Benham to Lake Billy

Before spring had sprung, Ryan Scott, Dan Laham, and Scott Baker decided to embark on a three day adventure down the upper and middle Deschutes. With roughly 1100 CFS in the river the upper and middle could be linked together. Day one was a cold day, with a couple of inches of snow the night before had us starting right around noon or so. We paddled Benham, Dillon and Lava, Meadowcamp rapids and continued though beautiful downtown Bend and though riverhouse rapids.

The hike into Benham Photo: Matt Maloney


In Benham falls; Scott Baker Photo: Matt Maloney


Dillon Falls; Dan Laham Photo: Matt Maloney


More Dilon; Ryan Scott Photo: Matt Maloney


Day two was mostly flatwater and swift moving water but we checked out Awbrey falls, Kline falls, Odin falls and Big falls. Big falls was a bigger version of steelhead falls. Most of the falls are marginal to un-runnable falls.

Night ones accommodations Photo: Scott Baker


Ryan, Dan and Awbrey Falls Photo: Scott Baker


Day three was the Steelhead falls and we continued though lower canyon. The whitewater is the lower canyon was fun class four. It was a mix of meadowcamp and riverhouse style rapids with pools in between. The canyon walls were impressive and makes you wounder what the rapids would have been if the Deschutes flowed uninterrupted to the Columbia.

Dan having Steelhead for breakfast. Photo: Scott Baker


Huge thanks to Andria and Matt for shuttle service.