Yamhill, South
Grand Ronde to Sheridan
| Difficulty | II-III |
| Length | 12 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 10 fpm |
| Gauge | South Yamhill River Near Willamina |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 102 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | February 14, 2026 |
River Description
Mostly moving flat water, there are a few class II rapids between Grand Ronde and the Hwy 18/22 junction, along with a small surf wave or two. The section with the most action is from about 1 mile above the Hwy 18/22 junction to Hampton Park in Willamina where a handful of bedrock shelves create small rapids and surf waves at higher flows, along with some brush islands to slalom through. There is a small pull out and path to the water kayakers can use here: 45.05054128361372, -123.50889516122247
Plywood Falls is a ledge drop below Hampton Park in Willamina that can be scouted on the left, more easy floating continues down to Sheridan. There is a small rapid with nice front surf waves shortly upstream of the Mill Creek confluence.
Full description inSoggy Sneakers.
River Features
Put In
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a report2026-01-25: Priscilla and I paddled the run from the park and ride to Willamina Park at just over 200 cfs. This was too low for most paddlers, but we live close by and were able to get down. There was an ok stern squirt spot at the Willamina Creek confluence. The take out trail has debris down from flooding in December.
2025-12-07 at about 1250 cfs.
My wife and I paddled from the park and ride at the Hwy 22/18 junction to a roadside access at the fire district boundary sign (45.09259394003943, -123.4413844740381).
There were some easy surf spots in the first bedrock section, a couple allowed for spins. There was one channel on the right blocked by logs but it was easy enough to go center through some brush patches.
Plywood Falls was easy to read and run center-left, and was just a small ramp into a green wave. There were a couple foam piles in the middle of the river. Scouting would have required pushing through poison oak along the left bank.
Below Plywood Falls it was mostly flat until a short wave train above the Mill Creek confluence with a nice green surf wave on the left with eddy access. There was a smaller wave upstream, and a couple other waves with piles on river-right but they did not have eddy access.
A group of us paddled from the Fire Hall Rd bridge over Rock Creek to Hampton Park in Willamina 10/26/25 at a flow of about 750 cfs. This was enough water, could have gone a little lower. The run is mostly moving flat water with a couple surf waves and a few class II's, the best surf spot was in the oxbow section when the river is north of Highway 18. We had no wood portages, and minimal debris to deal with. The most interesting section is the last two miles, which has more small rapids than the rest of the run combined. I have not run between Willamina and Sheridan but a passerby mentioned a ledge drop adjacent to the old sawmill, he called it Plywood Falls.
Willamina Creek confluence in Huddleston Pond Park on the eastern side of Willamina.