Little Lava Lake To Crane Prairie Reservoir river run
Little Lava Lake To Crane Prairie Reservoir
This Class III+ run spans a distance of 9 miles and features several rapids and obstacles, including the "Slalom Rapid" and "Big Eddy." The run culminates in the Crane Prairie Reservoir, providing a calm and scenic finish to the adventure.
It is important to note that this run requires a Northwest Forest Pass to park at the Little Lava Lake Trailhead. Additionally, boaters must follow all Oregon State Marine Board regulations, such as wearing proper personal flotation devices and carrying safety equipment.
Overall, the Whitewater River Run from Little Lava Lake to Crane Prairie Reservoir offers an exciting and challenging adventure for experienced boaters, with stunning natural scenery along the way.
Plan your run down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram; rain ahead of a run typically lifts flows 12-48 hours later depending on the basin.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks -- the upstream story that drives next week's flows.
Regional streamflow levels
USGS streamgauges around Little Lava Lake To Crane Prairie Reservoir -- useful for spotting upstream pulses and gauging which tributary is contributing what.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| So Fk Mckenzie River Abv Cougar Lake Nr Rainbow Or | 295 cfs | → |
| M F Willamette R Ab Salt Cr. | 556 cfs | → |
| South Fork Mckenzie River Near Rainbow | 331 cfs | → |
| Mckenzie R Blw Trail Br Dam Nr Belknap Springs | 793 cfs | → |
| Mckenzie River Bl Payne Cr | 210 cfs | → |
| Smith River Abv Trail Brdg Resv Nr Belknap Springs | 7 cfs | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest boat launches, other paddle runs, and campgrounds so a day on the water can grow into a full weekend.
Boat launches
- Browns Mountain
- Cultus Lake Campground
- North Twin Boating Site
- West South Twin Boating Site
- Lava Lake Boating Site
- National Forest Development Road 4600-789 Deschutes County
Other river runs
- Springs Sec 30, T21s, R8e To Wickiup Reservoir
- Wickiup Dam To Pringle Falls Campground
- Pringle Falls To Big River Campground
- Source To Confluence With Deschutes River
- Big River To Benham Falls
Whitewater safety
- Check the flow before you run
- Use the linked-gauge card and Regional Flow panel above. Class ratings change with flow -- a Class III at low water can become Class IV+ at high water.
- Know your skill ceiling
- Pick runs comfortably below your ceiling. Cold-water and big-water runs raise the consequences of any mistake.
- Wear the right gear
- Helmet, PFD, drysuit / wetsuit when water is below 60°F. Throw bag, knife, and whistle on your person, not in the boat.
- Scout, set safety, and run with a team
- Scout new rapids on foot, set safety with throw bags above the consequence pool, and run with at least one other competent paddler.
- Respect the river
- Strainers, undercuts, low-head dams, and wood can kill at any class rating. When in doubt, portage.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Little Lava Lake To Crane Prairie Reservoir as a favorite, set a discharge threshold (e.g. "alert me when flow hits 600 cfs"), and the iOS app pushes the moment the linked gauge crosses.
About Little Lava Lake To Crane Prairie Reservoir
What's the optimal flow for Little Lava Lake To Crane Prairie Reservoir?
The optimal flow depends on the section and the craft. Check the Run Details panel for the linked gauge and current status.
How fresh is the cfs reading on this page?
The linked USGS streamgauge reports continuously (every 15 minutes); Snoflo refreshes throughout the day. Hover the streamflow sparkline to read individual datapoints.
What's the whitewater class?
See the Run Details panel for the class rating Snoflo tracks for this run. Class ratings change with flow -- a Class III at low water can become Class IV in high water.
Where do I put in / take out?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions to the put-in. For shuttle planning, check the Nearby Boat Launches panel and the river run operator's site.
Can I get alerts when flows hit the optimal range?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this run, set a discharge threshold, and you'll get a push the moment the gauge crosses.
Other runs near here
Snoflo-tracked paddle runs within driving distance of Little Lava Lake To Crane Prairie Reservoir.