South Santiam, OR
Location - East of Sweet Home, OR
Difficulty - Class II-IV (V) Length - 8 miles
Level - 1,800 cfs and rising Date - 3/11/2007
Difficulty - Class II-IV (V) Length - 8 miles
Level - 1,800 cfs and rising Date - 3/11/2007
The second weekend in March 2007 brought seventy degree
temperatures and sunny skies to western Oregon. A few of us decided
to paddle the South Santiam, a nearby run with some good whitewater
and amazing scenery. Only Steve had paddled the river before and
both Scott and myself were happy to be seeing a new run.
The first few miles below the put in were easy class II with a few fun surf
waves and one nice class III drop called Longbow Falls. Moss draped
trees lined the shored and sunlight filtered down through the fog and
mist rising from the water. Enough eddied punctuated this stretch to let
us make some moves, and it felt good to stretch and get a workout.
Before long we paddled under the route 20 bridge and entered the best
stretch of rapids on this run.
temperatures and sunny skies to western Oregon. A few of us decided
to paddle the South Santiam, a nearby run with some good whitewater
and amazing scenery. Only Steve had paddled the river before and
both Scott and myself were happy to be seeing a new run.
The first few miles below the put in were easy class II with a few fun surf
waves and one nice class III drop called Longbow Falls. Moss draped
trees lined the shored and sunlight filtered down through the fog and
mist rising from the water. Enough eddied punctuated this stretch to let
us make some moves, and it felt good to stretch and get a workout.
Before long we paddled under the route 20 bridge and entered the best
stretch of rapids on this run.
Below the bridge the South Santiam enters a deep valley and runs
through many fun class III and IV boulder gardens. It felt great to be on a
river with some volume after spending so much time on the typically small
creeks of the Cascades. The deep and powerful eddies let us make
some fun slalom moves while keeping the boat scouting pretty easy. The
nice strong whitewater was a treat and while the drops were not
intimidating, they kept you on your toes.
The huge water sculpted rocks lining the river are covered with thick matts
of moss, and the forest is encrusted in shades of green as. The sunny
weather and rising mist made this piece of river extra enjoyable. In a few
places house sized boulders nearly blocked the flow completely, but only
once did we encounter a strainer choking part of the river. The fun lasts
for about two miles until a small horizon is reached. This eight foot drop
has a river right and a center line that look easy, but the right side outflow
is backed up by a fallen tree and the current is fast for the fifty yards
below to the lip of the next drop, which you would not want to run blind, if
at all.
We carried this ledge on the left and pulled out just below at the very top
of The Monster. This is a tough looking class V drop falling about fifteen
feet into a narrow canyon that is full of water sculpted "rooms" and
undercut rocks. At the level we saw the drop it actually looked pretty
straightforward since many of the undercuts were covered up, but none of
us got a friendly feeling from the rapid. The portage takes you down the
left side of the ledge making the rapid and involves hauling your boats up
a cliff with a throw rope. A short battle through some debris from the hill
above takes you to a crack leading back down to the river. The setting is
gorgeous so the twenty minutes of work is enjoyable.
Putting in after The Monster is impressive. You launch into a deep boiling
punch bowl type gorge that exits through a narrow canyon only ten or
fifteen feet wide. The carved rock is really cool. After this drop the South
Santiam opens up again and a few fun class III ledges are encountered,
one continuing for quite a distance with lines on both sides. Noting very
tough here, but entertaining nonetheless.
The next landmark is a glimpse of a mill through the trees on river right
with a bigger rapid starting up below. Tomco Falls should at least be
scouted on the left even though the walk is through some thick woods. At
the level we saw this the line was a straightforward run don the left center,
off of a five foot drop, and into a big exploding hole. Despite the easily
hit line, none of us felt like dealing with the hole so we made a sneak on
river right. This sneak is not super easy as you have to eddy out where a
side creek comes in, drag over a ledge, and run a ways down to a narrow
eddy at the top of the falls. The ledge making up Tomco Falls is full of
potholes and it does not seem like it would be a good place to start
flipping or swimming. I didn't feel bad about portaging at all, especially
since the mood for the day was relaxed and easy going. The drop is
certainly runnable and it would make the day more exiting for people
wanting a better whitewater experience on the South Santiam.
through many fun class III and IV boulder gardens. It felt great to be on a
river with some volume after spending so much time on the typically small
creeks of the Cascades. The deep and powerful eddies let us make
some fun slalom moves while keeping the boat scouting pretty easy. The
nice strong whitewater was a treat and while the drops were not
intimidating, they kept you on your toes.
The huge water sculpted rocks lining the river are covered with thick matts
of moss, and the forest is encrusted in shades of green as. The sunny
weather and rising mist made this piece of river extra enjoyable. In a few
places house sized boulders nearly blocked the flow completely, but only
once did we encounter a strainer choking part of the river. The fun lasts
for about two miles until a small horizon is reached. This eight foot drop
has a river right and a center line that look easy, but the right side outflow
is backed up by a fallen tree and the current is fast for the fifty yards
below to the lip of the next drop, which you would not want to run blind, if
at all.
We carried this ledge on the left and pulled out just below at the very top
of The Monster. This is a tough looking class V drop falling about fifteen
feet into a narrow canyon that is full of water sculpted "rooms" and
undercut rocks. At the level we saw the drop it actually looked pretty
straightforward since many of the undercuts were covered up, but none of
us got a friendly feeling from the rapid. The portage takes you down the
left side of the ledge making the rapid and involves hauling your boats up
a cliff with a throw rope. A short battle through some debris from the hill
above takes you to a crack leading back down to the river. The setting is
gorgeous so the twenty minutes of work is enjoyable.
Putting in after The Monster is impressive. You launch into a deep boiling
punch bowl type gorge that exits through a narrow canyon only ten or
fifteen feet wide. The carved rock is really cool. After this drop the South
Santiam opens up again and a few fun class III ledges are encountered,
one continuing for quite a distance with lines on both sides. Noting very
tough here, but entertaining nonetheless.
The next landmark is a glimpse of a mill through the trees on river right
with a bigger rapid starting up below. Tomco Falls should at least be
scouted on the left even though the walk is through some thick woods. At
the level we saw this the line was a straightforward run don the left center,
off of a five foot drop, and into a big exploding hole. Despite the easily
hit line, none of us felt like dealing with the hole so we made a sneak on
river right. This sneak is not super easy as you have to eddy out where a
side creek comes in, drag over a ledge, and run a ways down to a narrow
eddy at the top of the falls. The ledge making up Tomco Falls is full of
potholes and it does not seem like it would be a good place to start
flipping or swimming. I didn't feel bad about portaging at all, especially
since the mood for the day was relaxed and easy going. The drop is
certainly runnable and it would make the day more exiting for people
wanting a better whitewater experience on the South Santiam.
In my opinion, the best part of the South Santiam is the last two miles below
Tomco Falls. The river cuts a dramatic canyon fifteen to fifty feet deep through
a softer rock. The vertical and overhanging walls are deeply cut by the swirling
waters with cracks, rooms, and caves everywhere. This is one of the most
spectacular sections of river I have ever seen. We were here at a medium
level and the rapids were never more than class III, but the swirling water was
tricky and whirlpools even formed in a few places. You really don't want to be
near the canyon walls in any of the rapids as they are often deeply undercut.
There are a few big holes to avoid and a couple of blind corners that could be
pretty nasty if a log were blocking the flow. We took our time in this most
incredible of places and could have spent hours here.
Near the end of this section a waterfalls drops fifteen feet directly into the river
with a big grotto cut out behind it. The day was so warm that the setting
seemed almost tropical and paddling under the jet of water was a nice way to
cool off. Eventually the canyon opens up and a few final easy class III rapids
can be run just about anywhere. The take out is on river right above the bridge
into Cascadia Park. A set of stairs and a walkway bring you back to your
vehicles.
In all, this was a great day of boating. Although the whitewater may not be as
classic as some of the runs around Eugene that we frequent, this run ranks
highly on my list of paddles in the area. There are enough fun rapids to make
the day exciting, and the scenery is top notch. Even if the run were completely
flat it would be worth doing because of the canyon at the end. Combine all of
this with seventy degree weather in the beginning of March and you have a
classic day.
Tomco Falls. The river cuts a dramatic canyon fifteen to fifty feet deep through
a softer rock. The vertical and overhanging walls are deeply cut by the swirling
waters with cracks, rooms, and caves everywhere. This is one of the most
spectacular sections of river I have ever seen. We were here at a medium
level and the rapids were never more than class III, but the swirling water was
tricky and whirlpools even formed in a few places. You really don't want to be
near the canyon walls in any of the rapids as they are often deeply undercut.
There are a few big holes to avoid and a couple of blind corners that could be
pretty nasty if a log were blocking the flow. We took our time in this most
incredible of places and could have spent hours here.
Near the end of this section a waterfalls drops fifteen feet directly into the river
with a big grotto cut out behind it. The day was so warm that the setting
seemed almost tropical and paddling under the jet of water was a nice way to
cool off. Eventually the canyon opens up and a few final easy class III rapids
can be run just about anywhere. The take out is on river right above the bridge
into Cascadia Park. A set of stairs and a walkway bring you back to your
vehicles.
In all, this was a great day of boating. Although the whitewater may not be as
classic as some of the runs around Eugene that we frequent, this run ranks
highly on my list of paddles in the area. There are enough fun rapids to make
the day exciting, and the scenery is top notch. Even if the run were completely
flat it would be worth doing because of the canyon at the end. Combine all of
this with seventy degree weather in the beginning of March and you have a
classic day.
Scott entering one of the fun class III rapids in the stretch of river below
Route 20 and above The Monster.
Route 20 and above The Monster.
Steve portaging The Monster. This picture makes the rapid look easy, but
the to half is a mean drop and the walls of this gorge are deceptively
undercut.
the to half is a mean drop and the walls of this gorge are deceptively
undercut.
Scott paddling away from the bottom of The Monster through a narrow
canyon.
canyon.
Steve exiting the narrowest part of the canyon below Tomco Falls.
Although it opens up some the canyon is basically like this for two
miles.
Although it opens up some the canyon is basically like this for two
miles.
Scott running down some of the swirly class II rapids in the South
Santiam canyon.
Santiam canyon.
A close up of Scott in the same stretch of river seen to the left. This
angle shows you the scale of things and the deeply undercut walls.
angle shows you the scale of things and the deeply undercut walls.
Scott and Steve paddling under the waterfall that rushed into the South Santiam near the end of the
canyon section.
canyon section.