Deschutes River - Dillon Falls to Mount Bachelor Village (Big Eddy)

See access info here.

This is the recommended putin for the Big Eddy day run.  A little bit of flat water below here will get you ready for the big eddy rapids around the bend. Access is on river left.

The turn off is on Conklin Road.  Then head east to the river.  Since this is a popular run finding the access won't be hard.

This is a parking lot situated above the Big Eddy rapids.  This is mainly trail access for kayakers wanting to get to the rapids for play or for those that want to watch river users run the rapids.  The turn off is on Conklin road and then head east to the river.

Get here by turning east off of Conklin Road.  This is located on river left just above Lava Falls.  If you don't wish to run the falls then taking out here is a good option.  Make sure to stay left so you don't end up running down the irrigation cannal on river right.

A primitive access area between the river and the golf course.  No ramp.

River right is a small primitive access point for the river.  Mainly used by smaller watercraft and fishermen.

River right just downstream of the bridge.  The river trail and park all meetup here.

Get here just off of Reed Market Road.

River left just below the spillway.  Get here by turning off of Colorado Ave.

On the corner of Riverside Blvd and Tumalo Ave.  Access is on river right downstream of Galveston bridge.

This park area is on river left.  This area is also known as Mirror Pond and is a good area for paddle boarding.

Located between two spillway dams.  This park is off of Portland Ave and Wall St on the east side of the river.

Surprisingly located off of 1st street on the west side of the river.  There is a small paved trail here for walk on access.

A small pullout on Division street gives you access just above another spillway.

This is a 15 foot drop with a nasty hole just below it called Dill Hole.  If you decide to run this make sure to scout and set up safety properly.  Most boaters put-in below the falls which is recommended.

Scout, safety and portage on river left trail.

A river wide hole/wave.  Possible sneak routes on far river right for those not wanting to hit the meat.

Scout and portage on river left.

Another hit here.  Towards river left is generally the best line.

Scout or portage from river left trail.

This is the first hole and wave set that starts the Big Eddy section.  Follow the tongue just right of center for the most straight forward run or get wild and try hitting the holes that give the rapid the washing machine names of Kenmore or Maytag.

Scout from Big Eddy day use area or read and run.

The river narrows here and creates a funnel.  Follow the downstream V for a straight forward run.  Watch the laterals at certain levels as you get into the rapid.

Read and run

After running the notch most of the current pushes you into the Souse Hole.  Attentive boaters can sneak it on the left.

The Big Eddy Rodeo is typically held here.

Read and run.

This is a hole in the center of the river that can be skirted on either side.

Read and run

Follow the main tongue down the center (NOTE:  Do not go left into the narrow channel that forms Lava Island.  Stay straight here).  Just below Airplane the river splits again.  Do not get this confused with the first left hand channel.  Once you are below airplane make your way to river left and prepare for Brad's Hole.

Scouting is tough but can be done on river right, near the aquaduct thingy.

At this point you should be more river left than river right.  There is a small brushy section in the middle of the river and most of the flow goes right to a big nasty hole with powerful currents and hydraulics.  You want to stay left and take a narrow channel hugging the left bank.  This bypasses the ugly hole on river right.  However, about halfway down this channel is Brad's Hole which you will have to punch.  So line up and get some speed.

Scouting is hard.  Try to get a view of it before dropping in at Airplane.

Below Brad's Hole the river makes a left hand turn and straightens out.  This begins Canyon Rapid.   This is fairly straight forward boating through here. It's difficulty is it goes for a while and swimming here could get you banged up.

Read and run

After the river pools it narrows again and Lava Island Falls start.  Expect big waves and holes.

Portage or scout on river right by the aquaduct thingy

Huge waves and holes here.  Also watch for a large rock smack dab in the center of it all.  Recommended portage.

Scout and portage on river right.

More big water and hits.  A small island appears and has been known to contain nasty wood and log hazards.  Recommended channel is the left.

Scout and portage on river right.  This area has been unrunnable in the past due to wood.  Please be careful.

After a good section of flatwater, the river picks up again.  Playtime is a series of drops with random rocks placed throughout.  Kayakers can find some fun surf and play in here.

Read and run

Stay left here and hit the drop slightly left of center.  Don't go right and get sucked into the diversion canal intakel. After frist drop beware of overflow irragation flow, 3 pipes shooting water into rapid from river right and "room of doom" river left.

Scout river right, well above diversion canal intake grate, beware diversion grate, do not get near it.

This is a tight small S-curve rapid.  Go with the flow

Read and run

Several hole drops in a row here.

Read and run

The river widens some here and causes a natural logjam trap.  Make sure to scout and be aware of what is downstream of you.

Scout on river right trail.

Take the line towards the right bank and follow the wave train down.  Punch any holes and hold on.

Read and run

Just below the dam is one of the only few sections of rapids in Bend proper.  Kayakers can find a surf or 2 in here if they really want to.

Read and run