Oregon Kayaking's mission statement reads: "This non-profit, independent site is meant to be a source of information about PADDLING and PRESERVING our precious rivers and creeks." The primary way I do this is by demonstrating an indisputable record of use, which is important when it comes time for hydroelectric licensing and re-licensing. I try not to be too political on this site, but we need to remain vigilant because the need for power will only increase over time. I strongly encourage all paddlers to join American Whitewater; this superb non-profit organization works hard to protect Canyon Creek and countless other rivers and creeks across the country.

CLARK COUNTY WATER RIGHTS FOR CANYON CREEK, WASHINGTON
CONTROL NUMBER	BUSINESS/PERSON NAME	PRIORITY DATE	PURPOSE	SOURCE TRS QUAD
S2-28278	WALTER MUSA JR.	09/12/1991	POWER	CANYON CREEK - T05 N/R04 E-05

The Canyon Creek down river race is still alive and well today, and Canyon Creek flows healthy and strong from October through May, except in very dry years. Paddlers from around the world have paddled and continue to enjoy this classic, endangered run.

When arriving at the put-in for Canyon Creek, paddlers often check the flows on the downstream creek-left bridge piling, which is known as 'The Unit'. Generally a good first-time flow is level with the base of the unit. The creek becomes class V above about three inches the unit, and has been run as high as 30 inches above the unit ( see chart at the end of this report for unit measurements and flow correlations ).

If you put in at the bridge, the first major rapid is Swizzle Sticks ( Aka Entrance ), named for the logs that used to extend down from the wall into this rapid. Scout right and get ready for your first big hole of the day..

Mike Novak runs Swizzle Sticks, or Entrance drop.
This rapid changed in the flood of 2006, when the logs were pushed downstream.
photo by Brian Vogt

Kris Wilson blasts through Swizzle Sticks during an outlandishly high floodstage run ( at 30 inches above the unit ).
The logs that gave this rapid its name ( visible in the photo ) were washed away in the 2006 flood.
photo by Jim Pytel

Below Swizzle Sticks the gradient cools off briefly, allowing paddlers to enjoy the scenery. Just downstream from here is a bridge high overhead, where bungee-jumpers are often seen on the weekends.

The first serious drop on Canyon Creek is the appropriately named 'Terminator', which appears just downstream of the high bridge. You can scout Terminator from just upstream of the drop on either side and set safety on the right. Terminator has a big, powerful hole that has mauled lots of paddlers. Drive left and boof hard to avoid the hole, which gets worse the farther right you go..

Mike Novak fires up Terminator. photo by Brian Vogt

Shaun Riedinger squares up on Terminator photo by Brian Vogt

If someone swims Terminator, there isn't a lot of recovery time before the next drop, so be sure to fish out any swimmers quickly! Below Terminator the walls close in and there is a fun slide that is somewhat difficult to scout though you can eddy out at the lip and peek over the edge.

Below this drop things calm down again, but things get going again with Thrasher Prelude and Thrasher. Scout these drops on the left, and pay particular attention to the hole which gives Thrasher it's name..

Shaun Riedinger runs Thrasher Prelude.
photo by Brian Vogt

Pete Giordano runs Thrasher.
photo by Nate Garr

Below Thrasher the walls peel back a bit and the creek tumbles through a boulder garden with a big hole at the bottom, scout and/or portage on the left side. Below this boulder garden the creek mellows as you approach the 'Drop Zone', where the creek roars over four large drops.

The first falls in the drop zone is known as 'Big Falls', which has a convenient scouting platform on the right side ( this drop is also sometimes referred to as 'Big Kahuna' by the most recent generation of paddlers ). This 17-foot drop is about as clean as you could ask for at most flows, but it gets burly at high water.

You can run this drop any way you like, but most take the nice boof on the right side. Be sure to scout this drop carefully, because there are undercut walls on either side, especially on the downstream creek-right side. Paddlers who chose to portage Big Falls will have to do a throw-and-go into the pool below as the creek is totally gorged-out at this point.

Here's a couple of photos of Big Falls/Big Kahuna from various angles..

Chuck Taylor drops into Big Falls.
photo by Mike Long

Si Wiles ( visiting from the UK ) fires up the Big Falls.
photo by Mark Rainsley

Mike Novak runs Big Falls, viewed from the side. The undercut walls are clearly visible here.
photo by Brian Vogt

Below Big Falls are some smaller rapids leading up to the grand finale, Champaign and The Hammering Spot. Scout these two drops on the left. Champaign is a benign ten foot falls that drops into a moving pool that moves quickly towards The Hammering Spot just downstream. Paddlers generally boof Champaign in the middle, then drive hard right to avoid the hole in the Hammering Spot..

Nate Garr airs it out at Champaign. The Hammering Spot is clearly visible on the bottom creek-left side.
photo by Mike Long

Kris Wilson below the Hammering spot during a floodstage run down Canyon Creek ( 30 inches above the unit ).
photo by Jim Pytel

Chuck Taylor and Tony Crawford run Champaign and The Hammering Spot in the 'Topo Duo' class at a recent Canyon Creek downriver race. photos by Brian Massey

Below the Hammering Spot is another big horizon line marking Tobys, the first recommended portage. Toby Scarpella drowned running this ledge on March 7th, 2000 and there have been several other close calls. There are invisible rocks in the landing that pose a severe entrapment risk, so I highly recommend portaging this drop on creek left.

Bob Lee and friends below Tobys. The portage ledge is visible on creek-left.
photo by Brad Bassi

Just below Tobys the creek comes crashing to a stop in the slackwater of Merwin Reservoir. From here it is about a mile or so of flatwater slogging to reach the take out.

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While there is no direct internet gauge for Canyon Creek, the USGS internet gauge EF Lewis at Heisson correlates nicely with the foot gauge at the put-in bridge. Canyon Creek runs October through May, except during drought years. The fact that this creek runs for eight months out of the year combined with its proximity to Portland makes it one of the most-paddled creeks in the Northwest.

The general rule for flows is anything below the unit is low, and anything above the unit is high. If the water is level with the unit the creek is at a medium level, which roughly corresponds with 1,200 on the East Fork Lewis gauge.

EAST FORK LEWIS AT HEISSON	DESCRIPTION	INCHES ABOVE OR BELOW THE UNIT	CLASS
500 CFS	MINIMUM RUNNABLE FLOW	MINUS 12 INCHES	IV
700 CFS	LOW	MINUS 6 INCHES	IV+
1200 CFS	MEDIUM	0 INCHES	V-
1600 CFS	MEDIUM-HIGH	PLUS 3 INCHES	V
2000 CFS	HIGH	PLUS 6 INCHES	V
FLOODSTAGE	INSANELY HIGH	UP TO PLUS 30 INCHES	V+

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A map with a red dotted line showing the normally run section of Canyon Creek.
Be sure to hug the left bank on the paddle out across the reservior.

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The Google map from Portland to Amboy, the nearest town. The drive time from downtown Portland to Amboy is about 55 minutes.

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For directions to the put-in and take-out, as well as other info, pick up the second edition of the bible, Jeff Bennetts 'A guide to the Whitewater Rivers of Washington', a book no serious Northwest paddler should be without. You can pick this book up at your local paddling shop, or on amazon.com.