Deschutes
L. Sherar's Falls to Columbia River (Lower Deschutes Segment 3 and 4)
| Difficulty | III |
| Length | 43 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Permit | Boater pass available through online reservation system with available launches distributed on a rolling basis. |
| Gauge | Deschutes River at Moody, Near Biggs, or |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 3920 cfsrunnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | January 13, 2026 |
Projects
The National Conservation Lands—a 26-million-acre collection of national monuments, wilderness areas, wild and scenic rivers, trails, and historic sites—are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to conserve some of the most treasured landscapes in the American West. Established administratively by the BLM in 2000 and made permanent [...]Read More
River Description
SEASON: All year possible. The summer is most popular for both private trips and commercial outfitters.
DESCRIPTION:
The Lower Deschutes is probably Oregon's most popular overnight float trip and is a classic among fishermen. Experienced river runners will find this to be a mellow trip but a few class III rapids particularly those in the last few miles deserve attention. While this can be a great beginner trip, inexperienced river runners get themselves into trouble every year.
Agricultural diversions upstream remove water from the river, but springs on the Crooked, Deschutes, and Metolius rivers provide consistent year-around flow which is further regulated by the Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric project. The peak season is the summer and the river attracts a wide range of user groups including recreational floaters, drift boat fishermen, and jet boaters (not allowed on designated motor-free weekends). While the beautiful canyon scenery interspersed with small groves of trees providing welcome shade makes this a great trip, don't come expecting wilderness solitude. The use tends to be biased towards trips where you pack the rafts with everything you could possibly need (and then some) and kick back for a good time with your friends. While there is no road along the lower half of this run, a rail line runs along river left and you can expect a few trains to rumble by in the night. Permits are required but it is a reservation system and given that the river is managed for high use, it is generally easy to find a slot if you plan in advance. The run can be divided into two sections with the first half (Sections 3a and 3b) offering roadside access down to Macks Canyon and the second half (Section 4) with no intermedia access.
Segment 3a: Sherars Falls to Pine Tree, 3.5 miles, roadside, group size limited to 24).
The run starts out from the put-in about a mile downstream of Sherars Falls (river mile 44.0) on river right at Buckh
...River Features
Buckhollow, Put-In
Day use (no camping) area with river access ramp and toilet. This site is the start of Segment 3a.
Trestle Hole Rapids
Just downstream of the railroad trestle the river splits around an island. Small waves are found on river left. Large standing waves and a large hole, that forms at high water, are down river right.
Wreck Rapids
Large waves and shallow rocks.
Pine Tree Access
Day use (no camping) area with river access ramp and toilet. This site is the dividing point between Segment 3a and Segment 3b.
Oakbrook Access
Day use access site with vehicle access to the river, toilet, and tables.
Beavertail Access and Campground
Fee campground accessible by vehicle, toilet, tables, garbage service, drinking water, trailer parking, and boat ramp.
Macks Canyon Access and Campground
Fee campground accessible by vehicle, toilet, tables, garbage service, drinking water, trailer parking, and boat ramp. This site is the dividing point between Segment 3b and Segment 4. It is also the end of the road but a trail continues downriver.
Macks Canyon Rapids
Island Rapids
Bull Run Rapids
Jet Pump Rapids
Harris Rapids
Small waves, shallow rocks
Green Light Rapids
Large waves, rocks with turbulent currents
Washout Rapids
The clean line is down the left side avoiding the hole to center right.
Free Bridge Rapids
Small waves, shallow rocks.
Gordon Ridge Rapids
Here the river flows through a long and narrow bedrock-carved channel. It is one of the longer rapids on the run. Yield to boats that are already committed to the channel.
Colorado Rapids
Large waves, turbulent currents.
Knock Knock Rapids
Small waves.
Rattlesnake Rapids
Waves, rocks, with turbulent currents. The start of this rapid also marks a zone where no stopping is allowed from this point to the take-out. Shoreline access in this zone is reserved for hike-in and bike-in anglers.
Moody Rapids
Narrow channel, large waves, with turbulent currents. Steer clear of the hole on river left. Yield to boats already committed to the channel. Swimming Moody Rapids (with or without a floatation device and/or using inner tubes, float tubes, boogie boards, surf boards, and other similar water toys) is prohibited on those days when power boats are allowed.
Heritage Landing, Take-Out
The take-out is on river left just upstream of the Interstate Highway Bridge and the confluence with the Columbia River.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportFirst time on this stretch of the Deschutes (full Buckhollow to Heritage Landing run). Midweek, so I had the place to myself. I I got 7 miles on day 1, and took 4 days overall, which was a very leisurely pace. I stopped often to check out various campsites. Some of the descriptions on the BLM site about 'shady' are way off...maybe trees have died.
I'm a class III/IV boater and the rapids seemed fine in my 14' raft. I scouted from the boat. Colorado III was probably the rowdiest of the bunch, but no problems running it.
I enjoyed a lot of good birding along the way. The Pheasants and Chukkars were out, and all the birds are singing to attract the ladies. I even saw a tom turkey fully strutting his stuff!
Easy hike-in, float-out packraft trip. Nothing much for rapids, maybe 1-2 Class III- at this flow, all easy to avoid.
This was our second year doing this section. We did it in three nights and four days. We put in at noon and took out at noon. Doing this trip in two nights and three days is totally doable but we enjoyed taking our sweet time and spending most of the afternoon at camp with some beverages. Finding campsites was difficult two of the nights, but we still found spots. Most of the rapids are on the last day and are all scoutable from the boat. Of course, you could pull over to scout. The rapids are fun with some big waves. The first few days are super relaxed and booze-cruisy (if that's what you're about) and has some great body floating oppurtunities. The biggest downside to this section of river to me is the road and train track that run parallel to the river. That being said, it's a great mutli-day trip, especially for those nearby!
We took a two-night, three-day trip down the Lower Deschutes on a late July weekend Friday through Sunday. We launched from Buckhollow around noon on Friday and reached the take-out early afternoon on Sunday. Campsite competion was an issue and we had challenges finding a good site near Ferry Canyon on the first night. We made good time on day two and found a nice site at lunch time at river mile 15 below Jet Pump Rapids on river left where we camped for the night. This set us up for a fun day of whitewater on day three. We were floating on a weekend that was open to jet boats but we saw relatively little traffic on the river.
Buck Hollow to Heritage Landing is a mellow section of whitewater that is great for learning and scenic.
Meeting on the river with the Hydropower Reform Coalition.