Dawn Patrol on Lacamas Creek

Creeking, playboating or river running, there is nothing quite like early morning kayaking before work. In the NW we are lucky to live in a place where the rivers are close.

25 minutes from Portland Lacamas Creek is a great short run. It drains Lacamas Lake just outside of Camas Washington. The creek is less than 1.5 miles and has 3 drops and one class 3 rapid.

Dawn Patrol in the parking lot at Lacamas Lake

Paddlers access the creek by making a short hike from the parking lot at Lacamas Lake Park. Follow the well used trail, cross the dam and put in on river left just below the dam.

High water spill off at the dam

  The day we paddled Lacamas Creek the gate was locked at the dam and a sign informed hikers of the access closure do to high water. Despite the closure we were still able to access the put in.

Paddlers usually run the class 4 drop at the put in then continue down to the first waterfall. At high flows the first drop has a stout hole on river left.  

Because we had good flow we were able to run a nice 12-13 ft kicker coming off the middle left of the falls. At lower flows this waterfall has some nasty looking rock formations living up to its name Pot Hole Falls.

 Dave Hoffman scouting the first falls

 The entrance to the first falls

 The Lip of the first falls

  

Ryan Scott with a crushing boof of the first falls

 Chuck Taylor

  A view of the first falls from below

 Dave Hoffman 

The second falls named Little Norway by local kayakers is a long stout slide. It starts very low angle and steepens half way through. At high water the entrance has a big hole and the top of the 2nd steeper portion has 2 giant spine style kickers. With the speed we carried down the slide neither were a problem, but don't scout the drop too long or you may talk your self out of running the it.

 The second falls "Little Norway"

 Looking at the upper portion of the slide

A view of Little Norway from below

Me running Little Norway
Photo: Dave Hoffman

After Little Norway it is a short class 2 paddle to the take out.

If paddlers are looking for a quick whitewater fix and the water is up Lacamas makes a great option!

 See you on the water!