Coquille, S. Fork
2. The Gem(Coquille River Falls to 16-Mile Bridge)
| Difficulty | V |
| Length | 0.8 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 300 fpm |
| Gauge | South Fork Coquille River at Powers, or |
| Flow Rate as of 41 minutes | 112 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | September 21, 2022 |
River Description
Gauge: Snowmelt vs. rainfed makes a notable difference on this run. 2,000 cfs is a good medium flow. 1,000 cfs during the winter is not really enough water to justify the trip.
Stream: A remote and pristine canyon with a dozen class V drops packed into a section of less than a mile known as The Gem. The gradient of the first section is 600 fpm.
Read a description at Oregon Kayaking.
There is a more current write up from a low water trip at Wheels and Water.
At medium flows around 2,000 cfs, this run fully lives up to the title of 'The Gem.'
Access: The take-out and gauge location are at a bridge 16 miles upstream of Powers (42.719242, -124.036273). Views from this bridge can be seen in the photo gallery.
To get to the put-in from this bridge, drive uphill, then take the first left. In about two miles you will reach the discretely marked trailhead to 85-foot Coquille Falls, 100 yards after crossing a bridge over Sru Creek (where an eye catching, runnable slide is visible upstream from the road). Walk the short distance down the trail to the base of Coquille Falls and put in wherever is clever.
River Features
Put-in
Take-out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportOn January 21, 2018 I did this run with Joseph Hatcher at around 2,000 cfs on the Powers gauge. I'd call this a good medium flow. There were moving pools between the rapids, and the rapids were nicely padded without pushing too hard towards places you didn't want to be. Everything was scoutable and portageable if needed. We portaged the last 10 yards of an island a few rapids in. And we should have gone left at the following island. We found the run fully lived up to the title of 'The Gem' at this flow.
Note the '+' mark on the pylon. This was a good medium flow.
About 1200 cfs on the gauge while rainfed, a low flow.
View from the take out bridge, looking upstream.
This was a great first time flow, moving pools existed between all the steeper sections.
Looking upstream from the take out for The Gem at a medium flow.
The SF Coquille @ Powers gauge was reading ~ 2,000 cfs
Photo taken March 30, 2017
Shawn Haggin paddling an early rapid on The Gem, at a low runnable flow.
2/19/11 about 1,200 cfs on the Power gauge.