Not every day on the river is a big one. These are my Santiam and Molalla videos: an easy rapid in an inflatable kayak, salmon spawning in September 2023, winter on the Upper Santiam, the Upper Santiam at 4,000 cfs and the Molalla in 2024.
Disclosure: SOLWYRX Paddle Gear sells SOTAR and Sawyer gear, and I earn money when you buy it here. SOTAR also sponsors me as an athlete.
Lower Santiam: A Simple Rapid Run in an Inflatable Kayak
A one-minute clip of a simple rapid on the North Santiam in my AIRE Lynx inflatable kayak, from the same 2022 float as my first video.
Video: Lower Santiam, simple rapid run on the SOLWYRX Paddlesports YouTube channel.
It's short, but easy rapids like this one are where I built the basics, and they're the right place to practice whatever your instructor teaches you.
For what I've learned about why IKs flip, read My Flips on the Upper Clackamas.
If you're shopping for your own IK, start with what to look for in a whitewater inflatable kayak, then check out the SOTAR SL kayaks in the shop.
Salmon Spawning on the Santiam River, September 2023
A short, 25-second clip of salmon spawning in the Santiam River in September 2023.
Video: salmon spawning on the Santiam river September 2023 by Jacob Linkhart on the SOLWYRX Paddlesports YouTube channel.
Filmed: 2023
Fall is spawning season on a lot of Oregon rivers, and seeing it up close never gets old. These fish have come all the way back from the ocean to the gravel they were born in. It's one of those reminders that the river is a lot bigger than our boats and our runs, and that creation is pretty incredible.
A few river manners when the fish are in: avoid dragging boats or wading through gravel beds (redds) where fish are spawning, give them room, and don't harass them for a better shot. Check local fishing and river rules too, since some reaches have seasonal closures.
If you like this side of the river, watch The New Klamath, where dam removal reopened a whole river for salmon and for boaters.
Fun on the Upper Santiam, Winter 2023/2024
Winter fun on the Packsaddle run of the Santiam in my Super Puma, filmed over the 2023/2024 season.
Video: Fun on The Upper Santiam Winter 2023/2024 on the SOLWYRX Paddlesports YouTube channel.
Filmed: 2023–24
About the Packsaddle run
The Packsaddle run on the North Santiam goes from Packsaddle Park toward Mill City, about 6.6 miles of Class II–III+ water. It includes Spencer's Hole, which turns into a popular play spot as flows drop, and Mill City Falls just above the Mill City bridge (How's Your River). Spencer's Hole is also where I had one of my most memorable days on the water.
Winter boating
Winter is some of the best boating in western Oregon: rain keeps the rivers up, and it's quiet. It's also cold, so dress for the swim, not the air temperature. A dry suit, warm layers and a plan for getting someone warm fast are non-negotiable.
The Super Puma is rigged with a frame and Sawyer DyneLite XD MXS oars. See the same river at big flows in The Upper Santiam at 4000 CFS. For frames, I like DRL River Gypsies.
Source: How's Your River, Packsaddle Park to Mill City
The Upper Santiam at 4,000 CFS
The Santiam at 4,000 cfs is big water, and on this run there was a tree in play that we had to avoid.
Video: The Upper Santiam at 4000 CFS on the SOLWYRX Paddlesports YouTube channel.
At 4,000 cfs the familiar runs on the North Santiam change completely. Waves stack up, holes get grabby, and on the harder sections above, rapids that are moderate at medium flows become serious (Oregon Kayaking). I've seen what this river can do at high water firsthand, as I wrote in Spencer's Hole: The Morning I Saw It Coming.
Trees are the real danger
At high flows, wood is often a bigger threat than any rapid, and on this run we had a tree in play that we had to avoid. Strainer awareness is something swiftwater rescue training teaches far better than any article can; see Picking Your Boat.
Music: "Rooftop Sunsets" by Alexey Anisimov (Tunetank). Source: Oregon Kayaking, Niagara section of the North Santiam
The Molalla River 2024
The Molalla River in 2024, run in my Super Puma.
Video: The molalla river 2024 on the SOLWYRX Paddlesports YouTube channel.
Filmed: 2024
The Molalla is a smaller, rockier river than the Clackamas or the Santiam, and it's close to home for a lot of us in the Willamette Valley. Smaller rivers are great teachers: there's less room, so you have to be precise, and they change a lot with rain.
On a river I don't know well, I go with someone who's run it recently and look for a current report about wood, since small rivers collect it fast. If you're still figuring out which rivers and boats are right for you, start with Picking Your Boat.
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 31, 2026 · By Jacob Linkhart, owner of SOLWYRX Paddle Gear · Spot a mistake? Email me and I'll fix it.
