Whitewater Forum: OP River flows
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OP River flows

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Category: General
Forum Name: Whitewater Forum
Forum Discription: Open Discussion Forum. Whitewater related subjects only
URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11726
Printed Date: 28 Sep 2025 at 8:03pm


Topic: OP River flows
Posted By: tsherman
Subject: OP River flows
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2012 at 10:14pm
We are heading out this weekend from Utah to boat the OP for a week starting this Sunday.  I really appreciate all of the detailed advice and river descriptions from all of you last week.  From what I gathered from all the posts, the river pages, and Gary's book, we are thinking of starting in the SW zone first, assuming there is sufficient flow when we get there.  Looking at the upcoming weeks forecast, are there certain runs you think are likely to be flowing and some that likely won't be (not just in the SW zone, but anywhere on the OP)?  Thanks again!


Replies:
Posted By: BIGWATER
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2012 at 12:40pm
welp we just had some nice high water last week ... but now its cold and things have droped alot ....hopen that it warms up and rains for you guys, but it looks like its gona be dry  ... with all the low snow it wont take much to bring things up a little if it warms tho
 
even if its low there are still some things that are good .... Humptulips narrows run will go very low (not hard at all but super cool in there).... the wynochee gorge never runs outa water, its a dam relase (again an easy run but ultra senic)
 
and if it gets realy low the Quinault canyon or Elkhorn canyon may be an option ....or you can always try some of the many surf breaks on the coast or straits
 
feel free to call me when ya get close
 
Chris at three 6 zero 867 one nine two one

Posted By: James
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2012 at 12:46pm
Take yer fishin rods on the Nooch. You got till the end of the month to get your steelies there!

Posted By: BRoss
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2012 at 1:38pm
Hit up the Tilton for your first run before you hit the OP. Its still really good down to just below 800 or so. Also, all the runs on the Matheny can go at very low water too if you don't mind boat abuse. I was there in November with the Queets at 4K and dropping slowly and we ran all three sections. It was ELF, but it was cool to get in there!

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"That boated a lot better than it looked." "It always does until it doesn't."

Posted By: tsherman
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2012 at 2:20pm
Are there any other zones in the Pacific NW that have ideal flows happening?

Posted By: BIGWATER
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2012 at 6:17pm
yes the Tilton is an amazing canyon with great play and its only an hour south of Oly .... there is also the Toutle wich will still have water for sure since it drops very slowly and still has 3k in it today ....  Matheny when its low is doable  and the upper is a cool lil canyon, but it will definatly beat up the boats and be a long day, to bad the Queets isnt cranken 20k+  thats when lower Matheny goes off!
 
we will be running the Tilton or Toutle  on Sat and Sun most likely .....sunday is suposed to be sunny and 50 ... a sunny day on the Humptulips narrows would be sweet too....
also dont foget that there is alot more then just kayaking on the Olympic ... its worth spending a day or 2 hiken into the GIANT old growth rainforest if ya never been in there, you need to get away from the roads a bit if ya realy wana see the goods

Posted By: BRoss
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2012 at 7:28pm
There is some stuff in Oregon going... Clackamas, Mollala, Wilson... and flows might bump there over the next couple of days. My parents got a bunch of snow at low elevations in the coast range and it's supposed to be in the mid 60s over the weekend.

Also, the Wind is apparently at a nice low level. It's 4-4+. There will likely be folks from Portland there this weekend cuz the Race is coming up soon.

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"That boated a lot better than it looked." "It always does until it doesn't."

Posted By: WA-Boater
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2012 at 7:41pm
Olympics can be hit and miss this time of year depending on rain and freezing levels. We are coming off a cold spell and that is going to make access difficult on the OP forrest service roads.
What class rivers are you looking to run?


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Posted By: tsherman
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2012 at 7:49pm
We are all Class 4 paddlers, so we are looking for 3-4 rivers.  Some class 5 on a run is OK if it scoutable/portagable.  

Posted By: BIGWATER
Date Posted: 03 Mar 2012 at 8:00am

things got  a small bump up last night ... gona hit the Tilton today

also you may consider southern canyon creek as a first stop on Sun ... it got a small bump up tomorro and may have enough water on Sun


Posted By: BIGWATER
Date Posted: 03 Mar 2012 at 8:08am

if i was gona hit class 4 stuff this week starting on sun  this is what i would do .....

Sun... canyon creek, Tilton , or Toutle

Mon ... Tilton, Toutle, or Humptulips

Tues..... Toutle , humptulips or wynochee

weds .... wynochee

 
thats just a guess at what may be good over next few days outa Oly  in the class 3- 4 range if it does not rain and things drop slow
 
there are other options just throwing some out there

Posted By: water wacko
Date Posted: 03 Mar 2012 at 8:44am
AND, it may be a bit of an adventure, but a new description of the Mashell was just put up. Haven't checked that one out, but it looks interesting. And a IV.

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"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." ~Howard Thurman


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