River: Lower Sandy River Gorge
Rating: Class II+ (III)
Date: Thursday, January 1st, 2026
Time: 9:00 am until 4:00 pm
Comtact: Val Shaull, val.shaull@frontier.com (503.805.8991)
AW River Description: Dodge Park to Oxbpw Park: American Whitewater
River Levels: Bull Run Gauge @ American Whitewater
Trip Information:
Sandy River, Dodge to Oxbow
Note: This river trip is not an "officially sanctioned" OWA club trip! It's a whitewater community event that is open to all boaters that includes Team River Runner, OWA (members and nonmembers) and PNWWhitewater with the necessary class 3 and 4 required river skill set. "First of the Year Float". Meet at 9 am at Dodge Park to stage boats and be ready to shuttle vehicles from Dodge Park to Oxbow Park by 10 am. We will be launching at roughly 11 am from Dodge Park after a short prep talk. Dress warm for this winter-time float and be prepared for a wide range of mild to cold adverse weather conditions that can change rapidly while on the river. The lower forested Sandy River Gorge is an eight-mile float with several class II & II+ rapids and one class III rapid that can be boated at a wide range of flow levels. After the float we will then warm up at the Covered Shelter "A" inside Oxbow Park afterwards. Also, there is no Potluck this year. Val will have a 5-burner stove set-up and there will be hot coffee, hot cider, tea or cocoa at the covered shelter. So please bring your coffee mug. There will also be a fire to warm up by. Feel free to bring any snacks or treats to share with fellow boaters.
References:
Soggy Sneakers by WKCC, Paddling Oregon by Robb Keller, Oregon River Tours by John Garren.