Deschutes River - Lower Deschutes (Sherars Falls to Columbia River)

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Description

This run is another great overnight or day run. There are a few remaining rapids before hitting the mighty Columbia and camp and fishing options abound.

The total run is around 45 miles but you can easily break that up into smaller chunks with many access options. A BLM access dirt road follows the river for most of its length here.

The river usually has good flows year round. The lower elevation here allows for winter paddling.

You will need a Boater Pass to float here. Checkin at Maupin for passes or more information.

Statistics

Author
Class	III to III+
Current Flow	4820.0 CFS 12-04-2024 10:45 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	44.0 Mile(s)
Gradient	FPM

Type	Name	Description	Camping?	Water?	Boat Ramp?	Vehicle Access
Put-In	Buckhollow Access	Below Sherar's Falls is the Buckhollow Access put in. This is a day use area with lots of parking and facilities.	No	No	Yes	All Vehicles
Put-In	Pine Tree Access	This is a day use area with a dirt ramp.	No	No	Yes	All Vehicles
Put-In	Beavertail Access	A small dirt ramp, camping access from river and by car, facilities and drinking water. BLM Fee area	Yes	Yes	Yes	All Vehicles
Put-In	Macks Canyon Access	This is a good take out or put in option to break up the lower deschutes. Macks Canyon has a campground as well as historical information about the Indians that used to occupy the area. This is also the beginning of a trail that heads downriver. This is a fee area.	Yes	No	Yes	All Vehicles
Take-Out	Heritage Landing State Park Access	Right above the confluence with the Columbia on river right is a nice paved ramp and day use facilities.	No	Yes	Yes	All Vehicles

Rapid Name	Description	Scout	Class	Recommended Flow
Buckhollow Rapids	Read and run class II		II	Minimum: 2500.0 Maximum: 9000.0
Trestle Hole Rapid	Just below the railroad trestle bridge is an island that splits the river. Let channel is basic class II. Right channel is a little tougher with a hole.	Read and run	II+ to III-	Minimum: 2500.0 Maximum: 9000.0
Wreck Rapid	The river drops over a ledge here. Best route is to take the first wave train down from right to left. This rapid is named after a train collision that occurred here in 1949		III to III+	Minimum: 2500.0 Maximum: 9000.0
Rapid	A straight forward rapid	Read and run	II	Minimum: 2500.0 Maximum: 9000.0
Macks Canyon Rapid	If you stay on the left channel this is mainly some small waves.		II	Minimum: 2500.0 Maximum: 9000.0
Island Rapid	2 small islands split the river into 3 channels as the river widens slightly here. This creates a shallow entrance into 1 of the 3 channels. Most right channel is probably the calmest with the most left channel the most turbulent. Any route is not going to be harder than class II water.	Read and run	II to II+	Minimum: 9000.0 Maximum:
Bull Run Rapid	A wave train	read and run	II to II+	Minimum: 9000.0 Maximum:
Jet Pump Rapid		read and run	II+	Minimum: 9000.0 Maximum:
Harris Rapid	Some rock dodging and waves	Read and run	II to II+	Minimum: 9000.0 Maximum:
Washout Rapid	Large waves and a hole just right of center. Easiest line is probably just left of center down a fairly large V and wavetrain.	Scout river left if you wish.	III to III+	Minimum: 9000.0 Maximum:
Gordon Ridge Rapid	A set of drops as the channel narrows. Yield to upcomming jetboat traffic if they are commited to their line.	Read and run	III to III+	Minimum: 9000.0 Maximum:
Colorado Rapid	A short straight forward rapid	Read and run	III to III+	Minimum: 9000.0 Maximum:
Knock Knock Rapid	This is an area with pretty turbulent currents and eddylines. This can flip unsuspecting kayakers. Rafters can float over the boils without too many issues.		II	Minimum: 9000.0 Maximum:
Rattlesnake Rapid		Read and run	III	Minimum: 9000.0 Maximum:
Moody Rapid	Take the left channel as you approach the take out. The channel narrows and creates a class III rapid.		III to III+	Minimum: 9000.0 Maximum:

Name	Type
Ferry Canyon	Historical Place
Railroad Water Tower	Historical Place

Deschutes River - Lower Deschutes (Sherars Falls to Columbia River)

Oregon-US

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Description

Statistics

Permit Details

Access

Rapids

Camps

Fishing

Points of Interest

External Links and Resources

Community Run Notes

Accidents

Shuttle Companies and Info

Outfitters, Guides and Commercial Companies

Lodging and/or Camping Locations

Camp Name	Description	Fee?	Beach?
Twin Springs Camp	An open camp accessible from the river or by car. Toilet and not much shade here. BLM camp fee.	Yes	No
Camp	River left medium sized camp.	No	No
Camp	Large camp on river left.	No	No
Camp	Smaller to mid sized camp on river left.	No	No
Jones Canyon Camp	River right. Vehicle and river access. Full service fee based camp.	Yes	No
Camp	A so-so camp on river left. No shade.	No	No
Camp	River left camp	No	No
Rattlesnake Canyon Camp	This camp isn't very river friendly. River right. Fee area.	Yes	No
Camp	A large camp on river left. Good eddy pool with sandy beach makes this a nice camp even if the shade is limited.	No	No
Camp	A small camp on river left.	No	No
Camp	River left	No	No
Talbot Camp	River left medium sized camp with some shade.	No	No
Upper Dike Camp	River left. Medium sized camp with decent shade	No	No
Dike Camp	River left camp with a toilet.	No	No
Sixteen Canyon Camp	Large camp on river right. Toilet.	No	No
Homestead Camps	On river right on the river bend are a couple of large camps with good shade, a beach and a toilet.	No	Yes
Nooky Rock Camp	Good camp on river left.	No	No
Airstrip Camp	River left just north of the dirt airstrip. Toilet.	No	No
Camp	river right	No	No
Camp	2 or 3 primitive camps on river right	No	No
Lockit Camp	A couple of large camps with good shade and a toilet on river left.	No	No
Camp	River right	No	No
Harris Camps	A couple of larger camps on river left. Toilet	No	No
Green Light Hole	River left just after the rapids. Near the railroad tracks	No	Yes
Fall Canyon Camp	Larger site on river right. Toilet	No	No
Camp	river left. No campfires, dogs or camping while cattle present here.	No	No
Camp	River left. No campfires, dogs or camping while cattle present here.	No	No
Camp	River left. No campfires, dogs or camping while cattle present here.	No	Yes
Deer Spot Camp	Mid sized camp river right.	No	No
Bedsprings Camp	2 good sized camps on river right. Good shade and toilet. A small beach at the first camp.	No	Yes
Hot Rocks Camp	River right camp with good shade.	No	No
Deschutes Camp	Small camp on river left not far below washout rapid.	No	No
Free Bridge Camp	River left.	No	No
Kloan Camps	Several small camps on river left. This area can also be reached by 4WD on the free bridge road.	No	No
Bathtub Camp	River right, decent shade.	No	No
Camp	This is one of many small camps on river right in this area. You can find camps here from bathtub camp all the way down to commisioner camp.	No	No
Game Commission Camp	River right.	No	No
Upper Shade Bar	River left.	No	No
Lower Shade Bar	River left. Toilet	No	No
Gordon Ridge Camp	Located on river right about halfway down the rapid. Good beach with not a lot of shade.	No	Yes
Five Trees Camp	River right. Toilet.	No	No
Wagonblast Camp	Small camp on river left with toilet access.	No	No
Colorado Camp	Large camp on river right. Shade and pit toilet.	No	No