Sandy
3. Marmot Dam site to Revenue Bridge(Sandy Gorge)
| Difficulty | III-IV |
| Length | 6.2 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 40 fpm |
| Gauge | Sandy River Near Marmot, or |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 912 cfsmedium runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | February 5, 2026 |
Projects
The removal of Marmot Dam on the Sandy River was completed in 2007, restoring the river to a free-flowing state. American Whitewater continues to advocate for projects that enhance public enjoyment of the river through ongoing conservation efforts and established public access. The Sandy River Gorge has the feel [...]Read More
River Description
Widely known as the Sandy Gorge, this section is beautiful, enjoyable at a wide range of flows, and close to Portland. The riverbed is dynamic, with rapids changing during every flood, and wood obstacles that shift on a daily basis. Visitors are advised to seek current local information rather than relying on this writeup.
...OLD beta (pre 12/19/25): It has been run down to 200 cfs, but most people prefer it over 800 cfs. The run is most difficult in its teens (1300-1900 cfs) and turns more playful above 2,000. NEW observation: river has more water relative to Marmot gauge than before. Maybe 300cfs? The gauge has been recalibrated so this new situation is not going to return to the old one.
Parking at the takeout (at intersection of Kubitz and Ten Eyck Roads) is limited and the locals have not been happy about boater use. If you are coming here with a large group, please meet in the town of Sandy, dress out, and consolidate boats and paddlers to the minimum number of vehicles. This way you can drop off your takeout car on your way by and minimize time spent and number of cars left. Please avoid worsening the mud problem. Please minimize nudity at the takeout parking. Build bridges not bonfires.
There are several possible put-in locations. Some boaters used to launch downstream from the log jam by parking at the first large pullout on the right when Big Sandy Dam Road levels out. This requries lining your boat down a steep section of trail, and most folks don't use this access anymore. If you continue driving to the next major pull-out marked by concrete blocks (after the gate which stays open) there is an old road down to several short trails that access the water above the log jam by ~1/4 mile. If you drive all the way to the end of Big Sandy Dam Road there is a park that historically has been open only in summer. If able to launch there it adds a mile of enjoyable class II-III to the run. If the gate is locked, you could carry your boat down t
...River Features
Marmot Recreational Site Put-In
Former Marmot Dam site now administered by Bureau of Land Management as a day-use area. The river access is on river right downstream of the foot bridge. The dam was located immediately upstream of the foot bridge.
'64 Log Jam Rapid
This rapid is often portaged on the right due to the logs anchored into the river bed that have persisted since the 1964 flood.
Alternate Access
An alternate access point that is often used when the gate to the Marmot Recreation site is closed that puts you in at the start of the main gorge and just downstream of the '64 Log Jam Rapid. It requires a short hike in and scramble down a steep bank.
Boulder Rapid
This rapid is full of undercuts and sieves, and the slots on the right collect wood. It is a tricky scout and can be run both left and right depending on flows, wood, and your skills. Most people run it in the channel immediately left of the giant Boulder. A recent change to this rapid occurred with the November 2022 high flow event of 25,000cfs and a new boulder completely blocks the left line. This makes this challenging rapid harder and more dangerous.
Rasp Rock Rapid
This rapid starts with a steep, sliding ledge that is usually run center. About 50m further downstream, the river constricts and is forced between a couple large rocks. Large holes can develop at some levels. Generally run starting left-center to miss a hole on the right and then moving center or right into the pool at the bottom. There are a couple good eddies to scout the bottom on the left in between the ledge and the bottom constriction.
Drainhole Rapid
This dangerous class IV rapid has a nasty undercut on the left that is harder to avoid at low water. To the right of this undercut is a line of large boulders forming narrow slots across the width of thc channel that collect wood. The water accelerates down a steep ramp toward the undercut and the goal is to hit the eddy on the right at the bottom of the ramp. The farthest right slot around the line of boulders at the bottom is largest and most often run.
Revenue Bridge Rapid
This rapid is recognized by Revenue Bridge that comes into view. The rapid is much bigger than it looks from the bridge and has two parts: a messy boulder pile at the top and then a big water finish. The boulder pile often collects wood, so scout from left or right (or both) to detect blockages. You really can't see the routes from shore, so the best way to find a route is follow someone who has been there recently. The portage is on the left. This rapid is constantly changing.
Revenue Bridge Take Out
Access is within the bridge right of way. Parking is extremely limited and local landowners have complained about the congestion--plan to meet and consolidate vehicles somewhere in the town of Sandy and be quick and efficient with your load and unload. Don't block driveways or tear up the shoulder.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportOn April 29 the USGS finally applied the shifted rating table to the Marmot gauge, and the foot to CFS conversion is closer to what we knew pre-Dec25-flood. On the USGS page the shift was applied retroactively, so there's no visible jump, but on the AW gauge page the jump is visible, from 1300 to 875 CFS.
We ran the Gorge on May Day. The log jam was still passable on either side (we ran left), and you can scout from either side but most folks portage right.
At Boulder drop the RIGHT line is 100% clogged, no go, *death on a stick*. The old center left line is no good at this flow either because the new rock diverts 70% of the flow into the cave/sieve under the house sized boulder in the middle of the river. We snuck far left under the cliff. At this flow hardshells get stuck in the first pinch but monkey their way through, then the rest is boatable. The sneak feeds directly into a sieve and you must hit a tight eddy R to avoid it, then meander through a rocky eddy until you can peel out to run the bottom ledge, which is junkier than it used to be.
(The featured photo of Boulder drop with the blue wavesport kayak shows the right line without wood and the center left line without the new rock: pretty picture but not current.)
Rasp rock was GTG down the right.
Drainhole still has a large log stuffed in Door#2 with its root ball in the current. Swimming there might well be the end of you. We all ran the 'sneak' by driving Right off the main flow and into the shallows. Scout left, portage right.
At Revenue we ran the top 'bar fight' section in the center right slot, there's a new hole in there. You head toward the wall then break left and pick a side of the sharp rock to go on. It's manky and dangerous, but we all made it right side up. This top section is not visible from either shore: scouting doesn't help unless you have a drone. The portage is on the left. The bottom part has a clean line down the R edge, scout left.
This section used to be a total favorite of mine and really, it still is. That said it is NOT a good 'step up' run because it is sievy, undercut, and always seems to have dangerous wood. This run is for people with solid class IV or better skills that just want to play.
I just scanned the AW ratings of the rapids and based on yesterday's run the ratings are questionable. Revenue is certainly not a 4-, it's more like a 4+. Anyway, judge for yourself, don't trust a website or a guidebook, because this run is constantly changing.
Based on yesterday's run and a study of the Marmot gauge, I'd say old flow parameters are out the window: we're starting fresh. They just recalibrated the gauge so it's not going to go back to the way it was.
Yesterday's gauge reading of 660 used to be what I would consider too low, but yesterday we were able to complete the run without portages AND there were some great playspots.
The log jam goes on left or right, just don't screw up. The first class 3+ is different--going down the left is 4ish now, making a move to the far right after the hole keeps it at a 3. Boulder drop is passable for hardshells by going far left under the cliff, then cutting right before the sieve to get back in the main flow and run the bottom drop which has a stouter hole than before. There is no good option for inflatables. Rasp rock has eased up with a splash-free line down the right. Drainhole has multiple possible lines and a huge root ball stuck in Door #2 which would kill a swimmer. Door #3 is open and more fun than before.
Revenue Rapid at low water is still a steep, narrow, shallow luge ride down to the wall on the right, after which you must pick a side of the sharp rock. Again, there is no good option for an inflatable at low water: don't even try. The photo already posted here is of the bottom drop of Revenue which does not explain the situation in the top part. I will share a photo of the rock-infested top part.
For a paddler with the right skills this is a playground. For a boater in the wrong craft or without the requisite skills, this gorge deserves its reputation and should be avoided.
Boulder drop still blocked, our group managed to portage a raft over the boulders river left but it was a bit hair raising getting in there due to potential consequences, the process however was pretty straight forward and kayaks were able to make sneak on far left.
The Marmot gauge is currently wrong, it read about 370, but we found it had about twice as much water. A better correlation right now is to subtract the Bull Run flow from the Sandy below Bull Run, at least until the rains come and side creeks start distorting that calculation. As reported on social media previously, a large boulder has fallen into the normal left line at Boulder Rapid creating a serious hazard. At this flow, 80 to 90% of the flow deflects right off of this boulder and into the undercut. I understand that at higher flows a few people have successfully negotiated this, but at lower flows it's unreasonable and possibly fatal to attempt. The left slot on the right route is currently open, the narrow slot just to the right has wood in it that apparently is hidden by higher flows so keep that in mind. The portage on the left seemed a little trickier than usual due to some extra rockfall. If the portage gets blocked by wood - which has happened - and the right slot gets blocked by wood - which happens - you could find yourself with a serious dilemma. Years ago, someone got cliffed out on the right bank after a swim and had to be rescued by ropes from above after a helicopter attempt knocked a rock down on top of him and broke some bones.
Ran this section 5/30/22 at 3000 cfs. Really fun section. Flipped the raft at boulder rapid and swam through rasp rock. Drainhole was super vicious looking, and we did the portage on the right bar. The team decided to portage Revenue, as they weren't ready for a repeat swim. Had a blast, and definitely going to do again.
We ran this yesterday at about 370 and had a great time, plenty of water still. There is a good sneak route down the left bank at '64 Logjam so no need to portage. The rapid about 1/4 mile above Boulder with the skinny chute on the far left next to the big overhang has changed so you don't have to pick-up your boat to get to it. Also, there are two clean routes if you run the main line, go figure. Boulder is fine, you just need to be assertive to stay on-line if you run left. Stay far left as you make the last drop as there is a rock in the middle of the landing off the boof ledge. There is some new wood at water level on the right line, will try to take a better look at it this week. Low water makes the right run less intimidating if the slot next to the big boulder is clear. Drain Hole was pretty friendly, water is not pushing into the center boulder like it has been and all the wood is gone. One of our group ran Upper Revenue and did well and there was a choice of routes left/right/center at Lower Revenue. A fine way to spend a warm summer day!
New Rocks in Revenue! A sharp rock has fallen off the cliff on the right and is in the main flow where the water runs along the wall at the exit of the top part of the rapid. At 950 cfs this rock is flush with the water's surface and hard to see. There is some new wood also. The new rock and wood require that the paddler be in control and make one more move to the left to successfully run the rapid. There is another new rock blocking the old 'Dog Leg' route. The hazard quotient of Revenue Rapid has increased another notch. This is a dangerous rapid, hard to scout but with a good portage on river left. Also, the wood in Drainhole is still there. It is runnable but many people are portaging due to the risk. Also, at 900cfs it took us 1 hour to float down to Dodge Park to takeout, and there is a fine route between Dodge and Marmot making the shuttle about the same length as shuttling to Revenue. Good option.
Hey yall, just wanted to share: a large tree was hung up in Drain hole as of a week ago. It extended from door #3 (see above beta) out into the main flow. Water that day was 2100. Hard saying if the drop in water would cause it to fall out, and if it did would it make it through the corner. We felt it was an obvious portage, with a high likelihood of getting pushed into the tree and low reward if you did avoid it. Give it a look from river right as left side scouting appeared 'possible'. We noted no other wood issues... well, of course the giant Log Jam ;-)
It is still advisable for groups to rendezvous in Sandy (at the Safeway or similar) to consolidate into the minimum number of vehicles and change into boating garb, in order to minimize time spent and nudity at the takeout parking area at the mouth of Kubitz road.