Evan blunting his Tekno at 2.7 feet    photo: ©Fields

Mike Jesperson grinding Neils at 2.7 Feet   photo: ©Fields

Neils is located a few rapids below Clover Point and Mom's Pies. It is a really fun wave to surf and it gives up some big blunts. It is also great to take in a session at Baby Clover and get some loops and cartwheels done then head downstream to a good wave. Neils is a high quality wave with almost perfect eddy service that almost everyone will enjoy.

Neils has a great big eddy that is hard to miss and easy access onto the wave.

2.2 to 2.5 feet: you can still play at Neils. It starts to get shallow and not as dynamic or as big as at the recommended levels and you will probably have it to yourself for good reason.

2.7 feet to 3.4 feet:  These are the best levels for Neils. When you can blunt and backstab at will.

Above 3.5:  The Wave greens out.

McKenzie at Vida.

Best during the rainy season and snowmelt.

This would be a great wave to learn to surf on and it has a real great eddy. All paddlers from experts to beginner should be able to appreciate it.

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 head down stream several rapids below Mom's Pies keeping your eyes on river-left.  Remember to check out Baby Clover in the river-left side of the first rapid below Mom's Pies on your way down to Neils Point.

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.

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.