Clackamas River
🏔 Scenic River
Clackamas Co. · 83 mi · Class I–IV
—CFS
Loading…Optimal: 800–4000 CFS · USGS #14211000
Length
Difficulty
Optimal
Avg Flow
Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
Mt. Hood National Forest · Oregon Scenic Waterway
The Clackamas is Portland"s backyard whitewater river — 83 miles from the slopes of Mt. Hood to the Willamette, offering everything from expert Class IV canyon runs to gentle family floats. Bob"s Hole, a world-famous river surf wave near Estacada, draws playboaters year-round. The upper river flows through old-growth forest in the Mt. Hood National Forest.
Trip sections
Upper Clackamas — Class III–IV, remote forest canyon
Three Lynx to North Fork — Class II–III, intermediate run
Estacada to Barton — Class II, Bob"s Hole surf wave
Barton to Clackamas — Class I, family float
Outfitters
eNRG Kayaking
Clackamas River kayak instruction and guided trips
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPSLoading forecast...
10-Year Flow Patterns
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Your Optimal Range
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Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.