This is a message for anyone in the Paddling community looking to paddle the Sandy River this summer. ….

June 2010 Update

Portion of Sandy River closed at Dodge Park

A portion of the Sandy River located under the Lusted Rd. Bridge at RM 18 near Dodge Park will temporarily be closed to boaters and anglers for 24-hours a day during three separate weeks in July and August. The river closure is necessary while the water pipeline bridge next to the Lusted Road auto span is dismantled as part of the Sandy River Crossing (SRX) Tunnel Conduit Relocation Project.

The July river closure will occur on July 19 and run through July 23.

The river under the bridge will be unsafe for boats to float under because temporary supports will be placed under the bridge as the old conduits are removed and the span is dismantled. Boating from Dodge Park downriver is not affected by the river closures, and the public may continue using the boat launch area downstream from the bridge.

An SRX virtual open house featuring a four-minute video has been posted on YouTube. The link for the video is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSsMP0hGybI

Kiewit Pacific Co., the contractor for the project, is coordinating the closure with the Oregon State Marine Board and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.

Call (503) 663-0261 for the exact dates of the river closure. The dates will also be posted on this webpage as soon as they are known.

Stay informed

To sign up for frequent e-mail updates and construction alerts, send me an email by clicking on my name below.

You also may call me at the numbers listed below.

Terry Black

Work: (503) 823-1168

Cell: (503) 823-8978

Just a reminder, some traffic controls will be necessary near Dodge Park during the first half of the year.

The removal of dams like the Marmot Dam on the Sandy and upcoming Condit Dam on the White Salmon were the focus of a NY Times article August 9, 2009. Local paddlers were interviewed and the benefits of dam removal illustrated! Read all about it here!

Sandy River Gorge, near Sandy, OR

The Sandy Gorge is the most exciting rafting trip within an hour of Portland.  From the slopes of Mount Hood, the Sandy River gains momentum and size as it descends toward the Columbia River.  This trip contains the steepest and most congested sections of the Sandy.  Beginning with busy class II whitewater punctuated by class III+ Alder Creek Rapids, the river drops into the Sandy Gorge for an unparalleled challenge. The gorge contains class III-IV+ rapids and is an solid advanced rafting trip.  Less than an hour from Portland, the Sandy Gorge is the best bet for Portlanders who want to get a great day of rafting without a ton of travel.  Get ready for an thrilling day on the river with Northwest River Guides.

Price: $70

Times: Every Saturday at 9am

To register for a trip, call Northwest River Guides at 503.772.1122

Inflatable kayaking is one the best ways to explore the realm of whitewater.  They are stable, easy to paddle and really, really fun.  I liken them to 1 – person rafts, except that you get to decide where you want to go.  Northwest River Guides runs inflatable kayaking trips on the Deschutes, Sandy, Klickitat, Santiam and Clackamas Rivers.  I hope you’ll join us soon for a great day of inflatable kayaking.

Happy Paddling, Dave

Inflatable kayaking on the Deschutes River in Central Oregon with Northwest River Guides.

Northwest River Guides runs rafting trips on rivers close to Portland, OR.  Our trips include:

• Sandy River and the Sandy Gorge
• North Fork of the Santiam
• Klickitat River
• Clackamas River
• Deschutes River

For more information on our rafting trips, check out our website or call 503.772.1122. I hope you come rafting with NRG someday soon! – Dave

Rafting fun on the Deschutes River with NRG Guide Zak Pacholl.

This month’s OKCC Beginner Progression Session was a blast.  About 15 paddlers turned out for what ended up being a great day on the Sandy River.  Meeting at Dodge Park and after gauging the skill level of the group, we paddled the Revenue Bridge-Dodge section, rather than the planned Dodge-Oxbow Run.  With such a large group, Read more…

The Sandy River, just outside of Portland, OR, is a fantastic local river.  In the spring and summer, Northwest River Guides runs super-fun inflatable kayaking trips on the Sandy.  Inflatable kayaking is a great way to get started paddling whitewater.  Come check out the best fun on the river closest to Portland.  Northwest River Guides also runs whitewater rafting trips and beginner kayak lessons on the Sandy River. Call 503.772.1122 to the register.

Whitewater fun on the Sandy River near Portland, OR.

Below are a few photos from a Swiftwater Rescue Workshop that Northwest River Guides conducted for the Oregon Whitewater Association in April of 2008.  This was one of the more enjoyable classes that I taught all spring, bringing together a diverse group of rafters, IKers and kayakers for some fun, safety and learning.  In the workshop Northwest River Guides teaches the fundamentals of rope rescue, mechanical advantage(such as the z-drag), whitewater swimming skills and basic rescue organization.  Northwest River Guides teaches on minimalist approach to swiftwater rescue, focusing on techniques and strategies that are ideal for recreational kayakers, canoeists and rafters.  We will be teaching several swfitwater rescue workshops in the spring of 2008, including a class in the Portland area during April 25-26.  Sign up now to reserve your spot in one Northwest River Guides’ most popular courses.  Call 503.777.1122 to register.

Wow- I never thought getting out of bed on New Years Day would be as difficult as it was this year.  Although I wasn’t out that late, I awoke to classic NW winter weather with rain, and lots of wind.  Having never been to the OWA New Years Day paddle, and as my closest friends backed out, I remembered what my life was all about.  Charging rivers in ANY condition.  And knowing that it was the first official Team River Runner event in Portland, I loaded my boat, and drove out.  Little did I know that the Sandy River would surge from 5,000 cfs to nearly 13,000 cfs in the span of the day.  Although it was our first shot at getting vets out on the water, I was astonished at the level of support that we got from the OWA- there were almost 20 rafts ready to launch by the time I got to the put in.  After messing with equipment (for longer than we should have), we got on the water, and I took the only shots from the day.

Read more…

As I have continued my research on the Sandy River corridor, and the river documentary that we shot, from McNeil campground through Brightwood, Zig Zag, down through the Marmot dam site, the Sandy Gorge, Revenue Bridge, Dodge Park, Oxbow Park, Dabney Park, Glen Otto, and Lewis and Clark State park has been a really neat project to visually show what the river looks like now.  To find out some more about the dam demolition that I witnessed check out… 

http://www.portlandgeneral.com/community_and_env/hydropower_and_fish/sandy/default.aspx