John Day River: Clarno to Cottonwood Bridge, OR

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1 : Clarno to Cottonwood Bridge, OR Adventure Description by Halvor Tweto The is the longest undammed river in Oregon and one of the longest in the United States. From its headwaters to its convergence with the Columbia River just east of the John Day Dam, this river stretches for 281 miles through Central Oregon s arid environment, and 147 miles of the river are protected as Wild and Scenic. Much of the John Day s flow originates at the 9,-foot level, where Strawberry Mountain snowmelt forms the headwaters of the river. Flows diminish significantly by mid-summer after the primary melt and once regional irrigation demands begin in earnest. Low flows can limit floating possibilities to all but the smallest watercraft. May and June are thus the most popular months to float the. Though the flows were just fine for our trip at the end of May, at 1,9 cfs the water was already down to levels more consistent with mid-june floats. Halvor Tweto Highlights ROUTE CHARACTERISTICS: CHARACTER: Gorge GAUGE URL: OVERALL DIFFICULTY: III PARKING PASS: Not Required PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Spring PUT-IN LOCATION (LAT, LONG COORDINATES): Clarno RECOMMENDED MINIMUM FLOW: 4. cfs (11.33 m3/s) SUITABLE FOR: Kayas TAKE-OUT LOCATION (LAT, LONG COORDINATES): Cottonwood Bridge TOTAL DISTANCE: 7. mi ( m) Between Clarno and Cottonwood there are 92 campsites shown on the John Day Recreation Guide published by the BLM. Most of these sites are obvious and obviously good; others would require a great deal of imagination and flexibility from users, either because of size, flows, or vegetation. We ve tried to indicate where more worable campsites exist. Campsites are first-come, first-served, which means you may find yourself cruising the bans at the end of a long day looing for a place to camp, especially during the river s more popular months. Also note that the campsite selection is thin in the ten miles leading up to the Cottonwood Bridge tae-out. Because the few springs along this section of river are intermittent and the river itself receives such heavy agricultural use, you may want to carry your own drining water if you have that option. There is really only one significant named rapid on this stretch, Clarno Rapid. This Class III rapid caused some trouble for a few canoes that launched at the same time as our trip. There is a great scout and portage option on river left just above the rapid. Aside from Clarno Rapid, the river is consistently Class II when there is any whitewater at all. The many splendid features that mae this river one of Oregon s great floating opportunities are really too plentiful to detail. Our highlights: watching Oregon s geological history unfolding around us in the form of elaborate basalt formations, rushing to start a fire (only legal before June 1) as blac clouds rumbled above us, floating by clusters of wary bighorn sheep as they nimbly negotiated the riverside scree, applauding a cloud cluster s almost choreographed performance around a rising moon, listening to children s coyote howls echoing down the canyon, and then to the close imitation erupting bac at us from a nearby but invisible roaming pac. For permits and seasonal regulations for this and other segments of the, chec the BLM website.

2 Getting there (from Portland): - From Portland, tae I-84 E/US 3 E toward The Dalles - Tae exit 14 for US-97 toward Yaima Bend - Turn right onto US-97 S/Sherman Hwy - Continue to follow US-97 S - In approximately 55 miles, turn left onto D St - Tae the 2nd right onto OR-218 E/State Hwy 218 E - In approximately 22 miles turn left into the Clarno boat ramp paring lot

3 Mile 19 to Mile 94, OR 1. mi. 2. mi. MILE 93 TO MILE 66 M 94 Hiing Trail Pac Trail POLE RIDGE M 95 M 96 Butte Cree M 97 TO FOSSIL Long Hollow Cree M 98 Picnic M 99 M 1 Boat Put-in/Tae-out M 11 e M 12 ep De e Cr M 13 Big Lae M 14 Rotten Lae LOWER CLARNO (III-IV) M 15 UPPER CLARNO (III) M 16 Horsebac Riding e t Cre foo Sore M 17 M 18 The Buttes EL 3,2 M TO THE DALLES CLARNO River Distance Marer JOHN DAY FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MOUNUMENT TO JOHN DAY HWY Pea

4 Mile 93 to Mile 66, OR 1. mi. 2. mi. M 66 M 67 Hiing Trail Pac Trail MILE 65 TO MILE 4 PALISADES Jacnife Cany on Cree LOWER JOHN DAY M 68 M 69 M 71 M 7 M 72 Picnic Richmond Rd M 73 M 74 M 75 M 76 HORSESHOE BEND M 77 THIRTYMILE M 78 Boat Pit-in/Tae-out M 8 M 79 M 81 M 82 Thirtymile Cree M 83 M 84 Pine Holl ow Cree M 85 M 86 M 87 Horsebac Riding M 88 POLE RIDGE M 89 x4 M 93 M 92 Pea BASALT RAPIDS (II+) MILE 19 TO MILE 94 M 91 River Distance Marer M 9

5 Mile 65 to Mile 4, OR 1. mi. 2. mi. TO WASCO Hiing Trail Pac Trail Power Lines JS Burres Day Use Area M 4 COTTONWOOD BRIDGE M 41 COTTONWOOD STATE PARK BIG EDDY M 42 M M 44 M 45 M 46 M 47 Picnic M 48 M 51 sc d dr vil oo nw De tto Co M 49 M 5 an yo n Cr ee Boat Ramp M 52 M 54 Rd M 55 ax LOWER JOHN DAY M 53 Aj TO CONDON Ferr ee n Cr nyo y Ca M 56 M 57 M 58 M 59 HOOT OWL ROCK M 6 Horsebac Riding M 61 River Distance Marer Pea M 62 M 65 Powered by TCPDF ( M 63 M 64 MILE 93 TO MILE 66