South Fork Clackamas River
Encyclopedia
The South Fork Clackamas River is a tributary, roughly 8 miles (12.9 km) long, of the Clackamas River
in the U.S. state
of Oregon
. Beginning near South Fork Mountain in the western Cascade Range
, the river flows generally north through Clackamas County
to meet the larger river at Big Cliff. Most of the South Fork's drainage basin lies within the Mount Hood National Forest
.
The lower reaches of the river are part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Recreational opportunities in the basin include hiking, camping, and fishing for trout. A 70 feet (21.3 m) waterfall prevents salmon
and other migratory fish from swimming upriver beyond the first 0.4 mile (0.643736 km).
Beyond Forest Road 45, the river turns to the northeast. At 4.2 miles (6.8 km) from the mouth, it receives the East Fork of the South Fork Clackamas River from the right. Further downstream, Oscar Creek enters from the right, then Memaloose Creek from the right only 0.55 mile (0.885137 km) from the mouth. Shortly thereafter the river plunges over the 70 feet (21.3 m) South Fork Clackamas River Falls (or South Fork Falls) before joining the Clackamas River at Big Cliff, about 35 miles (56.3 km) from the larger river's confluence with the Willamette River
.
The 4.2 miles (6.8 km) of the South Fork Clackamas River between the East Fork of the South Fork and the mainstem Clackamas River were designated "wild" in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 2009. Designated rivers are classified as either wild, scenic, or recreational depending on the degree of access and amount of nearby development.
manages 79 percent of the land, the Bureau of Land Management
18 percent, while private owners control 3 percent. Elevations within the watershed vary from 4852 feet (1.5 km) at South Fork Mountain to 676 feet (206 m) at the river mouth. Watersheds bordering the South Fork basin are Fish Creek to the southeast, tributaries of the Molalla River
to the southwest, Clear Creek to the northwest, and the Clackamas River to the northeast.
fishing for trout
. Vegetation along the trail consists mainly of Douglas-fir
s and Western hemlocks with an understory of salal, sword fern
, and Oregon-grape
.
A 70 feet (21.3 m) waterfall 0.4 mile (0.643736 km) from the mouth prevents fish migration between the upper and lower river. Native winter steelhead
, spring Chinook salmon
, and Coho salmon
frequent the river downstream of the barrier falls but are off-limits to anglers
.
Clackamas River
The Clackamas River is an approximately tributary of the Willamette River in northwestern Oregon, in the United States. As it drains an area of about , the Clackamas passes through mostly forested and rugged mountainous terrain in its upper reaches, and passes through agricultural and urban areas...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. Beginning near South Fork Mountain in the western Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
, the river flows generally north through Clackamas County
Clackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
to meet the larger river at Big Cliff. Most of the South Fork's drainage basin lies within the Mount Hood National Forest
Mount Hood National Forest
The Mount Hood National Forest is located east of the city of Portland, Oregon, and the northern Willamette River valley. The Forest extends south from the Columbia River Gorge across more than of forested mountains, lakes and streams to the Olallie Scenic Area, a high lake basin under the slopes...
.
The lower reaches of the river are part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Recreational opportunities in the basin include hiking, camping, and fishing for trout. A 70 feet (21.3 m) waterfall prevents salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
and other migratory fish from swimming upriver beyond the first 0.4 mile (0.643736 km).
Course
Originating near South Fork Mountain in the Cascade Range, the river runs generally north through rugged terrain in the Mount Hood National Forest. Near the headwaters, the 8 miles (12.9 km) river flows northwest, passing under Forest Road 4540, which parallels the river's left bank for about 1 miles (1.6 km). At this point the river flows under Forest Road 45, a loop road that follows ridges to the left and right of the South Fork for much of the rest of its course.Beyond Forest Road 45, the river turns to the northeast. At 4.2 miles (6.8 km) from the mouth, it receives the East Fork of the South Fork Clackamas River from the right. Further downstream, Oscar Creek enters from the right, then Memaloose Creek from the right only 0.55 mile (0.885137 km) from the mouth. Shortly thereafter the river plunges over the 70 feet (21.3 m) South Fork Clackamas River Falls (or South Fork Falls) before joining the Clackamas River at Big Cliff, about 35 miles (56.3 km) from the larger river's confluence with the Willamette River
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
.
The 4.2 miles (6.8 km) of the South Fork Clackamas River between the East Fork of the South Fork and the mainstem Clackamas River were designated "wild" in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 2009. Designated rivers are classified as either wild, scenic, or recreational depending on the degree of access and amount of nearby development.
Watershed
The South Fork Clackamas River basin covers 17648 acres (71.4 km²) or about 27.6 mi2 of rugged terrain, most of which lies within the Mount Hood National Forest. The Clackamas Ranger District of the U.S. Forest ServiceUnited States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
manages 79 percent of the land, the Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
18 percent, while private owners control 3 percent. Elevations within the watershed vary from 4852 feet (1.5 km) at South Fork Mountain to 676 feet (206 m) at the river mouth. Watersheds bordering the South Fork basin are Fish Creek to the southeast, tributaries of the Molalla River
Molalla River
The Molalla River is a tributary of the Willamette River in the U.S. state of Oregon.-Geography:Its headwaters are in Clackamas County, in the Table Rock Wilderness, near Table Rock, in the Cascade Range...
to the southwest, Clear Creek to the northwest, and the Clackamas River to the northeast.
Recreation
A hiking guide calls the river "one of the most remote large streams in the state of Oregon". The Hillockburton Trail, which provides the only access to the lower river corridor, is 3.2 miles (5.1 km) round trip. It is usually open from mid-March to December, is moderately difficult, and has an elevation gain of 900 feet (274.3 m). It runs from Forest Road 45 west of the river to a campsite along the stream. Trail uses include hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, and access to catch-and-releaseCatch and release
Catch and release is a practice within recreational fishing intended as a technique of conservation. After capture, the fish are unhooked and returned to the water before experiencing serious exhaustion or injury...
fishing for trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
. Vegetation along the trail consists mainly of Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...
s and Western hemlocks with an understory of salal, sword fern
Polystichum munitum
Polystichum munitum is an evergreen fern native to western North America, where it is one of the most abundant ferns occurring along the Pacific coast from southeast Alaska south to southern California, and also inland east to southeastern British Columbia, northern Idaho and western Montana, with...
, and Oregon-grape
Oregon-grape
Oregon-grape is an evergreen shrub related to the barberry. Some authors place Mahonia in the barberry genus, Berberis...
.
A 70 feet (21.3 m) waterfall 0.4 mile (0.643736 km) from the mouth prevents fish migration between the upper and lower river. Native winter steelhead
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
, spring Chinook salmon
Chinook salmon
The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest species in the pacific salmon family. Other commonly used names for the species include King salmon, Quinnat salmon, Spring salmon and Tyee salmon...
, and Coho salmon
Coho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
frequent the river downstream of the barrier falls but are off-limits to anglers
Fisherman
A fisherman or fisher is someone who captures fish and other animals from a body of water, or gathers shellfish. Worldwide, there are about 38 million commercial and subsistence fishermen and fish farmers. The term can also be applied to recreational fishermen and may be used to describe both men...
.
Works cited
- Lorain, Douglas (2008. Afoot and Afield Portland/Vancouver: A Comprehensive Hiking Guide (2nd ed.). Berkeley, Calif: Wilderness Press. ISBN 978-0-89997-468-2.
- United States Forest Service (1997). "South Fork Clackamas River Watershed Analysis: Final Report". Retrieved February 28, 2010.