Kalama

I was one of the lucky few to get invited on a spring Upper Kalama Kampout by this year's permitholders. The river is a delightful with fantastic water quality, good clean rapids, and pretty scenery with cliffs and eagles. The bigleaf maples were just leafing out, and the dogwoods were in full bloom.

We ran it two days in a row at 440 and 420 cfs on the gauge below. I would call this low, but not very low, because there are still multiple clean lines through every drop. You could certainly go lower--not sure what the minimum is. Before the gate was closed we used to come in here without a gauge and run it high--it has a lot less playful features when high. This time I brought my half slice and did not regret it; there were lots of fun surfing waves and moves to make in the rapids.

The URL for the gauge changed last year, and currently it's https://www.licor.cloud/dashboards/public/4c98589d-ef81-4d4f-9573-bc6062d4aae0/true?filters={%22davra-timeselector%22:{%22type%22:%22relative%22,%22unit%22:%22weeks%22,%22value%22:1,%22live%22:false}}.

Double drop is, IMO, more challenging at low water than high. Perhaps this is because folks told me to run right: I found the right side of the ledge terrifying due to perceived pin risk (between R wall and whatever rock is causing the water pile in the middle). On day 2 I ran left and it looks to me like left or center can lead to a good boof and controlled exit. Some folks went straight over the woop-dee-woo (pile of water) in the middle and of those, a high proportion got awesome backenders and more excitement in the hole.

This section upstream of the Weyerhauser Gate is only (legally) accessable with purchase of an annual pass ($450 for 2026-27) or with a guest pass ($100 for 2 consecutive days) purchased through an annual pass holder.

A gauge was installed a few years ago, accessible from the Kalama Fire District's website. 300 cfs is quite bony; 700 cfs a bit pushy and continuious.

Six of us put in at the bridge just upstream from Wolf Creek at 450 cfs on 3/2/26. At this medium flow it is pool/drop, 2+ with a few Class 3's, for 7 miles down to the 6600 bridge. We have parked at the south end of this bridge for years without conflict but with active logging in the area currently parking has become an issue. Extremely large equipment requires every inch of roadway on either side of the bridge, so we're in the process finding suitable parking.

On this run 3 members exited at the 6600 bridge while 3 continued down the bit tougher section down to the gate. This 4 mile stretch has some delightful Class 3's and one Class 4, Double Drop. The first drop is short, ending in an unavoidable hole that flushes, but also flips. Fortunately a pool follows, allowing for a roll attempt, or two, before the next squirrelly drop. Below the drops is a large recovery pool though steep canyon walls keep most swimmers in the water until a slot on river left. The description above mentions scouting and portaging but the steep, slick canyon walls make it look impossible for me to do either (an old, febble, Class 3er). After high water events I suggest hiking down from the nearest logging road (safety rope suggested) to make sure DD isn't plugged with wood before facing consequences from the river.

It does seem hard to justify the annual expense but the solitude, scenery, and waterfalls make this run quite special.

Access to this section of the Kalama is now restricted to Weyerhaeuser Recreational Permit holders. $300+ a year. It is a lovely stretch of river, especially if you are able to focus on the 100 foot wide strip of trees at river's edge and ignore the clearcut devastation that now defines Pacific Northwest private timber holdings.

The first defined drop below the class II+ section