Santiam, Little North

Often referred to by paddlers as 'Opal Gorge,' this run is actually on the Little North Santiam with Opal Creek proper several miles upstream above Jawbone Flats.

This stretch has been run down to 200 cfs and up to 5,000 cfs by locals. Neither extreme is recommended. 600-1,500 cfs is ideal for a first time through. The Undertaker has been run at least once around 5,000 cfs. As flows surpass 1,500 cfs, it becomes more and more important to portage the Undertaker on the right, as the left side eddy turns into a channel that feeds back into the rapid. If you are paddling this run at 2,000 cfs or above, it is recommended you have run the gorge before or are going with someone who has.

The cfs gauge is far downstream so while 700 cfs might be a decent flow from snowmelt, it is sometimes a boat-abusing level in the winter.  There is a stick gauge at the Elkhorn bridge. 5' is the minimum enjoyable level by most accounts.  6' is a perfect first time flow.  Be careful if flows are rising, this stream can come up FAST.

From Three Pools to the gorge entrance is class II+, tall walls mark the obvious entrance to the gorge. There is a class IV rapid leading to a point of no return, it can be run left or far right at the top, at the bottom in converges to a boulder ledge. Boof off the right or left side of the center boulder (usually underwater creating a hump), left always goes, right is water dependent.

The next rapid is the first Un/Un called Mystery. At medium to low flows be 6' off the left wall, let your nose drop and set your angle at 1 o'clock.  It's narrow, so mind the walls; the narrowest part is about 195 cm wide so mind your paddle too.

Just downstream is a small ledge run right of center.

Below this ledge is the heart of Opal Gorge, a calm stretch of bottomless water with 200' walls on either side rising straight out of the water. This is a special place, that makes you appreciate being a kayaker.

After you have soaked it

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