McKenzie, South Fork
Dutch Oven Camp to Cougar Reservoir (Slide Creek Day Use Area)(S. Fork McKenzie, South Fork McKenzie)
May 19, 2025
| Reporter | Clinton Begley |
| Gauge Reading | 600 cfs at SO FK MCKENZIE RIVER ABV COUGAR LAKE NR RAINBOW OR |
| Flow | Low Runnable |
The upper South Fork McKenzie above Cougar Reservoir stays in quite a bit longer after many of the winter seasonal runs drop out. On this day we had a great low-medium flow that was plenty fluid for packrafts. The reservoir was low so we got some excellent rapids at the end of the run, and the hike out of the reservoir boat ramp was much easier than carrying hardshells. We put in at French Pete Campground and had a nice short run of a few miles after work. Note that the campground hosts do their jobs well, pay the day use fee which is $10 per car.