Oregon whitewater, Row River Lane county, Wildwood Falls to Dorena Reservoir section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.   CLASS III     7 miles   Yes I agree wth the previous note, although there is no safe time to go in the caves. My brother drown in August by going in the caves and my half brother drown in the under current a year before him. It's a danerous place. At the time of my brother death the fire dept was trying to get permission to blow the cave up because they were loosing kids there every Summer. It literally a Death trap. Both my brothers where strong swimmers. They were     ages 19 and 16 at the time of there deaths and they are grately missed. Thats been over thirty years ago and Kids are still dying. Says Shari DeMoss I live about one mile above the Wildwood Falls area on the Row River. The most important thing I can add to your river description is that every year there is a death at Wildwood Falls due to people's lack of experience with the terraine, waterfalls, swimming, boating, etc, (sometimes a year goes by and there is no death here, but that is rare). The most common cause of death or serious injury to people is getting in the water when the water is too high. Because the falls have a nice round diving basin, and   a small concealed cave behind it, people are drawn to the falls before the water level is really safe in the late spring and early Summer. It is safest in July through late August. The cave is a source of drowning because people go into it easily with the force of the water but cannot get back out because the water pushes then back into the cave, and then they run out of air. There is also a lot of submerged debris that snag boaters and swimmers alike. These full sized logs and branches catch people's legs, arms, and smash their heads with the force of the waterfall pounding them and the debris then drags them down in the undertow below the falls, churning below the surface of the water. Local Cottage Grove Rescue divers (30 min. from the falls) have also died in recent years at Wildwood Falls in attempts to drag dead bodies out, because of the debris and undertow. It seems like a very docile place to swim and is a very popular place in the summer (approx. 150-200 people every day). BUT anyone going in the water in June are really asking for trouble unless the water level is really low and calm. If the water is still high or even at a moderate level weeks after the last heavy rain, logs and branches that wash down from the Umpqua National Forest logging operations many miles up river get trapped at the first big basin, Wildwood Falls, and thrash about under the water, pulling down anyone who gets in. I have personally seen people drown because they slipped from the rocks, or dove in and hit debris, or because they were wearing sandals and fell into the water when it was at a moderate level in June, never surfacing, all infront of atleasty 30 people who were also in the water near them but at the outskirts of the falls basin, or were onlookers. In these situations, no one is able to get near the base of the falls because of the force of the water at Wildwood Falls. So, please, if you are promoting this beautiful, narrow, not very deep stretch of river, with it's rapids and scenic beauty, do so responsibly and mentions the safety tips I offer here...people need to be extra careful with Wildwood Falls, wear the appropriate gear (helmet, good shoes, life vest...and not go into the Wildwood falls basin before July. And bring plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Anyone attempting to navigate the actual falls in the fall, winter or spring after the water level is up is asking for a serious situation and statics show a probable death. The thrashing debris in the basin below Wildwood Falls is not that obvious. The high water looks exciting, a thrilling ride for experienced boaters. Please advise people of this fact. These deaths and serious injuries are avoidable if people are smart about their fun. I live at the original Wildwood Lodge by the falls and see it every year for the past 25 years. A friend of mine, an experienced and licensed River guide for N.Calif. and Oregon paddled it and had a lot of fun, but she says it can easily be rated as level 3 rapids. Thanks, Amanda Wilcox Says Amanda Wilcox Row River, Wildwood Falls to Dorena Reservoir road map Printable road map with the put-in and take-out locations clearly marked.     Map Detailed Map Stats Stats for this river stretch Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Row River.   Whitewater Near Row River: Row River, Lane County, 3 miles away       Class III - 7 miles long (Wildwood Falls to Dorena Reservoir) Row River, Lane County, 7 miles away       Class II-III - 5 miles long (Dorena Dam to Scaling Station Bridge) Layng Creek, Lane County, 8 miles away       Class IV - 5 miles long (Rujada Campground to Wildwood Falls) Sharps Creek, Lane County, 8 miles away       Class II-III - 7 miles long (7 mi above Layng Ck confluence) Willamette River - Middle Fork, Lane County, 11 miles away       Class II - 10.8 miles long (Dexter Dam to confluence with Coast Fork Willamette) Fall Creek, Lane County, 13 miles away       Class I-II - 5 miles long (Fall Creek Dam to Willamette River) Brice Creek, Lane County, 15 miles away       Class IV-V - 5 miles long (Champion Creek to Cedar Creek Campground) Champion Creek, Lane County, 15 miles away       Class IV-V - 1.1 miles long (Gorge 1 mile above Brice Creek to Brice Creek) Canyon Creek, Douglas County, 15 miles away       Class III-IV - 9 miles long (Confluence with Pass Creek to Steamboat Creek) Whitewater Outfitter - Wild Water Adventures, Lane County, 15 miles away       Whitewater outfitter   Ski Areas Near Row River: Willamette Pass, Oregon , 57 miles away, 1563 foot drop, 6 lifts, 29 runs Hoodoo, Oregon , 76 miles away, 1035 foot drop, 6 lifts, 30 runs Mt. Bachelor, Oregon , 83 miles away, 3365 foot drop, 13 lifts, 71 runs Mt. Ashland, Oregon , 83 miles away, 1195 foot drop, 4 lifts, 23 runs   Hotels Near Row River: Village Green Resort, Cottage Grove , 13 miles away Quality Inn Cottage Grove - Eugene South, Cottage Grove , 14 miles away Best Western Cottage Grove Inn, Cottage Grove , 14 miles away Comfort Inn & Suites Creswell, Creswell , 14 miles away Super 8 Creswell/South Eugene, Creswell , 15 miles away   Campgrounds Near Row River: Happy Eagle Lodge and RV's, Dorena, 4 miles away Baker Bay Park, Dorena, 6 miles away Sharps Creek, Culp Creek, 7 miles away   Trails Near Row River: Teeter Creek Loop, Lane , 6 miles away, 1.8 hiking miles, 491 feet elevation difference Eagles Rest Trail, Lane , 11 miles away,  4.4 hiking miles, 1570 feet elevation difference Silica Trail, Lane , 11 miles away, 3.3 hiking miles, 2595 feet elevation difference Rock Creek Trail, Douglas , 11 miles away,  4.6 hiking miles, 663 feet elevation difference Pass Creek Trail, Douglas , 12 miles away, 3.9 hiking miles, 1839 feet elevation difference China Creek Trail, Lane , 13 miles away, 1.5 hiking miles, 992 feet elevation difference Leach Camp Trail, Douglas , 13 miles away, 1.1 hiking miles, 1608 feet elevation difference   Public Lands Near Row River: Crater Lake National Park, Crater Lake - OR , 65 miles away Dexter State Park, Oregon , 10 miles away Lowell State Park, Oregon , 11 miles away Elijah Bristow State Park, Oregon , 12 miles away   Golf Courses Near Row River: Middlefield Golf Course, Cottage Grove , 13 miles away Emerald Valley Golf Club, Creswell , 14 miles away Hidden Valley Golf Course, Cottage Grove , 15 miles away   Lakes Near Row River Dorena Lake, Lane , 7 miles away Dexter Reservoir, Lane , 11 miles away Lookout Point Lake, Lane , 12 miles away