Oak Leaf Trail (bike path) Bridge / Red Store Lot

From the prior bends, to and beyond this pedestrian and bike trail bridge lies one of the longest and strongest rapids on this MenWesTosa section of river. Be very alert! The rapids rarely rate above a class I+, but strong current makes it difficult for novice boaters to avoid disaster if wood is present!

The area around the bridge is an optional take-out point, though novice boaters will find it more than a bit challenging to do so as there may not be good eddies.

The river-right bank is generally quite steep, with trees and shrubs, and is mostly lined with quarried rock. This makes it awkward to 'beach' any boat and exit safely to shore, and difficult to ascend to the parking lot.

The river-left bank (immediately upstream of the bridge) has some eddies and lesser currents, and there are places where the riverbank is less steep. However, at moderate-to-high flows, it may take very skilled maneuvering to break out of the currents and find the small sheltered areas which may allow exit. Exit before the pedestrian/bike bridge, then carry across the bridge to the Red Store Lot.

So ... why would anyone take out here (rather than the other listed take-out)?

(1) It offers plenty of parking (if Hart Park has an event which fills parking).

(2) This lot is slightly more secluded (than both our put-in and our listed take-out) for those needing to change into or out of boating clothes.

(3) Occasionally, large branches or whole trees block passage at the piers for the pedestrian mall bridge by the restaurants in downtown 'Tosa. (Highly recommend scouting those bridge piers before putting on this run! You need to know if you can get through there safely!)

(4) If you put-on at flows above 3800 cfs (or flows rise above that while you are on the run), the railroad bridge just after the pedestrian mall bridge in downtown Tosa IS NOT PASSABLE! It will be mandatory to get out before being swept downstream of the high overhead Harmonee Avenue bridge.