Santiam, Middle

Gauge:  The gauge only reads in feet, and this section is not commonly done so data points are few.  That said, after a handful of recent trips the consensus seems to be 4-4.5 feet is the goldilocks level, not too high, not too low.  Runs just under 4' were still considered worthwhile, and a run at 3.5' and dropping slowly was considered worth doing if you've not done it before.   If you do the run please report in the comments. If flows are below 3.5' use the lower put in unless you are ok with scraping.   A group who camped at the put in bailed when they woke to flows spiking over 5' and there were no eddies to be seen.  Yet another local paddler did the run while it was dropping from 5.2-5.0 and felt the level was a perfect medium-high.

Here is a link showing inflow to Green Peter Reservoir, if you subtract the Quartzville flow it is possible to get a ballpark on what is flowing down the Middle Santiam.

This is a unique and remote wilderness run in the heart of Oregon's Cascades.  The first day is shorter than the second, with a creeky feel and a few scouts.  Just below the put in bridge is the OK Coral, a class V-ish gorge, that some paddlers will choose to put in below that by working their way down Lake Creek, or bushwhacking in off a road on river left.  This small road heads towards Holman Creek from the main shuttle road less than half a mile upstream of the put in bridge.   The rest of the first day is fun read and run III-IV with the exception of Geomorph, a landslide rapid scouted and portaged right, and Shelter Falls at the confluence with Bachelor Creek.  The Shelter Shedd is on river left in the vicinity of the powerful, short Shelter Falls.  Intermediate paddlers will enjoy this upper section by putting in below the OK Coral, and portaging around t

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