Flowing northwest from its sources high in the Cascade Mountains, the Clackamas River is one of the region’s most picturesque; and its fish, wildlife, vegetation, recreation opportunities, and historic resources led Congress to designate it as one of America’s wild and scenic rivers in 1988.

Of the 47 miles of the river that carry the wild and scenic designation, the Bureau of Land Management manages a small-but-important portion: six-tenths of a mile of river adjacent to Oregon State Hwy. 224, from a point west of the U.S. Forest Service’s Lazy Bend Campground to a half mile above the river’s bend westward at Big Cliff.

The area is most recognizable by the green Pratt truss bridge at Memaloose Road, now closed to vehicular traffic, which sits atop the river and connects walkers to the day-use area on the river’s south side.

In the 1800s, Congress granted this and a checkerboard of many alternate sections of land to the Oregon and California (O & C) Railroad for sale to settlers. In 1917, when the railroad company failed to meet the grant's terms, Congress reclaimed these lands and they returned to federal ownership as public lands.

The river’s steep southern bank – rising to more than 1,400 feet – shows evidence of past logging, authorized in 1937 when Congress directed that the O & C lands be managed for permanent forest production under the principles of sustained yield management.

More recently, a wildland fire burned throughout the area, leaving many dead and scarred trees throughout the landscape.

Today, this section of the Clackamas Wild and Scenic River offers breathtaking mountain views, replete with native wildflowers and wildlife, as well as direct access for fishing, rafting and hiking.

Story, photos and videos by Greg Shine, BLM