John Day, N. Fork, Oregon, US |
|
| Usual Difficulty | II (varies with level) |
|---|---|
| Length | 44 Miles |
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORTH FORK JOHN DAY RIVER AT MONUMENT, OR | ||||
| usgs-14046000 | 800 - 10000 cfs | II | 00h31m | 1070 cfs (rc= 0.1 ) |
A snowmelt run emerging from the Blue Mountains with the peak usually coming in May. The first half of the run flows through Ponderosa pine forest and then transitions to the desert terrain of eastern Oregon. This is a classic 3 day trip.
Full description in Soggy Sneakers, Oregon River Tours, and Western Whitewater.
The river gets only slightly more difficult (class III) at higher flows (around 9000 cfs). The rapids mostly become washed out with larger waves, and the river becomes more continuous, making it harder to rescue a swimmer. Members of Paddle Trails Club report doing the run in open canoes at higher flows. At higher levels you have a chance of sneaking the rapid "Surprise" on the right, but only if you recognize it in time and there is no wood. You can always go down the middle too.
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORTH FORK JOHN DAY RIVER AT MONUMENT, OR | ||||||||||||||||||||
| usgs-14046000 | 800 - 10000 cfs | II | 00h31m | 1070 cfs (rc= 0.1 ) | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| When | River/Gauge | Subject | Level | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1y285d17h58m | @John Day, N. Fork 2. Dale to Monument [OR] |
Dick Spencer in front of Johnny Cake Mtn
|
n/a | Kathy Spencer |
| 2y261d17h50m | @John Day, N. Fork 2. Dale to Monument [OR] |
D Spencer in front of Johnny Cake Mtn
|
a good level | Kathy Spencer |
| 2y263d17h52m | @John Day, N. Fork 2. Dale to Monument [OR] |
near Zion Scope Mtn
|
a good level | Kathy Spencer |
| > 10 years | @John Day, N. Fork 2. Dale to Monument [OR] |
Account of 05/02/10
|
high runnable | Kathy Spencer |
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. reach
state
reachlink
2. Dale to Monument, John Day, N. Fork Oregon, US (mobile)
User Comments
1997 (30K). Only other flood of this magnitude was in 1925. Due to flooding BLM river ranger/Grant
County Sheriff did not recommend running river weekend of May 21-22, we did it anyway. Flows were
approx 8.75 @ put-in and 8.5 at take-out. (Middle Fork was contributing 2K of this amount). 1 14'
raft and 1 16' cataraft and 1 tandem canoe, mixed levels of experience among the boaters. No new
debris encountered (somewhat surprisingly). Campsites and their access were reasonable. No
problems. Shuttle driver reported that a couple of fellas floated river at peak flow. I assume
there were no problems for them. River appears runnable (and importantly, camp-able) at flows up to
15K or less. Open-canoeists can expect to regularly take-on water unless they sneak rapids.
<br>
USGS 14046000 NORTH FORK JOHN DAY RIVER AT MONUMENT, OR<br>
<br>
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/or/nwis/uv?14046000<br>
<br>
The river gets only slightly more difficult (3- in my estimation) for levels higher than the max
suggested level on this page. The rapids mostly become washed out with larger waves, and the river
becomes more continuous, making it harder to rescue a swimmer. We put in at 9,000 CFS (on Monument
gage) and floated for 3 days taking out at about 5,500 CFS. Others in Paddle Trails Club have told
me they have done similar levels in open canoes. At higher levels you have a chance of sneaking the
rapid "Surprise" on the right, but only if you recognize it in time and there is no wood.
Both of those things happened to me in my kayak at 8,200 CFS but it is not much harder going right
through the middle anyhow.<br>
<br>
The take-out at Monument is about a quarter mile downstream of the the bridge, on river-right. Peer
through the willows looking for a small boat ramp where there is now a nice parking lot with picnic
tables and a toilet. Some guidebooks still tell you to take out at the bridge.