| Description:
For few years after the floods of the late
1990's Trestle Hole stayed in year round and provided local paddlers
the opportunity to hone their hole riding skills. Trestle Hole
occupied the entire river-right channel of the Deschutes below the
railroad bridge. As the years crept by, the sediment moved back in
below the ledge that creates Trestle Hole and each year more and
more water was required to bring the hole in, until the hole was
rarely seen and a sweet wave appeared in its place. Since the advent of planing hull kayaks, Trestle is now much better known as a killer
green wave, that is ultra smooth to surf and nearly surge free.
Though during very rare high water events, Trestle can still become a
hole though it takes a LOT of water.
Most years Trestle only gets high enough to
become a good wave only once or twice and some years it doesn't even come
in. Thank the upstream dam for dewatering Trestle and the Deschutes, especially in the
spring and for the accumulation of sediment behind the ledge with
the lack of a natural flood and high water cycle on the Deschutes.
Trestle is one of smoothest surge free waves
that you will ever surf. Keeping in mind that having a fast boat
(8ft?, Tekno?) might make surfing Trestle a lot more fun and less
effort.
***A
Boater Pass is required of all paddlers year round on the Lower
Deschutes River |
| Eddy Service:
There is near perfect eddy service from the
river-left side of the hole (island side) and good eddy service on
the river-right side of the river. If you choose the
river-right eddy (short boats) you will have to surf across a
shallow hole to reach the coveted green pocket in the middle of the
wave. If you choose the right side you will have to surf across a
low angle green wave (and you may not make it across in a short
boat) to reach the steep green pocket with the blunting shoulder. |
| Water Levels:
9,000 cfs: Minimum to see the wave these
days and you still may want to bring a long boat to insure a good
session. Gets better the higher it gets.
Above 16,000 cfs: This level
at which Trestle became a hole (stopper?). |
| Gauge:
Deschutes River at Moody, OR. |
| Season:
Winter and Spring Run-off, during periods of
heavy rain are the only time that the river will get high enough to
bring Trestle in. |
| Difficulty:
When it is a wave (basically all the time)
Trestle is fun for everyone from beginners on up. |
| Driving Directions:
Located 3 miles downstream of Shears Falls
on the Deschutes River Road. Park at the bottom of the hill just
upstream from the rail road bridge (Trestle) and follow one of
several trails down to the water. To
get back to your car there are three options: 1: Eddy hop back up
(maybe with a short carry) 2. Hike your boat up one of the foot
trails back to road. 3. Paddle downstream to Pine Tree river access
point and either walk back or set up shuttle. |
| Closest Town: Maupin, OR |
| Closest Services: If you need gas,
food or anything else Maupin is about half an hour away. |
| Other Local Attractions if the play isn't
in: Drive ten miles down stream and play at Beaver Tail or check
out the features in the left channel at Trestle. |
| Closest Camping: There is a
campground about a mile downstream from Trestle and many others
along the river. |
| Local's Tips: Don't speed on the
gravel road unless you like to get stranded with flat tires. |
| Local Kayak Shops: Kayak Shed in Hood River. |
