The
Downriver start will be at the public access at the confluence with
Few
of the rapids have easy or clearly defined channels. On the other hand, it is possible to run the
entire river without swamping, capsizing or even having to bail very much. All of the major rapids are best run down one
side of the river or the other, with the center of the river typically obstructed
by large rocks, holes and pourovers.
The
following descriptions apply to river flows of 1000-1800 cfs. Be aware that releases from Flagstaff Dam are
combined with natural flow from
From
the landing 400 yards of shallow quick water brings you to Spencer Rips 0.4
miles, the first and one of the better known rapids, probably due to
it’s proximity to the put-in.
Spencer Rips starts with a series of
class II drops leading to a steep class III pitch followed by a large wave
train with a good recovery pool on the left.
A good line is to approach the rapid from the right half of the river;
run the upper rapid from right to left so that you reach the steep pitch in the
center of the river, well to the left of the holes and standing waves on the
right. There is also a safe but rocky
route on the extreme left side.
Immediately
after the recovery pool the channel narrows and the river squeezes over a ledge
with a large hole spanning the middle half of the river. Go left or right here to stay dry.
The
river then widens again to the open, rocky, boulder strewn riverbed that is
typical of the Lower Dead; easy class II rapids mixed with 200-300 yd.
stretches of smoother, sometimes shallow water.
Upper and Lower Basin (Log Dump, Minefield?) 1.75
miles
Two
easy rapids (about a mile) after Spencer Rips the river begins
a long straight stretch. A smooth water
approach is followed by a steadily increasing gradient. This marks the beginning of a challenging
1.25 miles of class II-III whitewater.
The river picks up speed as it flows over and around many boulders and
rocks. Stay in the left half of the
river here as it will be fairly shallow on the right. About three hundred yards
of class II water ends with a large ledge jutting into the river on the left. Here the river flows over a series of three
or four class III rocky ledges; the current becomes confused, flowing in
numerous directions. The best routes are
on the left or the right, although there are no straight, easy lines here. Avoid the center – most open boats will fill
up in the many waves and holes. The next
½ mile is class II and a good place to bail.
The last 300 yards (
Hayden’s Landing 3.5
miles. Several short class II+ rapids bring you to Hayden’s Landing: 200 yd.
class II-III+. As you approach this
rapid you will see a beach/campsite and, frequently, vehicles and fishermen on
the right. The river drops from view
here as you approach. You will probably
want to favor the right or right center, although some paddlers prefer the left. The rapid ends with large waves and holes in
the center, an ugly tangle of boulders on the left and a twisting but runnable
line on the right.
The
next 4-½ miles of the river is a mix of class II & II+ rapids and fast
shallow water. As always, be watchful
for those Dead River Rocks that regularly appear in the middle of every fast
line.
**An alternate put-in called the Gravel
Pit (about 5 ¾ miles by river from the Spencer put-in) provides
paddlers the option of running only the lower more difficult rapids and
eliminates about half of the shuttle drive.
To find this access look for a road that branches to the left about 9.5
miles from RT 201, follow it about 1.6 miles to a parking area. You will see a trail leading into the woods;
a 150 yd. carry down a steep bank to the river.
The
mixed class II/II+ rapids and quickwater continue for another 1 ¼ miles after
the ‘Gravel Pit’, where Enchanted Stream 7.2 miles (a
popular lunch spot) enters the river on the left. Here the gradient increases again and the
current speeds up as you approach Elephant
Rock rapid
Elephant Rock (7.3
miles) 400 yds class II-IV. The rapid begins with shallow water on the
left below Enchanted Stream and a hefty ledge drop right of center. Paddle right to left here to miss the ledge
drop and holes then maneuver down the middle or the right over three or four
more drops that form the approach to Elephant Rock. The rapid is named for a room-sized rock that
resembles an elephant lying on its side in the river about 25 feet off the
right shore. There is an exciting three-foot wide chute that drops 3+ feet on
the right side of the rock, and a popular play hole just below the left side of
the rock. The preferred line here though
is on the left, or left of center. Be
careful: there are many waves, holes and rocks waiting here.
The
river deepens and slows for several hundred yards then the current begins to
pick up as you enter yet another stretch of 100-300 yd class II+ rocky rapids
mixed with quick water. A mile and a
half of this brings you to Mile Long
Rapid 8.8 miles; look for a big pine tree standing by itself on the
right bank at the top of the rapid. The river acquires a gorge-like feel here
that continues to Salmon Stream below
Mile Long Rapid (8.8
miles) 1 mile class II-IV. This rapid
begins with the river narrowing from the right bank and the current crowding
toward the left bank as it flows over a series of boulders and ledges for the
first 200 yd. There are slots in the
ledges on the right, you can run the big water down the middle by skirting the
waves and holes, or the left bank is an option. Whatever route you choose in this rapid be
always looking downriver at least 50 yd.
There are many reasonable routes but all require constant
maneuvering. The left bank route
eventually gets shallow and rocky so you must work your way out toward the
center after the first 300-400 yd.
There is mostly easy but technical class II water on the right bank for
the first 600-700 yd. but the last 300-yd. on the right requires lightning
quick turning and reactions to avoid running into pourovers and large
boulders. The final alternative is to
stay generally in the center of the rapid all the way down, stay alert, look
ahead and don’t paddle straight into large boulders – now is that so hard? By the way, be warned that at the bottom of
this rapid the river tumbles over two ledges in quick succession: avoid the
middle half of the river here as it is decidedly unfriendly to open boats. Plan to run the last 100 yd. within 50-60
feet of either shore. You want your boat
to be fairly dry here as quick maneuvering and stability is the key to success.
After
successfully negotiating Mile Long
rapid you are about two miles and six rapids from the finish. The gradient diminishes after Mile Long rapid for 300 yd. as you
approach the first of four rapids that precede Upper and Lower Poplar Hill Falls. Let’s call them Pre-Poplar 1-4.
Pre-Poplar 1 is a 150 yd class II+ ledge
rapid. There is a chute about 20 ft off
the left bank that you cannot see until you are 25 ft. away. The middle 2/3 of the river is quite
obstructed by boulders. The right side
offers several reasonable routes.
Pre-Poplar 2 & 3 are
longer and more difficult II-III. Like Upper & Lower Poplar below the current slows as
it approaches a turn where the gradient increases abruptly. As always there are numerous routes to choose
from; avoid getting too far to the right on both of these rapids as it becomes
shallow and choked with rocks. The best
current is down the middle third where all of the big waves and holes await.
Pre-Poplar 4 is
400 yd. class II. This rapid starts with the river turning to the left, and
ends the same way. Stay left or left of center,
as the right half is bony. After making
the sharp left turn at the bottom of this rapid you will see another 100 yd. of
class II leading to the Upper Poplar
put-in on river left. Look for a
clearing in the pines, and a three foot rock with a one foot orange triangle
painted on it. You have 300 yd. of rocky
quick water in which to bail and gather your courage.
Upper-Polar (10.5
miles) is 200 yd. of fast and furious class III-IV. The gradient here is as steep as any part of
the river and very rocky. Open boats
should avoid the middle 2/3 of the river.
There is a rocky, technical class II route on the left. Another route starts right of center and
proceeds diagonally to the right across and above the meatiest part of the
rapid ending with large waves on the left, very fast water underneath and rocks
and eddies on the right.
Lower Poplar (11.3
miles) is ¾ mile of class II-IV depending on route selection. Make no mistake, to
get through this rapid quickly one must get into the thick of it. It is possible to run nearly the entire
length on the extreme right, but it is very easy to get caught in one of three
shallow, rocky dead ends. A deeper
fastwater route exists along the left shore but large rocks in several critical
spots in the upper steep
third of the rapid force a detour out near the mayhem of the middle. Once
past the first 200 yd. the left side offers fast big water through most of the
rest of the rapid - beware of several ledges and numerous rocks and holes. Expert river reading and strong paddling
skills are a necessity for this route.
The most common approach is to proceed from the top, to the right of the
big water in the center channel, with excursions to the right to miss the big
drops and holes then returning back toward the center as soon as the
obstructions are passed on the left. If you
linger too long on the right you will find your boat sitting on rocks. After the first 200 yd. of big water the
intensity diminishes, but it will be too late for many; if you take on water in
the upper third the easier lower two thirds can thrash you.
The
rapid ends with an abrupt left turn just above the old bridge abutment (Finish)
12.2 miles.
Continue
downstream for 1.4 miles of easy class II to the public take out left shore
below Magic Falls Outfitters. Look for
white canvas wall tents on the left after you pass a motel/lodge. The take out will appear as an opening in the
brush in the shallow water. Stay on the
left shore after the Dead River Lodge and you can’t miss it. The next public take out is at Crusher Pool,
a rafting take-out 2.5 miles down river on the left side of the Kennebec, just
above an island.