The Siuslaw River
Location - Route 126 to Mapleton, Oregon
Difficulty - Class quickwater to class II+
Length - 20 miles
Level - 1,500 cfs Date - 3/24/2007
Difficulty - Class quickwater to class II+
Length - 20 miles
Level - 1,500 cfs Date - 3/24/2007
The forecast called for a partly cloudy day with rain developing
in the afternoon so Michelle and I decided to head down a
stretch of the Siuslaw River that runs through the Coast Range
to the west of Eugene. I had paddled the lower portions of this
section at very high levels as part of a kayak run full of play
spots, but I had never seen the part above the confluence with
Lake Creek. This would be a relaxing canoe trip through
quickwater and easy rapids.
The river was running at 1,500 cfs making it almost 6 feet lower
than when we kayak its lower reaches. The weather was in the
high fifties at the put in and we were lucky enough to have our
friend Bob from Mapleton run the shuttle. I expected that this
twenty miles would take approximately four or five hours to
cover. We put on at 10:30 happy to see that the water was
clearer than it is when the Siuslaw is running at flood.
in the afternoon so Michelle and I decided to head down a
stretch of the Siuslaw River that runs through the Coast Range
to the west of Eugene. I had paddled the lower portions of this
section at very high levels as part of a kayak run full of play
spots, but I had never seen the part above the confluence with
Lake Creek. This would be a relaxing canoe trip through
quickwater and easy rapids.
The river was running at 1,500 cfs making it almost 6 feet lower
than when we kayak its lower reaches. The weather was in the
high fifties at the put in and we were lucky enough to have our
friend Bob from Mapleton run the shuttle. I expected that this
twenty miles would take approximately four or five hours to
cover. We put on at 10:30 happy to see that the water was
clearer than it is when the Siuslaw is running at flood.
MIchelle on a smooth stretch of the Siuslaw River shortly below the put in. What you see
here is typical of most of the upper run.
here is typical of most of the upper run.
About a mile below the put in the Siuslaw turns north and runs
away from the highway for the next 8 miles. Although the river
valley houses an old gravel road and a set of train tracks the
area feels remote and the hills are mostly forested. On this
spring day the banks were growing green with new grasses
and flowers and cherry trees blossomed on shore.
The first four miles or so move along, but there are no real
rapids to speak of. A few class I's can be floated through, but
in general the ledgy bottomed river is smooth and the current
is slow. The first tricky piece is marked by a train bridge
crossing the river. A class II picks up here and swings left
before ending in a couple of waves and a hole big enough to
swamp a canoe. We ran the drop, took on a bunch of water,
and had to eddy out to empty before continuing. The next
rapid is just below and it is recognized by another train bridge.
We ran this drop more cleanly and only had to bail at the
bottom before continuing through another class II lined by a
river left cliff. Lunch was had shortly below where a clearing
came down to the water on river right. Our lunch was simple
and quick since there was still a long ways to paddle before
reaching the takeout.
away from the highway for the next 8 miles. Although the river
valley houses an old gravel road and a set of train tracks the
area feels remote and the hills are mostly forested. On this
spring day the banks were growing green with new grasses
and flowers and cherry trees blossomed on shore.
The first four miles or so move along, but there are no real
rapids to speak of. A few class I's can be floated through, but
in general the ledgy bottomed river is smooth and the current
is slow. The first tricky piece is marked by a train bridge
crossing the river. A class II picks up here and swings left
before ending in a couple of waves and a hole big enough to
swamp a canoe. We ran the drop, took on a bunch of water,
and had to eddy out to empty before continuing. The next
rapid is just below and it is recognized by another train bridge.
We ran this drop more cleanly and only had to bail at the
bottom before continuing through another class II lined by a
river left cliff. Lunch was had shortly below where a clearing
came down to the water on river right. Our lunch was simple
and quick since there was still a long ways to paddle before
reaching the takeout.
The next five miles of the Siuslaw are pretty slow although a current exists most
of the way. Ducks were very numerous on this day and we steadily paddled
while a few rain showers blew through. Just when I thought we had made a
mistake undertaking such a long piece of river the confluence with Lake Creek
was reached.
We paddled out into the bigger river as heavy mist and clouds blew upstream
from a weak system arriving off of the Pacific. Michelle didn't like the rain drops
in her eyes, but it was the kind of weather that reminded me a little of northern
Canada. The next few miles held some fun class II ledge drops, and we
surprised a few drift boaters by charging ahead and actually paddling through
the rapids. This section looked a lot different than it does when we run it in
kayaks at high flows, and seeing the riverbed was pretty interesting.
The mist stopped and the last five miles of fast water were paddled quickly. A
few interesting rapids made this part of the river fun. Soon we found ourselves
paddling one final rapid before the Siuslaw reached sea level and became
influenced by the tide. The river widened and docks lined the shores as we
paddled towards Mapleton . The last stretch was surprisingly scenic despite the
nearby road and houses.
In all this was a great day. It is always interesting to paddle a river to tidewater.
While this section of the Siuslaw does not produce intense whitewater at this
level, the run is enjoyable and its diversity keeps things interesting. Covering
twenty miles in a day by boat is always fun and I would do this trip again on an
equally warm and pleasant day. There are plenty of great lunch spots and the
swimming would be pretty good if it were warmer, although the river probably
never flows in the summer. Runs of varying length are possible, and the
minimum flow for this section is probably around 1,000 cfs on the Siuslaw Gauge.
Even at 1,600 and dropping there were some shallow stretched. At higher flows
the rapids below the train bridges and the confluence with Lake Creek get very
big and running them in a canoe would be tricky.
of the way. Ducks were very numerous on this day and we steadily paddled
while a few rain showers blew through. Just when I thought we had made a
mistake undertaking such a long piece of river the confluence with Lake Creek
was reached.
We paddled out into the bigger river as heavy mist and clouds blew upstream
from a weak system arriving off of the Pacific. Michelle didn't like the rain drops
in her eyes, but it was the kind of weather that reminded me a little of northern
Canada. The next few miles held some fun class II ledge drops, and we
surprised a few drift boaters by charging ahead and actually paddling through
the rapids. This section looked a lot different than it does when we run it in
kayaks at high flows, and seeing the riverbed was pretty interesting.
The mist stopped and the last five miles of fast water were paddled quickly. A
few interesting rapids made this part of the river fun. Soon we found ourselves
paddling one final rapid before the Siuslaw reached sea level and became
influenced by the tide. The river widened and docks lined the shores as we
paddled towards Mapleton . The last stretch was surprisingly scenic despite the
nearby road and houses.
In all this was a great day. It is always interesting to paddle a river to tidewater.
While this section of the Siuslaw does not produce intense whitewater at this
level, the run is enjoyable and its diversity keeps things interesting. Covering
twenty miles in a day by boat is always fun and I would do this trip again on an
equally warm and pleasant day. There are plenty of great lunch spots and the
swimming would be pretty good if it were warmer, although the river probably
never flows in the summer. Runs of varying length are possible, and the
minimum flow for this section is probably around 1,000 cfs on the Siuslaw Gauge.
Even at 1,600 and dropping there were some shallow stretched. At higher flows
the rapids below the train bridges and the confluence with Lake Creek get very
big and running them in a canoe would be tricky.
Michelle enjoys the sight of trees reflected in the glassy waters of the Siuslaw on a
particularly calm section of river.
particularly calm section of river.
Michelle standing by our canoe at our lunch spot just below an
easy class II rapid.
easy class II rapid.
Here I am paddling on the lower Siuslaw where the river is influenced by the tide. We are only
about a mile upstream of Mapleton at this point.
about a mile upstream of Mapleton at this point.