Tuesday, October 11, 2022

North Fork of the Crooked River Solo Float - May 30-31, 2009


North Fork of the Crooked River 

Me at the put in at Deep Creek campground Ochoco National Forest, Oregon.

My son Neil helped with the drop off of my car at the 
takeout and dropped me off at the put-in.

On the river! 
Scenery just south of put-in.


Lay down barbless cow fence in the on Forest Service land.

Approaching Upper Falls. The portage is on river right. 
I unfortunately landed on river left!

Upper Falls viewed from downstream. Shear 30' drop along the river here doesn't allow for a portage here or anywhere within a reasonable walking distance.

Put-in after portage around Upper Falls. Three trips ~35 minutes.

Upper Falls panorama.

River Scenery.

Size 13 feet and 16" tubes.

More scenery.

Rhyolite Pillars.

Narrow valley cut into the volcanic rock along the river. Many nice camp spots.




Looking for a campsite.

Camp a few miles above Lower Falls.
End of May still has no fire restrictions.

Second morning on the river, fog on camera lens.
Lower Falls. I beached on river right. The portage is on river left!

Lower falls and wood debris.

Below Lower Falls after portaging on river left. ~45 minutes with three trips.



The river character and geology changes downstream as the canyon
 opens up to agricultural ranch land.

I saw many cows along this stretch of the river ~60 head in all.

Hills in the distance. Still about 5 miles from the takeout.

The river actually picks up the last few miles from the takeout.

Photo looking upstream after passing under State Hwy. bridge
 at the confluence with the main stem Crooked river.

Looking for take-out.

Takeout.

Old highway bridge at takeout.

One last view of this rivers' segment that's sometimes
referred to as a mini Deschutes River-in-character float.

Google map of float from put-in to takeout.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Family Float on the Deschutes River - Big Eddy Run

On July 14, Steve, Rachel, David, Sandy and Katey all went white water rafting down the Deschutes River - Big Eddy run just southwest of Bend, Oregon.  Luckely it was half off Tuesday, a big savings that all of the rafting companies offer for local river trips.   We were bused from Bend to the put-in, a fifteen minute ride, and floated for around an hour.  Fun was had by all and everyone didn't mind getting wet as it was sunny and in the the 90's. The whole trip only took two hours which everyone agreed was just the right amount of time.  We then lunched along the Deschutes River at Farewell Bend Park in Bend before going antique shopping in Redmond.