| Description:
The Upper North Santiam has rarely visited
play spot at the Blowout Creek Bridge just above Detroit Lake.
Depending on the water level there can be anything from a couple of
small spinning waves to a 6 foot tall
breaking wave and wide ledge hole at high water.
A couple of hundred yards above the bridge is
a set of ledges that can churn up some waves and or holes depending
on the water level. The eddy service for these waves is always a
little on the thin side except at medium to low water level when
reliable access to the wave below the ledge can be gathered.
Also there is a nice blunt and spin wave
immediately below the bridge at high water. This waves with perfect
eddy service is known as the consolation wave because this is where
paddler unable to handle the big upper ledges end up playing at high
water. |
| Eddy Service: At high water the eddy
service for the big wave is available only by bush-whacking in your
boat through the forest to one of the shoulders of the wave where
you can surf out onto the pile. The upper most ledges has no
reliable eddy service. But the spin and blunting wave below the
bridge has perfect eddy service. At
medium to low water there is easy access to the play features from
the good eddies. A strong flush might mean that you will have to
walk back up to the eddy. |
| Water Levels:
1500-2500 cfs:
There are a couple of decent spinning waves below the big ledge
upstream from the bridge.
2800-4000 cfs: There is a good spinning
and blunting waves with eddy service.
5000+ cfs: The consolation wave below the
bridge is in and the play below the big ledge upstream of the bridge
has questionable eddy service to the big wave through the brush.
|
| Gauge: North Santiam River at Boulder
Creek. |
| Season: Rainy Season, October to May
after periods of heavy rain or rapid snow melt. |
| Difficulty: Below 2,800 cfs may be
fun for beginners and intermediates learning to surf. Above that it
be fun for all levels of paddlers. |
| Driving Directions: Just East of the
town of Detroit on Oregon Highway 22 turn off at the Blow out road
exit and proceed to the bridge and park at one of the turn outs. |
| Closest Town: Detroit, Oregon |
| Closest Services: If you need gas,
food or anything else Detroit should have what you need. |
| Other Local Attractions if the play isn't
in: There is good Mountain Biking in the nearby area or go and
soak a Breitenbush Hotsprings. |
| Closest Camping: During the summer
months local camp grounds tend to be crowded because Detroit Lake is
nearby. Beyond the lake there may be opportunities for camping at
undeveloped sites in the forest. |
| Local's Tips: The stuff at Blowout
isn't that great and eddies are a pain. Head else where if you are
looking for good play. |
| Local Kayak Shops: Alder Creek and
Next Adventure are shops to hit in Portland. |
