Grande Ronde
C. Hilgard Junction State Park to Riverside City Park
| Difficulty | I-II+(III) |
| Length | 8.7 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Reach Info Last Updated | May 11, 2025 |
River Description
This is a nice easy float from Hilgard to Riverside Park. Numerous class II rapids, but mostly just fun boogie water. This stretch will get bony once the snowmelt decreases, so best time to catch it is late April through early June.
The rapid after the N 2nd Street Bridge is bony even at higher flows, so be careful. An alternative takeout is river right at the N 2nd Street Bridge (45°20'30.9'N 118°05'58.6'W), which is just upstream from Riverside Park.
26fpm, HAZARDS: strainers, logs, few large rapids
River Features
Put In
Day use parking lot at Hilguard Junction. Easy put in.
Riverside Park Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportSeveral of us went out to catch some sun and snow melt. Three packrafts, one duckie, one half slice, and two dogs. This stretch of river is pretty chill with a few exciting II+ rapids, especially if you are in a spicier boat. We took out at N 2nd Street Bridge instead of Riverside. The rapid just under and downstream of the bridge looked especially bony, even at higher flows. Water was cold but the sun and drysuits kept us warm.
Even at this flow, the river was shallow in places. I did not want to have to roll my boat in this water as the river bottom has some sharp rocks.
Gauge at Troy, OR far upstream read 6.4ft.
As of 5/11/25, no strainers or hazards were encountered on the river.