Santiam Drainage Playspots

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Santiam Drainage

Strategically located about halfway between Portland and Eugene, The Santiam drainages constitute a major portion of the river system in Western Oregon. Unfortunately much of the Santiam Drainages is backed up in dam controlled reservoirs limiting boating options substantially and drowning countless unknown rapids.

Fortunately The Santiam Drainage is home to several good play spots including one of Oregon's better known Summer holes, Spencers Hole.

	Spencers Hole Feature Type: Pour-over hole Range: Best Below 1300 cfs. Closest Town: Gates, Oregon Quality: Three Star (Summer-Fall Hole)
	Blowout Feature Type: Wave Range: 1500 cfs to 8000 cfs Closest Town: Detroit, Oregon Quality: One Star--low water, Two Star--high water.
	Bruno Mt. Run Feature Type: Several different play spots on the run. Range: Best from 2300cfs to 3500 cfs Closest Town: Detroit, Oregon Quality: Three Star
No Picture	Little North Santiam Feature Type: Holes & Waves Range: 1200 cfs to 2800 cfs Closest Town: Mill City, Oregon Quality: Two Star ***More information coming in Feb-04

Other lesser waves or holes in the drainage

There are a couple of waves on the vicinity of the Niagara Rapid (Class V) that offer some summer surfing opportunities below 2500 cfs.
Around 10,000 cfs several standing wave form below the North Santiam Little North Santiam confluence and above the Lyons-Mehema bridge. A least one of these waves has thin eddy service.
The Middle Santiam has at least a couple of good waves and holes along the 2 mile (Class IV) run that is typically released during the late summer.
There is reportedly a hole in the vicinity of Fishermans Bend Park on The North Santiam that has a good wave hole that is supposed to be in between 3300 cfs and 5000 cfs. More information needed on this spot.

If you have information about these or other waves and holes in Oregon that you would like to contribute, please email me at:
nwkayaker@comcast.net