Oregon's
Coast Range.
Coast Range.
Silache Rapid provides the most excitement on this section of the Siletz River which is perfect for
intermediate paddlers looking to practice their skills.
intermediate paddlers looking to practice their skills.
Despite much active logging in the area, the Siletz River still
manages to dish out some great scenery.
manages to dish out some great scenery.
The hardest drop in Silache Rapid is seen above. At this flow the
rapid was a strong class III or a very easy class IV, but quite long
and fun.
rapid was a strong class III or a very easy class IV, but quite long
and fun.
Fisherman near the takeout hope to hook one of the Winter Steelhead that the Siletz River holds.
Miles of great fishing can be found on this river and hopefully the extensive clear cuts will not affect
the vibrant salmon population.
Miles of great fishing can be found on this river and hopefully the extensive clear cuts will not affect
the vibrant salmon population.
Although the temperature struggled to climb out of the thirties all day, sunshine is always
welcome while getting ready for a run.
welcome while getting ready for a run.