Tripping on and getting a permit for the John Day River, Oregon

[Glenn MacGrady]

"The river holds the longest stretch of free-flowing water west of the Rockies and is an Oregon Scenic Byway. One hundred forty-eight miles are designated Wild and Scenic and require a permit to float. The two most popular sections are the 70 miles between Clarno and Cottonwood and the 48-mile stretch from Service Creek to Clarno upstream."

How To Score A John Day River Permit And Plan The Ultimate Trip

Oregon’s John Day River holds the longest stretch of free-flowing water west of the Rockies, but you’ll need a permit to paddle the best parts.

paddlingmag.com

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Standing on river left at Clarno Rapid, I watched the water tumble over a wide ledge, forming a hole that stretched from bank to bank.

When I was there, the flow was so low that the "ledge" was essentially a wall of rocks with a narrow passage in the middle. There was a chute, little more than a canoe width with a deep hole on the right side of it. The approach, as I recall, had current angling from left to right. Running the gap perfectly would be a smooth ride, but missing the line a little to the right would be a bad move in the loaded MR Guide. I chose to line the boat through the rocks and willows along the left bank.

Not as exciting, but I stayed dry and lost no gear.