Lower Deschutes (Sherars Falls to Columbia River)

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Oregon – US

Class: III to III+
Length: 44 Mile(s)
Put-in elevation: 679 Feet
Take-out elevation: 172 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 run is another great overnight or day run. There are a few remaining rapids before hitting the mighty Columbia and camp and fishing options abound.

The total run is around 45 miles but you can easily break that up into smaller chunks with many access options. A BLM access dirt road follows the river for most of its length here.

The river usually has good flows year round. The lower elevation here allows for winter paddling.

You will need a Boater Pass to float here. Checkin at Maupin for passes or more information.

Rapids

#	Rapid	Class	Recommended flow	Description	Scout
1	Buckhollow Rapids	II	2,500–9,000	Read and run class II
2	Trestle Hole Rapid	II+ to III-	2,500–9,000	Just below the railroad trestle bridge is an island that splits the river. Let channel is basic class II. Right channel is a little tougher with a hole.	Read and run
3	Wreck Rapid	III to III+	2,500–9,000	The river drops over a ledge here. Best route is to take the first wave train down from right to left. This rapid is named after a train collision that occurred here in 1949
4	Rapid	II	2,500–9,000	A straight forward rapid	Read and run
5	Macks Canyon Rapid	II	2,500–9,000	If you stay on the left channel this is mainly some small waves.
6	Island Rapid	II to II+	9,000–—	2 small islands split the river into 3 channels as the river widens slightly here. This creates a shallow entrance into 1 of the 3 channels. Most right channel is probably the calmest with the most left channel the most turbulent. Any route is not going to be harder than class II water.	Read and run
7	Bull Run Rapid	II to II+	9,000–—	A wave train	read and run
8	Jet Pump Rapid	II+	9,000–—		read and run
9	Harris Rapid	II to II+	9,000–—	Some rock dodging and waves	Read and run
10	Washout Rapid	III to III+	9,000–—	Large waves and a hole just right of center. Easiest line is probably just left of center down a fairly large V and wavetrain.	Scout river left if you wish.
11	Gordon Ridge Rapid	III to III+	9,000–—	A set of drops as the channel narrows. Yield to upcomming jetboat traffic if they are commited to their line.	Read and run
12	Colorado Rapid	III to III+	9,000–—	A short straight forward rapid	Read and run
13	Knock Knock Rapid	II	9,000–—	This is an area with pretty turbulent currents and eddylines. This can flip unsuspecting kayakers. Rafters can float over the boils without too many issues.
14	Rattlesnake Rapid	III	9,000–—		Read and run
15	Moody Rapid	III to III+	9,000–—	Take the left channel as you approach the take out. The channel narrows and creates a class III rapid.

Access

Type	Name	Elevation	Camping	Water	Boat ramp	Vehicle access	Description
Put-In	Buckhollow Access	679 Feet	No	No	Yes	All Vehicles	Below Sherar's Falls is the Buckhollow Access put in. This is a day use area with lots of parking and facilities.
Put-In	Pine Tree Access	627 Feet	No	No	Yes	All Vehicles	This is a day use area with a dirt ramp.
Put-In	Beavertail Access	554 Feet	Yes	Yes	Yes	All Vehicles	A small dirt ramp, camping access from river and by car, facilities and drinking water. BLM Fee area
Put-In	Macks Canyon Access	469 Feet	Yes	No	Yes	All Vehicles	This is a good take out or put in option to break up the lower deschutes. Macks Canyon has a campground as well as historical information about the Indians that used to occupy the area. This is also the beginning of a trail that heads downriver. This is a fee area.
Take-Out	Heritage Landing State Park Access	172 Feet	No	Yes	Yes	All Vehicles	Right above the confluence with the Columbia on river right is a nice paved ramp and day use facilities.

Camps

Camp	Fee	Beach	Description
Twin Springs Camp	Yes	No	An open camp accessible from the river or by car. Toilet and not much shade here. BLM camp fee.
Camp	No	No	River left medium sized camp.
Camp	No	No	Large camp on river left.
Camp	No	No	Smaller to mid sized camp on river left.
Jones Canyon Camp	Yes	No	River right. Vehicle and river access. Full service fee based camp.
Camp	No	No	A so-so camp on river left. No shade.
Camp	No	No	River left camp
Rattlesnake Canyon Camp	Yes	No	This camp isn't very river friendly. River right. Fee area.
Camp	No	No	A large camp on river left. Good eddy pool with sandy beach makes this a nice camp even if the shade is limited.
Camp	No	No	A small camp on river left.
Camp	No	No	River left
Talbot Camp	No	No	River left medium sized camp with some shade.
Upper Dike Camp	No	No	River left. Medium sized camp with decent shade
Dike Camp	No	No	River left camp with a toilet.
Sixteen Canyon Camp	No	No	Large camp on river right. Toilet.
Homestead Camps	No	Yes	On river right on the river bend are a couple of large camps with good shade, a beach and a toilet.
Nooky Rock Camp	No	No	Good camp on river left.
Airstrip Camp	No	No	River left just north of the dirt airstrip. Toilet.
Camp	No	No	river right
Camp	No	No	2 or 3 primitive camps on river right
Lockit Camp	No	No	A couple of large camps with good shade and a toilet on river left.
Camp	No	No	River right
Harris Camps	No	No	A couple of larger camps on river left. Toilet
Green Light Hole	No	Yes	River left just after the rapids. Near the railroad tracks
Fall Canyon Camp	No	No	Larger site on river right. Toilet
Camp	No	No	river left. No campfires, dogs or camping while cattle present here.
Camp	No	No	River left. No campfires, dogs or camping while cattle present here.
Camp	No	Yes	River left. No campfires, dogs or camping while cattle present here.
Deer Spot Camp	No	No	Mid sized camp river right.
Bedsprings Camp	No	Yes	2 good sized camps on river right. Good shade and toilet. A small beach at the first camp.
Hot Rocks Camp	No	No	River right camp with good shade.
Deschutes Camp	No	No	Small camp on river left not far below washout rapid.
Free Bridge Camp	No	No	River left.
Kloan Camps	No	No	Several small camps on river left. This area can also be reached by 4WD on the free bridge road.
Bathtub Camp	No	No	River right, decent shade.
Camp	No	No	This is one of many small camps on river right in this area. You can find camps here from bathtub camp all the way down to commisioner camp.
Game Commission Camp	No	No	River right.
Upper Shade Bar	No	No	River left.
Lower Shade Bar	No	No	River left. Toilet
Gordon Ridge Camp	No	Yes	Located on river right about halfway down the rapid. Good beach with not a lot of shade.
Five Trees Camp	No	No	River right. Toilet.
Wagonblast Camp	No	No	Small camp on river left with toilet access.
Colorado Camp	No	No	Large camp on river right. Shade and pit toilet.

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

Ferry Canyon Historical Place

Railroad Water Tower Historical Place

External Links & Resources

No external links or resources added yet.

Community Run Notes

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