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Whitewater timing varies with scouting, portages, and group pace. Use as a planning baseline.
Description
This is a beautiful class II-III run, flowing down the flanks of Mt Hood. The largest rapid (III-III+) is Taffy Puller, which is run down the middle. Wood is usually present, but does not often require portaging. Downstream visiblility is typically adequate to see any wood hazards with time to grab an eddy. For runs fitting this description, stick to the recommended flows.
If you are interested in more excitement, just add water. Some locals with previous knowledge of the run don't consider the Salmon at ideal flows until it hits 4k on a rise. It can be helpful to have someone who knows where the eddies are at those levels. The high water limit on this run is less about the whitewater, and more about when wood starts moving around, which is usually at about 10k on the Sandy @ Marmot Gauge.
The Salmon also gets paddled at low water (down to around 1,000 cfs) by locals desperate for a paddle, but at those levels is best described as a more engaging alternative to walking the Salmon River trail.
Boaters looking for a full day will often continue down the Sandy River to the Sleepy Hollow Rd bridge, or even beyond.