Clackamas
2. Collawash River to Three Lynx Power Station(Killer Fang Section)
| Difficulty | III-IV |
| Length | 8.6 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Clackamas River Above Three Lynx Creek, or |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 1120 cfsrunnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | December 3, 2025 |
Projects
The Clackamas River is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most beloved whitewater rivers—renowned for its clear water, lush forests, and a mix of Class III runs ideal for intermediate paddlers along with tributaries that offer challenging Class V whitewater. The river is also part of the National Wild and [...]Read More
River Description
This run is on par for difficulty to the more commonly paddled Three Lynx section. However, the major rapids are almost all formed from old landslides, with sieves and boulder hazards existing in places, giving the run a more serious feel. Despite the hazards, the outstanding scenery, sense of isolation and fun rapids make this run well worth doing.
After about a mile of flat water the first rapids appear. An alternate put-in shortly below Riverside Campground avoids this flatwater. These are a couple nice Class 3 boulder gardens to get warmed up and then boaters arrive at the first significant rapid of the run, Hole in the River. At most water levels Hole in the River has a technical lead in to a steeper drop between boulders at the bottom. At high water, the boulders at the bottom turn into huge holes. The hole on the right is particularly fearsome but can be sneaked on the far right or boaters can thread the needle through both holes down the middle. There is a good recovery pool at the bottom of the rapid.
After Hole in the River the rapids resume their Class 3 character until Alder Flat. Alder Flat is about 5 miles into the run and can be tough to recognize for first-timers. It is a big pool just around a right corner from Alder Flat Rapid which is a steep, fast rapid withmost of the water flushing down the right channel that ends amongst some big boulders. There is a primitive Forest Service campsite on the right bank which has a trail that leads to Hwy. 224 about a mile from the river. There is also currently a huge landslide on the right just downstream of the pool. Just around the corner from Alder Flat is an obvious rapid called Drop Stopper. This one is worth a scout on the left as the river slams its way between some pretty big boulders. There are multiple lines but look carefully for any logs that might have wedged in the narrow slots at the bottom.
After Drop Stopper is a rapid with great waves that ends in a beautiful pool with a
...River Features
Put In
Boaters can put-in at a number of places near the confluence with the Collawash River. Two Rivers day use area on the right just upstream of the bridge over the Clackamas has a couple easy places to launch. There is a rough trail on the left immediately across the bridge that also works.
Alternate Access
There is a trail down to the river and then some logs to go over to reach a nice gravel bar launch area.
Killer Fang
Killer Fang is an extremely challenging and dangerous rapid that rarely, if ever, gets run. Most of the rapid is formed by a huge slab of rock that fell off the cliff on the left and created a dangerous underwater sieve on the right. The left cliff is also undercut. Most of the current pushes into the sieve on the right and is sucked deep underwater before emerging on the dowstream side of the rock. The remaining current going left creates a powerful hole against the undercut left wall. Needless to say, strongly consider the risks before even thinking about attempting this rapid. 99% or more of boaters choose the portage through the large boulders on the right and put-in in the pool below the rapid.
The Sieve
The Sieve is preceded by a long rapid with a powerful right line and a technical left line. The left line gets you to the scouting eddy easier as the right line pushes quickly downstream into the congested right side of the Sieve rapid. There are two scouting/portage eddies on the left. The line on the Sieve involves punching a hole through the initial slot on the left and then deciding which of 3 slots to choose to get back to the main part of the river. All 3 slots have their difficulties and pros/cons so scouting from the eddies above the rapid is highly suggested if you aren't familiar with the rapid.
Take Out
Take out at the Sandstone access area on the left just upstream of the Highway 224 bridge.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportRiver was hit fairly hard by fire in fall 2020. Lots of wood high up and on banks but no wood hazards in the river. Rapids are all the same as usual. A good strategy at the Sieve seems to be to run the far left slot as usual but drive right to exit. This is different than the usual strategy of catching the left eddy at the bottom of the slot and then trying to ferry to the right to exit.
Log jam about 200' upriver of Killer Fang. Portage right is your best bet.
LOG JAM IS GONE AS OF 2016
Note the river left undercut and the nasty hole that resides there. Get speed and paddle hard to avoid getting stuck.
This is the start of this epic rapid. Run river right and prepare to paddle river left fast.
The Collawash joins the Clackamas at the start of
the Killer Fang section.
Put-in on the upstream river left side of the FR 63
Bridge across the Clackamas River.