Warm Springs to Sherars Falls

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Oregon – US

Class: III to III+
Length: 63 Mile(s)
Gradient: 13 FPM
Put-in elevation: 1,376 Feet
Take-out elevation: 733 Feet
Typical season: January to December

Current Flow

3,670 CFS

Gauge height: 2.63 FT

Reading from Jul 10, 2026 9:45 PM

● 0.00/hr (12h) ● 0.00/hr (24h)

Running

Hit some laps

Primary gauge: DESCHUTES RIVER AT MOODY, NEAR BIGGS, OR Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗ NOAA river forecast ↗

Recommended levels

Minimum	2,500
Average	4,000
Maximum	9,000

Recommended use

Kayaking
Rafting
Canoeing
SUP
Packrafting
Fishing

Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.

Flow history — last 6 days

Photos

No photos added for this run yet.

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Description

This is a very popular section of the Deschutes (known as the lower deschutes). Raft overnighters or multi-day trips are possible here as well as day runs. Day runs typically are done around Wapinitia Creek or Maupin to Sherars Falls take out on Sandy Beach.

Permits are required for boaters so check the permit section for that info.

The season on the Lower Deschutes is typically year round due to mutch better flows than up river where irrigation sucks up lots of water. This section has a little bit of everything for all recreation users. Fishing, rafting, kayaking, sup'ing, camping, etc. This makes for busy days on the river during the summer months. Hitting the river in shoulder seasons can be fun. Even winter runs are possible if you can catch warmer weather spells.

For the boater this is a good beginner to intermediate stretch. Many people have rowed or paddled their first rafts here. Other's have caught their first surf wave here in a hardshell.

See the access points to help determine what putins or takeouts make sense for your desired trip.

Rapids

#	Rapid	Class	Recommended flow	Description	Scout
1	Upper Trout Creek Rapids	II to II+	2,500–9,000	Follow the main tongue just right of center for the deepest channel. Rocky at lower flows	Read and run
2	Lower Trout Creek Rapid	II to II+	2,500–9,000	Just below the upper rapid the river makes a right hand bend with a small island towards the left side of the river. Most of the flow follows the right channel. Here there are mainly waves and some sleeper rocks you should be heads up for. The left hand channel can be doable by smaller craft wanting to explore.	Read and run
3	Upper Whitehorse Rapid	II to II+	2,500–9,000	A small wave/drop rapid signals it's time to get out on river right to scout white horse rapids just below.	Read and run
4	Whitehorse Rapid	III+ to IV-	2,500–9,000	This is longer rapid that requires manuevering throughout. Enter the rapid just right of center. Scouting is recommended since a swim here could result in some bangs.	Scout river right, well above the entrance to the rapid. Stay clear of the railroad tracks as trains run here often.
5	Buckskin Mary Rapid	III to III+	2,500–9,000	A fun wave train at most levels. Follow the main tongue. Kayakers may find some surf play and eddy access here at the right levels.	Read and run
6	Four-chutes Rapid	II to II+	2,500–9,000	Some easy class II water	read and run
7	Lower Four-chutes Rapid	II to II+	2,500–9,000	Stick towards river right and follow the bulk of the water flow.	Read and run
8	Wapinitia Rapid	III to III+	2,500–9,000	Large rock in the center of the river with possible routes on each side. Most straight forward side is on river right. River left can be a fun wave and hole punch.	Read and run
9	Boxcar Rapid	III to III+	2,500–9,000	Waves and a drop over a diagonal ledge.	Read and run or scout from the road on river right when setting the shuttle.
10	Surf City Rapid	II to II+	2,500–9,000	Straight forward run.	Read and run
11	Oak Springs Rapid	IV- to IV	2,500–9,000	This is kind of a strange rapid. There are little islands of lava flows scattered throughout. Lava is typically sharp rock so scout and make a clean run to avoid swimming here.	Scout from river right on the road.
12	White River Rapid	II to II+	2,500–9,000	Read and run
13	Upper Elevator Rapid	II to II+	2,500–9,000	A fun wave train	Read and run
14	Lower Elevator Rapid	II+ to III-	2,500–9,000	More wave trains. This rapid has a few rocks on each side of the rapid	read and run

Access

Type	Name	Elevation	Camping	Water	Boat ramp	Vehicle access	Description
Put-In	Warm Spring State Park Access	1,376 Feet	No	Yes	Yes	All Vehicles	A large, nice boat ramp, parking and facilities are here. Day use only here. No camping. This is just off Highway 26 above the bridge where it crosses the Deschutes. Not far below the dam.
Put-In	Trout Creek Access	1,299 Feet	Yes	Yes	Yes	All Vehicles	This is a good take out option for anglers fishing from warm springs. You can also put in here to cut out some flatwater and class II water and get started with more rapids just downstream.
Put-In	Nena Access	926 Feet	No	No	Yes	All Vehicles	A dirt ramp and small day area parking lot on river right. Many anglers that user rafts or floatboats put in or take out here.
Put-In	Long Bend Access	919 Feet	Yes	No	Yes	All Vehicles	Ramp on river right. Also some fee camping here.
Put-In	Harpham Flat Access	902 Feet	Yes	No	Yes	All Vehicles	Fee campground, vehicle access, toilets, tables, garbage service / recycling, trailer parking, and boat ramp. Boater check-in station and visitor information center staffed during summer months.
Put-In	Wapinitia Access	907 Feet	Yes	No	Yes	All Vehicles	This is a good access to put in on if you just want to run the rapids. This is also a good take out for fishermen floaters. Fee campground, floatboat fishing take out, vehicle access, toilet, tables, garbage service.
Put-In	Maupin City Park Access	833 Feet	Yes	Yes	Yes	All Vehicles	This is a full service access point. Probably one of the best you've seen anywhere on any river. You name it and this park has a service for it. Only downfall is it's fee area.
Take-Out	Sandy Beach Take Out	733 Feet	No	No	Yes	All Vehicles	This is a mandatory take out on river right. If you float below here you will end up running the class VI Sherars Falls. You don't want to do that. This is an easy ramp to make so pay attention here and take out.

Camps

Camp	Fee	Beach	Description
Mecca Flat Camp	Yes	No	River right. Vehicle access as well on Mecca Road. This isn't far from the warm springs put in. There is a primitive boat ramp and river access here as well. Not a lot of shade here.
Dry Creek Tribal Camp	Yes	No	This is on river left just past the dry creek mouth. This is on tribal land and requires a tribal permit as well as a fee. Vehicle access to this camp as well.
Luelling Camp	No	No	Small camp on river right
Grassy Camp	No	No	Several campsites on river right with some shade.
Stangland Camp	No	No	Several camps with good shade on river right.
Camp	No	No	A small camp on river right.
Camp	No	No	A couple of campsites on river right.
Frog Springs Camp	No	No	A couple of camps on river right.
Basalt Camp	No	No	A couple of camps on river right. This camp has better shade options than the previouse few.
Trout Creek Camp	Yes	No	A large vehicle loop camp.
Redside Camp	No	No	River right
Lower Redside Camp	No	No	Larger camp with some shade on river right.
South Junction Camp	Yes	No	This is car accessible only. River uses would have a very long carry to get to this camp. This camp could make a decent base camp for day trips and fishing on the deschutes though.
Wingdam Camp	No	No	3 campsites on river right.
Whiskey Dick Camp	No	Yes	Several large campsites on river right. Some shade and some sandy beaches.
Upper Whitehorse Camp	No	No	2 or 3 medium camps on river right
Middle Whitehorse Camp	No	No	4 camps on river right.
Lower Whitehorse Camp	No	No	Several large camps on river right. Some shade and a toilet here.
Davidson Flat Camp	No	No	Large camp with decent shade and a pit outhouse.
North Junction Camp	No	Yes	Another large site on river right with good shade and a toilet. A semi sanding beach at medium to lower flows too.
Dixon Camp	No	No	River left. You are now past tribal land on river left. 3 small sites here.
Rainbow Bend Camp	No	No	River right. 2 or 3 camps for medium sized groups. Outhouse and some shade.
Lower Rainbow Bend Camp	No	No	Smaller camp on river right.
Camp	No	No	2 small secluded camps (other than the railroad noise) on river left.
Hole in the Wall Camp	No	No	Another 2 smaller camps on river right. Toilet is a short walk down the BLM access road.
Windy Flat Camp	No	No	3 or 4 large camps on river right. Access to a pit toilet.
Upper Dant Camp	No	No	A single large group camp on a peninsula on river left. Toilet.
Buckskin Mary Camp	No	No	several camps on river right. Just below the buckskin mary rapid.
Four-chutes Camp	No	No	River right. Many camps located on river right from Buckskin Mary rapid down to here.
Johnson Flat Camps	No	No	This camp and another one just a little downstream are on river left. Toilet access.
Devils Canyon Campground	No	No	This is a vehicle and river accessible fee camp by the BLM. River right.
Oasis Campground	Yes	No	A BLM fee site on river right with river and vehicle access.
Blue Hole Camp	Yes	No	River right. Fee campground with toilets. Also a fishing platform here which is also wheelchair accessible.
Oak Springs Camp	Yes	No	River right. Fee campground, vehicle access, toilet, tables, garbage service.
White River Camp	Yes	No	A nice camp on river right. BLM fee area with some facilities.

Permit

No permit is required, or permit info hasn't been added yet.

Fishing

No fish species have been associated with this run yet.

Points of Interest

Dant Ferry Historical Place

Lady Frances Mine Historical Place

Deschutes Club Gatekeepers House Historical Place

External Links & Resources

No external links or resources added yet.

Community Run Notes

No community notes added yet.