How Deep Is the Clackamas River?
Located in Northern Oregon, the Clackamas River is a place where locals and visitors love to spend their time. It’s perfect for a variety of activities, such as bird watching, fishing, hiking, and kayaking. Whether you’re planning a trip to this river, or just someone interested in the area, you might have some questions about the location and geography. Today, we’ll discuss the depth of the Clackamas River and share some fun facts about this little oasis.
A Brief Overview of the Clackamas River
The Clackamas River is located in Marion County.
©Victoria Ditkovsky/Shutterstock.com
Nature lovers should mark down the Clackamas River as a must-see destination when visiting the state of Oregon. Recreation is common, and locals enjoy spending their time engaging in outdoor activities and relaxing equally. Wildlife by the Clackamas River is abundant, and there are a variety of animals and marine life that call this river home. The northern spotted owl, which is currently threatened, lives among the dense forests surrounding the river. Some of the fish present in the waters are salmon, trout, and lamprey. While some people do enjoy swimming in this river, only certain areas are suitable for this activity. You can read more about the specifics of this on the Clackamas River Water Providers website.
How Deep Is the Clackamas River Exactly?
Although it’s perfectly fine to swim in the Clackamas River during the summer months, water temperatures in winter can drop to the 30s.
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This river flows from its source in the Cascade Mountains and extends down to the Willamette River located close to Portland, Oregon. Although there are plenty of details available about the flow speed, length, and composition of the water, little information is accessible regarding the depth of the Clackamas River. Despite this, the Northwest River Forecast Center has provided statistics on the average stage in the Clackamas River. According to the United States Geological Survey, “stage” in this context means “the water level above some arbitrary point in the river.” That being said, the mean stage of the Clackamas River sits at about 14 feet on average.
How Does the Clackamas River Compare to Other Rivers in Oregon?
The largest river in Oregon is the Columbia River.
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Compared to other rivers in Oregon, the Clackamas River is on the smaller side. At roughly 83 miles long, it is dwarfed in comparison to the Columbia River and the Snake River which both measure to be over 1,000 miles long. Despite this, it is still a popular choice for recreation among locals. People praise the Clackamas River for its calm waters and reasonable flow speeds. However, compared to other places, waters may be a bit colder. Because of this, the ideal times to go kayaking or floating are usually July through September.
The Clackamas River is more comparable to the Sandy River, which is about 56 miles long. Much like the Clackamas, the Sandy is a popular destination for fishing, floating, and hiking. These two rivers are quite similar, so it really comes down to location and personal preference.
Final Thoughts
Nature lovers are sure to enjoy their time spent on the Clackamas River. It provides visitors with a wealth of different activities to do and remains open year-round. Whether you’re visiting for a day trip or plan to spend a while exploring, the experience is sure to leave you wanting more!
The photo featured at the top of this post is © Victoria Ditkovsky/Shutterstock.com
