| Molalla — Turner Bridge to Glen Avon Bridge™ © |
Class III-IV
8Miles
Avg Gradient 55 fpm
Max Gradient 0 fpm
River Mapplet
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GPS/GIS |
Maps |
| Zip Code : |
97042 |
General Area |
| Put In Longitude : |
-122.39058 |
Putin |
| Put In Latitude : |
45.08729 |
| Take Out Longitude : |
-122.488 |
Take Out |
| Take Out Latitude : |
45.084 |
| County : |
Clackamas |
Shuttle
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Gauge Information (Professor Paddle updated levels from MOLALLA RIVER NEAR CANBY, OR at 1/31/2017 9:18:38 AM)
| Gauge |
Forecast |
Height |
Current Flow |
Authority |
Physical Update |
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MOLALLA RIVER NEAR CANBY, OR
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n/a |
11.62 |
768 cfs
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USGS - NWIS |
1/31/2017 9:00:00 AM |
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Minimum Recomended Level: 1000 cfs Maximum Recomended Level: 4000 cfs
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AccessMultiple access spots for longer or shorter runs. |
Putin DetailsTurn to cross the river at the Glen Avon bridge and then turn right onto S Molalla Forest Road. After several miles, the road again crosses the river at Turner Bridge. There is a pullout about 1/4 mile past the bridge, the put-in. |
Takeout DetailsTo reach the put in drive South on Dickey Prairie road to Glen Avon. Go past the turn off to the bridge a few hundred yards and look for a pullout with access to the river. Alternatively, there is an easier access spot for rafts about 2 miles downstream at a small turnout. |
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Other IssuesThe gauge is a long ways downstream so actual flows will be lower than the gauge shows. The actual level can vary a lot depending on freezing levels, rain vs. snowmelt, etc. 1000 is lower runnable for kayaks. Around 2,500 is generally a good medium flows for kayaks and rafts. |
Fun FactsAmazing narrow basalt canyons |
Run Description [Season: Rainy]This is the famous Three Bears Section. Named for the 3 bigger rapids: Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear. It's a technical creeky class 3 - 3+ at lower flows and is big water with several pushy class IVs at higher flows. You can also link this run up with the runs upstream and downstream for longer runs.
The 3 Bears rapids and Goldilocks can all be road scouted on the way up (and is recommended since wood is sometimes in play).
Rapids:
After the put-in you have a few small warm up rapids before the first big rapid, Papa Bear (3+ to 4) comes up. Papa Bear is a long boulder garden with a sheer wall on river right with 3 distict sections. After Papa, a mile or so of easier rapids leads to Mama Bear (IV). Mama Bear starts with some lead in holes and waves before going though a narrow slot between lauge boulders followed by more big boulders/holes which lead into an amazing narrow canyon (check for wood). At some flows a sneak down the right can be found. After another mile or so a bridge marks the approach to Baby Bear (III+ - IV). At Baby Bear the river splits around a large bedrock island with most of the river going left. Here an intersting ledge drop is backed up by a rock on the left and has an undercut on the right. This is followed by a secondary boulder ledge after a short pool. At medium+ levels you can take the right side of the island to sneak the main ledge. A few miles of easier rapids lead to Goldilocks (3+ - 4) which is one of the more hazardous spots since wood often collects here. The river drops over a steep boulder garden here with a headwall at the bottom followed by house size rocks. At low water, most water is down the left side, while at medium levels you can take the right channel. Goldilocks is followed by Porridge Bowl, a fun class 3. Easier, but fun rapids continue to the takeout.
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