Fall 2023 on the Upper Clackamas River with a full crew of rafts and catarafts. It's one of my favorite Clackamas videos.
Video: Fall 2023 The Upper Clackamas By Jacob Linkhart on the SOLWYRX Paddlesports YouTube channel.
Fall is a special time on the Clack. The leaves turn, the crowds thin out, and the first rains start bringing the river up. This trip had a great mix of boats, from paddle rafts to catarafts, and it shows how differently each craft handles the same rapids. If you're deciding between them, read Picking Your Boat: Raft, Cataraft, IK or Packraft?
The crew
A big thanks to some notable people on this trip: Jason Davis in the red paddle raft (camera 2), David Pauli in the brown Maravia with flames, and Val Shaull in the red cataraft. Good people make good river days.
The Upper Clackamas runs from around Three Lynx down through rapids like Hole in the Wall, Carter's Bridge and Toilet Bowl (Oregon Kayaking). For more, watch Cloudy day on the Upper Clackamas, and if you want to run it with a community group, check out River Rat Sunday.
Source: Oregon Kayaking, The Upper Clackamas
Personal trip report: flows, wood and hazards change, and what worked for me that day isn't a rule for your boat or group. Check current conditions, scout, and boat within your training.
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Updated October 28, 2026 · By Jacob Linkhart, owner of SOLWYRX Paddle Gear · Spot a mistake? Email me and I'll fix it.
