Santiam, Little North, Oregon, US

1. Battle Axe Creek to Gold Creek (Opal Creek)

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
LITTLE NORTH SANTIAM RIVER NEAR MEHAMA, OR
usgs-14182500	400 - 20000 cfs	IV-V	01h47m	237 cfs (too low)
	Uncertain of best range for boating. Please help your fellow boaters! Add a comment or report. Gauge is way downstream, thus is only an indication of flows.

River Description

See Opal Creek Headwaters run and Upper Opal Creek descriptions on Oregonkayaking.net for more information on what's up in this drainage.

These hike-in runs can be paddled as an addition to the Gold Creek to Three Pools run.

Logistics: From Highway 22 mile 23.2 turn onto Little North Santiam Road (this turn is at a flashing light on the west side of the Highway 22 bridge across the North Santiam). Head up this road paralleling the river and at mile 16.9 where the road comes to a Y turn right onto Forest Road 2207. Follow this road down 0.7 mile to 3 Pools which is the take-out. To reach the put-in head back up to the Y and this time take the left fork onto Forest Road 2209. Follow this road to the gate at mile 21.1. From here you will hike in to the Merten Mill historic site (put-in for Upper Opal) or continue on up past Jawbone Flat and above the confluence with Battle Axe Creek. Jawbone Flat is about 3 miles up the trail and the location of the Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center which is a great place to spend the night.