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Owyhee - 3. Three Forks to Rome


Owyhee, Oregon, US

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3. Three Forks to Rome (Middle Owyhee)

Usual Difficulty III-IV(V) (for normal flows)
Length 37 Miles
Avg. Gradient 16 fpm

Owyhee River Canyon


Owyhee River Canyon
Photo of David Reines by Chris Dawkins taken 04/01/02

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
OWYHEE RIVER NR ROME OR
usgs-13181000 1000 - 5000 cfs III-IV(V) 00h54m 292 cfs (rc= -0.2 )


River Description

SEASON: The river can be paddled between March and June with best peak flows occuring from late March to early May. In some years the raft season can be as short as 2-3 weeks. The 2002 season saw a peak flow of 11,000 cfs with daily fluctuations of up to 5,000 cfs with melt/freeze cycles. This one is best run on the way down rather than on the way up. Heavy rains can make passage on shuttle road problematic and bring flows up to dangerous levels rather quickly. Weather can fluctuate and even dip below freezing, but nighttime lows are generally more mild down in the canyon next to the river.

DESCRIPTION: The Vale District of the BLM maintains an Owyhee website with excellent information including a river guide in pdf format, maps, and local contacts for shuttle services. It's 2-4 day trip through a remote and incredibly scenic river canyon. The rapids are challenging pool-drop. You need to contact the Rome Launch site (the take-out) to register your trip. They can be reached at 541-586-2612. Registration can also be done at the Three Forks put in or the Rome take out.

The most challenging rapid on the run is Widowmaker which comes at mile 21. It's a class V and the portage is no picnic. It is typically portaged on river right. Rafts can be lined down the right bank or run down the left at good flows.

Alternative runs that can be combined with a run on the middle section of the Owyhee include the lower run from Rome to Owyhee Reservoir or the upper run from Crutcher's Crossing to Three Forks.

Check out Steve Stuckmeyer's Owyhee River trip report on the Oregon Kayaking site. Vince Tompson's Idaho Whitewater Page has an excellent trip report including photos of rafts running Widowmaker.

DIRECTIONS: The take out is located in Rome, OR just upstream of the Owyhee River Bridge on Highway 95, river right (East) side. To reach the put in from Rome, return to Highway 95 and drive 17 miles east and turn right (south) onto Lower Soldier Creek Rd (at the Three Forks highway sign). If traveling from the east on Highway 95, drive through Jordan Valley and continue 16 miles to Lower Soldier Creek Road. Follow this dirt road for 35 miles to Three Forks. The final 1.5 miles to the put in is on a steep road with tight switch backs and clearance required. 4WD is required when this road is wet. If it's really wet, the road might be closed.

 

CAMPING: Camp sites are avaible at both the Rome take out and the Three Forks put in. While on the river, you will be required to carry a portable toilet and fire pan. Check with the BLM for other camping regulations. Side streams are very scarce in the canyon. Carry plenty of water for your trip or plan to purify river water. Water can be obtained from Soldier Creek at mile 18.

 

Permit Information

http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/prog/recreation/what_do_you_want_to/rivers/owyhee_river.html

Self issue permit can be downloaded from BLM website.


StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2011-02-27 09:02:02

Canyon below Widowmaker

Detail Trip Report  Canyon below Widowmaker  @Owyhee 1. Three Forks to Rome, OR(981.07KB .jpeg)

Widowmaker

Detail Trip Report  Widowmaker  @Owyhee 1. Three Forks to Rome, OR(83.87KB .jpeg)

lower Half Mile Rapid

Detail Trip Report  lower Half Mile Rapid  Owyhee, OR(193.07KB .jpeg)

upper Half Mile Rapid

Detail Trip Report  upper Half Mile Rapid  Owyhee, OR(191.07KB .jpeg)

Entrance drop in "The Ledge"

Detail Trip Report  Entrance drop in "The Ledge"  Owyhee, OR(79.71KB .jpeg)

Arlo Varri running The Ledge

Detail Trip Report  Arlo Varri running The Ledge  Owyhee, OR(205.50KB .jpeg)

Owyhee River Canyon

Detail Trip Report  Owyhee River Canyon  Owyhee, OR(47.77KB .jpeg)

Owyhee River Canyon, Three Forks to Rome

Detail Trip Report  Owyhee River Canyon, Three Forks to Rome  Owyhee, OR(118.71KB .jpeg)


Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

The river can be paddled at lower or higher flows. It becomes more technical at lower flows and you probably wouldn't want to paddle it much below 700 cfs. At higher flows the hydraulics obviously get bigger and precise manuvering to catch eddies at the top of the big drops becomes a necessity. The BLM rates 8000 cfs as high water. Other sources have recommended flows up to 3000, 4000, and 8000 cfs. A good minumum flow for rafts is 1400 cfs. Rapids are technical but still runnable.

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
OWYHEE RIVER NR ROME OR
usgs-13181000 1000 - 5000 cfs III-IV(V) 00h54m 292 cfs (rc= -0.2 )

RangeWater LevelDifficultyComment
1000 -5000 cfs barely runnable-high runnable III-IV(V)

Report - Reports of Owyhee 3. Three Forks to Rome and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
357d07h01m /Owyhee-1. Three Forks to Rome [OR] Canyon below Widowmaker n/a Stephen Hunt
357d07h06m /Owyhee-1. Three Forks to Rome [OR] Widowmaker a good level Stephen Hunt
9y317d12h22m Owyhee [OR] Owyhee River Canyon n/a Chris Dawkins
9y318d12h22m Owyhee [OR] lower Half Mile Rapid 1750cfs Chris Dawkins

WXPort

News





User Comments
2011-07-25 03:05:27 (201 days ago)
JatoJr (152830)
Floated Widowmaker last week (if you can call lining the first part, then boat disassembly/portage
then more linings a float) and we didn't see a rope in the rapid. Did see one strung out wedged
down in the rocks on river left, but couldn't crawl down far enough to recover. Rope was stretched
tight between a couple rocks as well.
2011-05-08 09:33:46 (278 days ago)
Mark RasmusDetails
throw rope left in Widowmaker on 5/8/11. dead center of rapid, near crux move.
Users can submit comments.

Rapid Summary

Mile Rapid Name Class Features (Legend)
1.5The LedgeIVPhoto
1.5The LedgeIVPhoto
10.0upper Half Mile RapidsIVPhoto
10.0lower Half Mile RapidsIVPhoto
21.0Widowmaker5.0Portage Hazard
21.5No NameIII

Rapid Descriptions

The Ledge (Class IV, Mile 1.5)

Entrance drop in "The Ledge"

Entrance drop in "The Ledge"
Photo of Chris Dawkins, Jason Clinch by Sheldon Zakreski taken 03/31/02 @ 1750cfs

After paddling 1.5 miles of flat water from Three Forks, you'll reach "the ledge." This class IV rapid consists of an entrance drop followed by a long, technical boulder garden. It is easily scouted from river left.

The Ledge (Class IV, Mile 1.5)

Arlo Varri running The Ledge

Arlo Varri running The Ledge
Photo of Arlo Varri by Chris Dawkins taken 03/31/02 @ 1750cfs

Scouting is advised, especially for rafts. At 1700 and 2200 cfs the Ledge is quite technical. Following the Ledge are about 9 miles of easy water before Half Mile.

upper Half Mile Rapids (Class IV, Mile 10.0)

upper Half Mile Rapid

upper Half Mile Rapid
Photo of Arlo Varri by Chris Dawkins taken 03/31/02 @ 1750cfs

Half Mile Rapids is exactly that, about a half mile long class IV, consisting of an upper section, a short pool, and then a lower section. At lower flows the rapid becomes a technical boulder garden. At higher flows (>2500cfs) it can be a wild ride with big waves and holes.

lower Half Mile Rapids (Class IV, Mile 10.0)

lower Half Mile Rapid

lower Half Mile Rapid
Photo of Mike Babcock by Chris Dawkins taken 03/31/02 @ 1750cfs

Following a short pool below Half Mile is Raft Flip Rapid, a class III with a wave or hole in the center, depending on flows. The next 10 miles contain several class III to IV- rapids including Subtle Hole, Bombshelter Drop, Sharks Tooth, and 3 unnamed class IIIs in the mile before Widowmaker.

Widowmaker (Class 5.0, Mile 21.0)
Widowmaker is the most difficult rapid on the Owyhee. It is a steep class V with a huge boulders and holes creating tight lines. The accepted line changes with water levels. Many parties, probably most, portage this monster. The right side is most often used as a portage route, but the huge boulders make it a rather difficult task. Rafts are lined from the right side. Depending on the water level, a class III-IV entrance rapid can be run and the eddy caught directly above Widowmaker. The eddy is not large, so be on your toes. Scouting this entrance drop is highly recommended. Some may chose to portage the entrance and Widowmaker both. Note: Plan your day so that you have ample daylight when you reach Widowmaker. The last camps before Widowmaker are located just above and below Soldier Creek.

No Name (Class III, Mile 21.5)
Following Widowmaker are 2 class IIIs and 10 miles of easy class I-II+ water. The last 5+ miles to Rome are flat water with very litte current. If camping, stop well upstream of Rome before the canyon walls drop away and good campsites disappear. Several warm spring come in on river right between miles 29 and 30.


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 3. Three Forks to Rome, Owyhee Oregon, US (mobile)