Clackams Drainage

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Clackamas Drainage

Located only an hour East of Portland, Oregon the Clackamas River is truly the city's back yard river. The Clackamas River is home to Bob's Hole, Oregon's best known play spot. Most of the play opportunities provided by the Clackamas are focused in the Bob's Hole Rapid. Where there are hydraulic features to play through a wide variety of water levels. The Clackamas Destination Play Spots are listed below:

Bob's Hole

Feature Type: Wave-Hole

Range: 1550 cfs to 2100 cfs on the Clackamas River's Three Lynx Gauge.

Closest Town: Estacada, Oregon

Quality: Three Star

Crowds: Often crowded especially on weekends

Joe Bob's

Feature Type: Wave

Range: 2700 cfs to 4400 cfs on the Clackamas River's Three Lynx Gauge.

Closest Town: Estacada, Oregon

Quality: Three Star

Crowds: Often crowded especially on weekends

Other lesser waves or holes in the drainage

From 2200 cfs to 4000 cfs (Three Lynx Gauge) there is a large strong wave in the bottom of the Toilet Bowl Rapid a half-mile above Bob's hole. Hard to stay on for long but has good eddy service.
From 1150 cfs to 1500 cfs there is a nice hole in the far river-right chute at the Carter's Bridge Rapid. This feature is known as "Bloody Knuckle Hole".

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