The Clackamas River is a tributary of the Willamette River that stretches nearly 83 miles long in northwestern Oregon. The headwaters of the Clackamas River are in the Cascades Mountains in Mount Hood National Forest, just north of Mt. Jefferson. The river supports Coho and Chinook salmon runs as well as steelhead. It is named after the Clackamas Indian tribe that once lived on the river.

The Clackamas carves through an impressive gorge lined with old-growth Douglas-fir trees. Rafters may see Bald Eagles, the Northern Spotted Owl and even the threatened Peregrine Falcon.

Forty-seven miles of the Clackamas River, from Big Springs to Big Cliff, was added to the National Wild and Scenic River System in 1988. The most popular section of the river to raft is the Upper Clackamas which has countless rapids and spectacular scenery.

This is one of the closest rivers to Portland, so for those who are on a time budget it is the perfect half or full day get-a-way.-way.