Ken Pitta on his way to nice air loop in Baby Clover at 2.7 ft   photo: ©Fields

T grinding the second wave at Clover near 5.2 feet   photo: ©Fields

The Located in the first rapid below Mom's Pie are a versatile set of ledges. This set of ledges create surf waves from low summer water levels all the way up to the flood stage. Clover Point is one of the best known play spots in Oregon and is a favorite of local paddlers for the wide range of features it creates depending on the water level. 

Clover provides good eddy service to all the features it creates. The eddy for Baby Clover is a little more work that the regular river-right eddy but it still provides good access to the features at hand.

Below 2.6 feet:  There are some lesser micro features that will let you spin and blunt even in the Summer months.

2.7 feet to 3.3 feet:  These are the levels when Baby Clover is fun to play. It can be a tricky hole to cartwheel in, but why cartwheel when you hit loop after loop. Baby Clover form in the river-left part of the rapid and has a eddy along the bank on river left.

3.5 feet to 4 feet:  In the main part of the rapid a couple of waves have formed.

4.5 feet:  The wave in Clover have grown larger and taken on a big water feel.

5 feet:  By 5 feet there are some really fun big waves to surf. Getting back up the eddy starts to be a bit of work.

Above 5.5 feet:  Epic Big Wave surfing! Air blunts and other dynamic moves are the rule rather than the exception.  Possibly Oregon's best waves.

McKenzie at Vida.

Best during the rainy season and snowmelt.

Intermediate on up. Good eddy service but it might be hard for novice paddlers to get on the waves at higher water levels. Watch out for the Bridge footing and for wood and other debris that can hang up on it swimming at high water wouldn't be a good idea.

From I-5 take the Springfield, OR exit and make your way to highway 126 and head East. Drive until you reach mile marker 33 and then get ready to turn into the Silver Creek Boat Ramp. The Silver Creek Boat Ramp is your take-out. From the Silver Creek Boat Ramp drive East a few minutes through Nimrod, OR to Mom's Pies (mile marker 34.5 ?). Mom's Pies allow kayakers to use their parking lot, so be discreet when changing. Put-in across the highway and float down to Clover the first rapid below Mom's Pies. Make sure to not leave valuables in your car at Silver Creek as it frequently the sight of car break-ins. Many paddlers chose to park their cars at nearby turnouts rather than at the Silver Creek or hitch hike to Mom's Pies rather than leaving a shuttle vehicle.

It is also possible to walk back from Clover to Mom's Pies. Be careful not to trespass on your way back to the highway. It is also possible to take out at the bridge (river-left is better) just downstream from Clover and walk back from there to Mom's Pies as well.

There are gas stations along the highway and Springfield is just a half hour away, Mom's Pies is at the Put-in.

There is always something in on the McKenzie.

There are numerous campsites upstream from Clover Points and Neils Point, some with Hot Springs.

Get there early on the weekends to avoid the afternoon crowds.