Deschutes River - Warm Springs to Sherars Falls

Description

This is a very popular section of the Deschutes (known as the lower deschutes). Raft overnighters or multi-day trips are possible here as well as day runs. Day runs typically are done around Wapinitia Creek or Maupin to Sherars Falls take out on Sandy Beach.

Permits are required for boaters so check the permit section for that info.

The season on the Lower Deschutes is typically year round due to mutch better flows than up river where irrigation sucks up lots of water. This section has a little bit of everything for all recreation users. Fishing, rafting, kayaking, sup'ing, camping, etc. This makes for busy days on the river during the summer months. Hitting the river in shoulder seasons can be fun. Even winter runs are possible if you can catch warmer weather spells.

For the boater this is a good beginner to intermediate stretch. Many people have rowed or paddled their first rafts here. Other's have caught their first surf wave here in a hardshell.

See the access points to help determine what putins or takeouts make sense for your desired trip.

Statistics

Author
Class	III to III+
Current Flow	4820.0 CFS 12-04-2024 17:45 View River Forecast
Recommended Flow	Minimum: 2500.0 Average: 4000.0 Maximum: 9000.0
Typical Season	Begins: January Ends: December
Recommended Use	Kayaking: Yes Rafting: Yes Canoeing: Yes SUP: Yes Packrafting: No Fishing: Yes
Primary Gauge	DESCHUTES RIVER AT MOODY, NEAR BIGGS, OR
Length	63.0 Mile(s)
Gradient	13.0 FPM

Type	Name	Description	Camping?	Water?	Boat Ramp?	Vehicle Access
Put-In	Warm Spring State Park Access	A large, nice boat ramp, parking and facilities are here. Day use only here. No camping. This is just off Highway 26 above the bridge where it crosses the Deschutes. Not far below the dam.	No	Yes	Yes	All Vehicles
Put-In	Trout Creek Access	This is a good take out option for anglers fishing from warm springs. You can also put in here to cut out some flatwater and class II water and get started with more rapids just downstream.	Yes	Yes	Yes	All Vehicles
Put-In	Nena Access	A dirt ramp and small day area parking lot on river right. Many anglers that user rafts or floatboats put in or take out here.	No	No	Yes	All Vehicles
Put-In	Long Bend Access	Ramp on river right. Also some fee camping here.	Yes	No	Yes	All Vehicles
Put-In	Harpham Flat Access	Fee campground, vehicle access, toilets, tables, garbage service / recycling, trailer parking, and boat ramp. Boater check-in station and visitor information center staffed during summer months.	Yes	No	Yes	All Vehicles
Put-In	Wapinitia Access	This is a good access to put in on if you just want to run the rapids. This is also a good take out for fishermen floaters. Fee campground, floatboat fishing take out, vehicle access, toilet, tables, garbage service.	Yes	No	Yes	All Vehicles
Put-In	Maupin City Park Access	This is a full service access point. Probably one of the best you've seen anywhere on any river. You name it and this park has a service for it. Only downfall is it's fee area.	Yes	Yes	Yes	All Vehicles
Take-Out	Sandy Beach Take Out	This is a mandatory take out on river right. If you float below here you will end up running the class VI Sherars Falls. You don't want to do that. This is an easy ramp to make so pay attention here and take out.	No	No	Yes	All Vehicles

Rapid Name	Description	Scout	Class	Recommended Flow
Upper Trout Creek Rapids	Follow the main tongue just right of center for the deepest channel. Rocky at lower flows	Read and run	II to II+	Minimum: 2500.0 Maximum: 9000.0
Lower Trout Creek Rapid	Just below the upper rapid the river makes a right hand bend with a small island towards the left side of the river. Most of the flow follows the right channel. Here there are mainly waves and some sleeper rocks you should be heads up for. The left hand channel can be doable by smaller craft wanting to explore.	Read and run	II to II+	Minimum: 2500.0 Maximum: 9000.0
Upper Whitehorse Rapid	A small wave/drop rapid signals it's time to get out on river right to scout white horse rapids just below.	Read and run	II to II+	Minimum: 2500.0 Maximum: 9000.0
Whitehorse Rapid	This is longer rapid that requires manuevering throughout. Enter the rapid just right of center. Scouting is recommended since a swim here could result in some bangs.	Scout river right, well above the entrance to the rapid. Stay clear of the railroad tracks as trains run here often.	III+ to IV-	Minimum: 2500.0 Maximum: 9000.0
Buckskin Mary Rapid	A fun wave train at most levels. Follow the main tongue. Kayakers may find some surf play and eddy access here at the right levels.	Read and run	III to III+	Minimum: 2500.0 Maximum: 9000.0
Four-chutes Rapid	Some easy class II water	read and run	II to II+	Minimum: 2500.0 Maximum: 9000.0
Lower Four-chutes Rapid	Stick towards river right and follow the bulk of the water flow.	Read and run	II to II+	Minimum: 2500.0 Maximum: 9000.0
Wapinitia Rapid	Large rock in the center of the river with possible routes on each side. Most straight forward side is on river right. River left can be a fun wave and hole punch.	Read and run	III to III+	Minimum: 2500.0 Maximum: 9000.0
Boxcar Rapid	Waves and a drop over a diagonal ledge.	Read and run or scout from the road on river right when setting the shuttle.	III to III+	Minimum: 2500.0 Maximum: 9000.0
Surf City Rapid	Straight forward run.	Read and run	II to II+	Minimum: 2500.0 Maximum: 9000.0
Oak Springs Rapid	This is kind of a strange rapid. There are little islands of lava flows scattered throughout. Lava is typically sharp rock so scout and make a clean run to avoid swimming here.	Scout from river right on the road.	IV- to IV	Minimum: 2500.0 Maximum: 9000.0
White River Rapid	Read and run		II to II+	Minimum: 2500.0 Maximum: 9000.0
Upper Elevator Rapid	A fun wave train	Read and run	II to II+	Minimum: 2500.0 Maximum: 9000.0
Lower Elevator Rapid	More wave trains. This rapid has a few rocks on each side of the rapid	read and run	II+ to III-	Minimum: 2500.0 Maximum: 9000.0

Camp Name	Description	Fee?	Beach?
Mecca Flat Camp	River right. Vehicle access as well on Mecca Road. This isn't far from the warm springs put in. There is a primitive boat ramp and river access here as well. Not a lot of shade here.	Yes	No
Dry Creek Tribal Camp	This is on river left just past the dry creek mouth. This is on tribal land and requires a tribal permit as well as a fee. Vehicle access to this camp as well.	Yes	No
Luelling Camp	Small camp on river right	No	No
Grassy Camp	Several campsites on river right with some shade.	No	No
Stangland Camp	Several camps with good shade on river right.	No	No
Camp	A small camp on river right.	No	No
Camp	A couple of campsites on river right.	No	No
Frog Springs Camp	A couple of camps on river right.	No	No
Basalt Camp	A couple of camps on river right. This camp has better shade options than the previouse few.	No	No
Trout Creek Camp	A large vehicle loop camp.	Yes	No
Redside Camp	River right	No	No
Lower Redside Camp	Larger camp with some shade on river right.	No	No
South Junction Camp	This is car accessible only. River uses would have a very long carry to get to this camp. This camp could make a decent base camp for day trips and fishing on the deschutes though.	Yes	No
Wingdam Camp	3 campsites on river right.	No	No
Whiskey Dick Camp	Several large campsites on river right. Some shade and some sandy beaches.	No	Yes
Upper Whitehorse Camp	2 or 3 medium camps on river right	No	No
Middle Whitehorse Camp	4 camps on river right.	No	No
Lower Whitehorse Camp	Several large camps on river right. Some shade and a toilet here.	No	No
Davidson Flat Camp	Large camp with decent shade and a pit outhouse.	No	No
North Junction Camp	Another large site on river right with good shade and a toilet. A semi sanding beach at medium to lower flows too.	No	Yes
Dixon Camp	River left. You are now past tribal land on river left. 3 small sites here.	No	No
Rainbow Bend Camp	River right. 2 or 3 camps for medium sized groups. Outhouse and some shade.	No	No
Lower Rainbow Bend Camp	Smaller camp on river right.	No	No
Camp	2 small secluded camps (other than the railroad noise) on river left.	No	No
Hole in the Wall Camp	Another 2 smaller camps on river right. Toilet is a short walk down the BLM access road.	No	No
Windy Flat Camp	3 or 4 large camps on river right. Access to a pit toilet.	No	No
Upper Dant Camp	A single large group camp on a peninsula on river left. Toilet.	No	No
Buckskin Mary Camp	several camps on river right. Just below the buckskin mary rapid.	No	No
Four-chutes Camp	River right. Many camps located on river right from Buckskin Mary rapid down to here.	No	No
Johnson Flat Camps	This camp and another one just a little downstream are on river left. Toilet access.	No	No
Devils Canyon Campground	This is a vehicle and river accessible fee camp by the BLM. River right.	No	No
Oasis Campground	A BLM fee site on river right with river and vehicle access.	Yes	No
Blue Hole Camp	River right. Fee campground with toilets. Also a fishing platform here which is also wheelchair accessible.	Yes	No
Oak Springs Camp	River right. Fee campground, vehicle access, toilet, tables, garbage service.	Yes	No
White River Camp	A nice camp on river right. BLM fee area with some facilities.	Yes	No

Name	Type
Dant Ferry	Historical Place
Lady Frances Mine	Historical Place
Deschutes Club Gatekeepers House	Historical Place

Deschutes River - Warm Springs to Sherars Falls

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