Wickiup Dam to Pringle Falls Campground
Oregon – US
- Class
- I
- Length
- 9 Mile(s)
- Gradient
- 7.7 FPM
- Put-in elevation
- 4,281 Feet
- Take-out elevation
- 4,261 Feet
- Typical season
- January to December
Current Flow
Visual or unknown
No gauge reading is available for this run — check it on site.
- Primary gauge
- VISUAL Gauge detail & alternatives
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 500 |
| Average | 1,500 |
| Maximum | 3,500 |
Recommended use
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Canoeing
- SUP
- Packrafting
- Fishing
Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.
Flow history — last 6 days
No gauge history recorded in the last 6 days.
Photos
No photos added for this run yet.
Description
The Deschutes starts off as a winding flatwater run until it reaches Wyeth Campground. Below here is a class IV rapid that is a recommended portage. Accidents and deaths have occurred here so if you do decide to float Pringle Falls be sure to scout it and set safety appropriately. Most floaters take out at Wyeth Campground.
If you are looking to get some floating and fly fishing in, this is a great section.
Wickiup flow releases can be had here: http://www.usbr.gov/pn-bin/graphrt.pl?wico_q
Rapids
| # | Rapid | Class | Recommended flow | Description | Scout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pringle Falls | IV- to IV | 500–3,500 | The Deschutes narros as it crosses under the pringle falls loop road. This is where Pringle Falls rapid starts. This rapid is long and continuous getting harder as you near the falls portion of the rapid. You should highly consider portaging this rapid unless you really know what you are doing. There have been deaths here. Proceed with caution below Wyeth Campground. |
Best scouting is probably from the bridge and above the mini-gorge. |
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put-In | Tenino Access | 4,281 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | Just below the wikiup dam on the old wikiup road is a small primitive access point on a sharp right bend of the river. |
| Take-Out | Wyeth Campground and Access | 4,261 Feet | Yes | No | No | All Vehicles | A small campground is located on river left aboe the Pringle Falls section. |
| Take-Out | Pringle Falls Campground and Access | 4,217 Feet | Yes | No | No | All Vehicles | This is a good take-out or put-in option for the upper deschutes. |
Camps
| Camp | Fee | Beach | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bull Bend Campground | No | No | This is a full service camp that offers tent, RV/trailer and river camping. Access from the river is on river left. |
Permit
No permit is required, or permit info hasn't been added yet.
Fishing
No fish species have been associated with this run yet.
External Links & Resources
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Community Run Notes
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