Hike, Bike, and Paddle in Central Oregon and the Cascades

The Trip

Join an exciting paddling, biking and hiking adventure in the scenic canyons and mountains of the Cascade Range in central Oregon. We’ll hike to crashing waterfalls and bike in the pine-scented forests. The adventure is capped by two days of guided rafting through thrilling waters of the McKenzie River. You’re part of a paddling team helping your professional guide negotiate whitewater, hydraulics, fun rapids, and mild floats in a wondrous natural setting.

Oregon is known for waterfalls, soaring volcanic peaks of the Cascade Mountains, and swift, clear rivers. All three elements are found in this central Oregon outing. At the heart of this adventure is the McKenzie River, one of the treasures of the Pacific Northwest. Fed by snowmelt from the Cascades, the glacial blue and crystal clear McKenzie tumbles along Douglas fir-lined river banks with fun, exciting rapids. We’ll hike to its headwaters at Clear Lake, only a few miles from our remote group campground in the heart of the Willamette National Forest; then continue along the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail through old-growth forests and lava flows only 3,000 years old. Bald eagles, migrating osprey from South America, and native cutthroat trout call the lake home. One day we will combine biking out of the town of Sisters, OR with a premier hike just to the west at Black Butte. Both areas have abundant wildflowers and can provide amazing views of major Cascade Range mountains: Broken Top, two of the Three Sisters, Mt. Washington, Three Finger Jack, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Hood, and even Mt. Adams.

You’ll experience the sounds and sights that highlight this part of the central Cascades: snowcapped-mountains, bucolic pastures, range land, soaring canyons, winding rivers, birdlife and the smells of juniper, ponderosa, and sage mingling together. You’ll see up close the unique geology of the region, as you explore volcanic landscapes, traversing into iconic Northwest territory of forested slopes with carpets of ferns and moss.

Featuring whitewater rafting, spectacular hiking and exhilarating biking, along with lush forests, awesome waterfalls and breathtaking views, this outing has it all. Join the fun this summer!

The trip begins and ends in Springfield, Oregon located at the foot of the Cascade Mountains near Eugene, Oregon. 

Day 1: Meet at a hotel in Springfield for introductions and a scenic 90-minute drive to our spacious campsite. Surrounded by thick forest, we’ll set up tents, meet our professional guide/cooks, and have a delicious lunch. After discussing the trip itinerary and logistics, we’re off on a 7-mile hike along the McKenzie River Trail. We’ll access the incredible Sahalie and Koosah Falls from both sides of the river. This hike will take several hours, with stunning scenery and the urge to reach for our cameras quite often to capture the beauty of the forest and waterfalls. 

Day 2: In the morning, just to the west of our campground is a short hike up Iron Mountain to a splendid view of the surrounding Cascades. We’ll be accompanied by both a local geographer and botanist retired from the U.S. Forest Service. This is a delightful walk up to a viewing platform at the summit for the full expanse of Mt Adams to Diamond Peak, as well as the South Santiam river drainage. Meadows, alpine trees, and the bare volcanic rock at the top provide additional interest, which our local expert will fully describe.

In the afternoon is a great introductory whitewater trip on the North Santiam River with lots of chances to swim in clear pools. The mild rapids are splashy enough for everyone, whether novice or veteran rafter. We’ll provide rafts, and for the adventurous, inflatable kayaks. Combining lively rapids and a heavily forested valley, this beautiful stream is one of the state's loveliest yet least known river runs. Its not uncommon to see osprey fishing the calm pools, bald eagles perched in riverside nests, river mink scurrying along the banks, and salmon waiting to jump for their next meal. 

Day 3: In the morning, we’ll bike along the rolling Peterson Ridge Trail near Sisters in Deschutes National Forest. This is a well-maintained, single track, dirt and forest service road, rated easy to moderate, with local guides accompanying our group. This eastern side of the Cascades is an open-canopied forest of ponderosa pine, western larch, and lodgepole pine. Snow-capped volcanoes of the Cascades, including Mt. Bachelor, Three Sisters and Mt. Jefferson will provide the backdrop.

In the afternoon, we will hike Black Butte, a spectacular conical volcano just west of Sisters. Black Butte looks young, as it is barely eroded, and provides a great view of majestic Mount Washington. Making this hike even more memorable, we’ll be accompanied by the local geographer once again, knowledgeable of the volcanic geology prevalent in this part of Oregon. We’ll learn about the 15-mile Mount Bachelor Volcanic Chain and its numerous periods of eruptions, as well as local wildflowers. We may even observe eagles, deer, and coyotes.

Days 4-5: Whitewater rafting down the McKenzie River, one of the most stunning and spectacular rivers in the Pacific Northwest. The river in this section is consistent Class II+ excitement, which means moderate rapids with regular waves -- a wild, wet adventure for beginner and intermediate paddlers. The cool clear pools make for some great swimming on warm summer afternoons. The waters of the McKenzie are incredibly glacial blue, crystal clear and breathtakingly beautiful.

At the end of Day 4, we’ll set up our tents along the river, and enjoy one last delicious dinner prepared by our talented guide-cooks.

After breakfast on Day 5 we resume our adventure through the thick fir forests and mild rapids of the clear, swift McKenzie River. A pleasant lunch along the shore is followed by just a few more hours to our take out at about 4 p.m. We’ll unload gear and take the shuttle back to our hotel meeting place in Springfield. We hope to share some parting memories that night at a no-host dinner near the hotel. 

Notes: 

• Tips are not included in the trip price. However, you may feel the guides have earned a gratuity for their hard work to make the trip as enjoyable as possible.
• While we make every attempt to follow this itinerary, all programs are subject to change depending on a variety of factors, including local river conditions and the weather.

Getting There

Our trip begins and ends in Springfield, Oregon, which is near Eugene, Oregon. If you drive, the major highway access is Interstate 15 to Eugene. If flying, United, Delta, American, and Alaska Airlines all fly into the Eugene Airport. Your trip leader can assist in finding other participants to carpool with. At the end of the trip, plan to stay in Springfield or Eugene one additional night as we will not arrive back at our vehicles until late afternoon and you will not want to miss the no-host farewell dinner.

Please do not make any non-refundable travel arrangements until notified by the trip leader to do so. Additional travel information will be provided once approved for the trip. We recommended that you purchase travel and evacuation insurance to protect your investment in the trip.

Food & Accommodations

All meals from Day 1 breakfast to Day 5 lunch are provided. Our guides double as camp chefs and the menu includes a wide variety of quality fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables, with a vegetarian option at each meal. Lunches usually consist of hand-foods and are served picnic-style at riverside stops. Healthy snacks such as granola bars and trail mix are also available. While on the river, water and beverages are provided. You may wish to bring your favorite beverages in plastic bottles, cans, or wine boxes. No glass is allowed on the river trip and no alcohol is allowed during the day or while on the river.

For the evening before Day 1, you'll need to provide your own lodging. The leader will provide several recommended hotels in the town of Springfield just east of Eugene. For Days 1 through Day 3 we’ll be camping at our remote and scenic campground in the Willamette National Forest. On night of Day 4 our group we’ll be camping along the river. The trip ends late in the afternoon of Day 5 and lodging for this night is not included in the trip price. You may wish to spend the night in Eugene or Springfield.

Trip Difficulty

Physical challenges are inherent in whitewater rafting. The section of the McKenzie we float is rated as Class II+ (moderate). Previous whitewater rafting experience is not required. The professional guides will give instruction on paddling technique and raft etiquette for optimum safety and enjoyment. Some camping experience is recommended, as trip members are expected to set up their own tent, be in good health, and be willing to participate in a few group activities, such as carrying group food and gear. Our hikes will be on established, well-maintained trails, with sometimes rocky, uneven conditions requiring some scrambling. We’ll be at elevations of 2,000-4,000 feet, with our highest point being the peak of Black Butte at 6,400 feet. The longest hike is 8 miles, but it’s downhill along the McKenzie River Trail. Our two other hikes will be 4 miles, with an elevation gain of 1,500 feet. The off-road biking is as much as 14 miles along a dirt track in open forest. It’s classic single track, well laid out to make use of rock outcrops, interesting trees, and scenic viewpoints. Previous trail riding experience is not required, but is recommended. We strongly recommend for maximum enjoyment and safety during the outing that you engage in a program of regular exercise and hiking and biking prior to the trip.

Equipment and Clothing

Rafts, paddles, personal flotation device (PFD), dry bags for your gear, all food and kitchen equipment are provided. You’re responsible for bringing a small, backpack-type tent with a separate rainfly, sleeping bag, mattress pad & camp chair (rentals are available). Registered participants will receive a detailed packing list for the trip. In addition to your personal camping clothes, you should bring a day pack and water bottle for the hikes. The guides will provide large rafts which are designed to carry plenty of gear. They’re equipped with areas to sit in the bow and stern and are ideal for carrying up to five adults. For the biking part of the trip, guides provide 27” or 29” “hard tail” mountain bikes, water bottles, and helmets. A detailed gear checklist will be provided after trip acceptance.

References

Books:

• Harris, Stephen, Fire Mountains of the West: The Cascade and Mono Lake Volcanoes. 2005.
• Hill, Richard, Volcanoes of the Cascades: Their Rise and Their Risks. 2004.
• Manwill, Brittany, Day Hiking Bend & Central Oregon: Mount Jefferson/ Sisters/ Cascade Lakes. 2016.
• Romano, Craig, Day Hiking: Central Cascades. 2009.
• Skelton, Steven. Wildlife of the Oregon Central Cascades. 2015.
• Central Cascades, National Geographic Destination Map.

Websites:

• For flowers of the Central Cascades, a useful website is https://www.summitpost.org/flora-of-the-cascade-range/292462/

Conservation

The main conservation concerns for Central Oregon are climate change and wildfires. Climate change is not only shrinking the rivers of the Northwest but contributing to more devastating fires in the region. A 2.7-degree increase in temperature creates hotter, drier weather and larger wildfires larger. These outcomes could change the basic character of forests in the Cascade Mountains. In the coming years, demand on the resources of rivers will grow by 1.2 million acre-feet. Whoever controls the limited supply will control new housing, industry, and farming opportunities. Every product produced in Oregon, for instance, is linked to water. Fortunately, we have adequate water flows for rafting in the McKenzie River for now.

Your outings leaders are volunteers and Sierra Club members with a long-term dedication to the Sierra Club, conservation, and enjoyment of the outdoors. We hope to impart to you our love for the area and an understanding of the work of the Sierra Club. We believe that the Sierra Club's Outings program provides an excellent opportunity for members to enjoy the fruits of past conservation victories and to learn about current concerns. We are not experts. While on this trip you will be encouraged to share environmental issues, stories, and practices you’re familiar with back home, so we’ll be learning from each other. Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.