Trip Report: Whitewater Kayaking the Bull Run River
When: 12/14/2018
Location: Bull Run River
Conditions: Clear morning. 48 Degrees, 1300cfs
Duration: You can do this run in 20 minutes or take 2 hours.
Difficulty: class 3. Or class 4 above 2000 cfs.
Usefull links: www.americanwhitewater.org
The Full Report:
Bull Run is my favorite "kayak before work" run in Oregon. It’s really close to Portland (in Gresham) and can be run quickly if you want it to be. The take out is located conveniently at dodge park, where the Bull Run River converges with the Sandy River. The put in is at the "Bull run powerhouse". Do not go in any fenced in areas!
This run has slalom gates on it which can be lowered if you know the right people. What makes this run so fun is all the eddies you can catch. You really can spend hours enhancing your skills if you have the time! Don't forget to stop and take it all in. There are many beautiful little caves on the side of the river you can access with your boat as well as small cascading waterfalls coming from other little creeks.
My favorite rapid on this run is Swingset, which comes at the end. At low flows it’s a hole to be punched head on, and at high flows it can turn into an epic 10ft tall wave that will have you grinning from ear to ear! Also don't miss the best surf wave on the run right before the takeout on river right. You could spend quite a while here!
All in the Bull Run is a Portland classic that is good to go at a variety of different flows. Get out there and experience it for yourself!
The Full Report:
Bull Run is my favorite "kayak before work" run in Oregon. It’s really close to Portland (in Gresham) and can be run quickly if you want it to be. The take out is located conveniently at dodge park, where the Bull Run River converges with the Sandy River. The put in is at the "Bull run powerhouse". Do not go in any fenced in areas!
This run has slalom gates on it which can be lowered if you know the right people. What makes this run so fun is all the eddies you can catch. You really can spend hours enhancing your skills if you have the time! Don't forget to stop and take it all in. There are many beautiful little caves on the side of the river you can access with your boat as well as small cascading waterfalls coming from other little creeks.
My favorite rapid on this run is Swingset, which comes at the end. At low flows it’s a hole to be punched head on, and at high flows it can turn into an epic 10ft tall wave that will have you grinning from ear to ear! Also don't miss the best surf wave on the run right before the takeout on river right. You could spend quite a while here!
All in the Bull Run is a Portland classic that is good to go at a variety of different flows. Get out there and experience it for yourself!