Just another cartwheel at Grassy at 12ft.   photo: ©Fields

Landing a big loop at grassy at 11 ft.   photo: ©Fields

Named for the large well kept lawn just across the river, The Grassy Lawn Hole is one of Oregon's most loved play spots. Most paddlers down at Lake Creek will spend a good part of their day at The Grassy Lawn Hole. The Grassy Lawn Hole is one three main eddy served play spots on the run. At times waiting for your turn in the eddy seems to take forever especially when half the people in line are professional kayakers. Grassy will let you hit just about any hole move you can think of and even throw down some big blunts.

The Eddy Service is about as good as you could wish for below twelve and half feet. Above twelve and half feet the eddy service keeps getting thinner and thinner as the water level rises. Remember that the eddy is generally full of other paddlers especially on the weekends so try and be nice while you are waiting in the often crowded eddy.

9 feet to 10.5 feet: The hole is there but shallow.

10.5 to 13 feet:  These are the best levels for Grassy.

Above 13 feet:  The hole is still there but the eddy keeps getting thinner.

Siuslaw River at Mapleton.

Rainy season October to May.

Anyone with a roll will probably have fun here.

For the run, make your way to the town of Mapleton, Oregon on Oregon Highway 126 between Florence and Eugene. From Mapleton head upstream on Oregon Highway 36 toward Triangle Lake, along the Siuslaw River to the Sleepy town of Tide, OR (5.4 Miles). The modest riverside park and boat ramp is the take-out for Lake Creek. From Tide continue to drive upriver past the Mill and town of Swisshome. to the boat ramp at Indiola, this is the typical put-in.

You can also skip all the waves and rapids above the Grassy Lawn Hole and drive almost right to it and park and play. Just out of Swisshome (upstream) on Oregon Highway 36 turn on Stagecoach Road and cross Lake Creek on the bridge. Once across the bridge turn left into the fishing access and drive upstream to the first of the large turn-outs in the fishing access. From this turn-out you can look downstream to the Grassy Lawn Hole on river-left and the grassy lawn for which its is named on river-right. Put-in at the turn-out and take-out at The Stagecoach Road Bridge and walk the one third of a mile back to your car. Be aware the gate to the fishing access is vigilantly locked every day at dark.

Mapleton, OR should have everything you need otherwise head back to Eugene.

Head to the McKenzie or hike and creek on Sweet Creek just down the road.

There are some undeveloped campsites near along the river. However the weather is generally miserable when the play is in.

Get there early on the weekends to avoid the afternoon crowds. At 10.5 feet to 11.5 feet you can catch The Grassy Lawn, The Mill Wave and Red Hill Wave all in at the same time.