In the south central part of our great state of Oregon lies a magical river that is seldom visited. Most motorists driving thru the town of Paisley (it takes 20 seconds) never see the magical river canyon 5 minutes upstream of town. I have been kayaking this river now for several years when it flows during snow melt season. It has continuous class 2+3 whitewater in a scenic eastern Oregon canyon setting. The campsites along the river are spectacular and second to none. 
There is numerous trails up to the canyon rim. Some of which connect to the Fremont National Recreation Trail, amountain bikers paradise!
Trail Details
| Season: summer, fall |
| Distance: 175 miles +/- |
| Hazards: remoteness, little water, few people, lots of mosquitoes, primitive trail conditions |
Central Oregon Trails Association recently adopted this trail to assist the Fremont National Forest in keeping this trail open. This unexplored gem of a trail is not for the faint of heart or those who are easily lost. It requires significant route-finding skills, self-sufficiency and willingness to spend 8 or more hours on the trail. Shuttle options are available but also require good ability with FS maps and persistence. These skills are rewarded in spades with outstanding views, long climbs and descents and some of the most incredible scenery in the state. The trail itself would be more established if only more people would go ride it. Some small segments are also used by equestrians and hikers but to truly appreciate this trail a mountain bike is definitely the preferred mode of travel.
We have spent many spring days and nights here, kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, and even exploring by motorcycle. Summer Lake, Fremont Cabin, Hagar Mountain, and Morgan Butte are all nearby and accessible in late spring.
The Chewaucan River is part of the Great Basin drainage. It flows 53 miles (85 km) through the Fremont–Winema National Forests, Bureau of Land Management land, and private property in southern Oregon. The Chewaucan flows through Paisley and into what was once the Upper Chewaucan Marsh east of the town. The marsh is now pasture land, and the river’s flow through this area is controlled by a system of weirs and irrigation canals. The river is consolidated for a short distance as it leaves the upper marsh at The Narrows, where two fingers of high desert uplands force the river into a single narrow channel. The river then opens into the Lower Chewaucan Marsh approximately 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Valley Falls. Finally, Crooked Creek joins the Chewaucan just one mile (1.6 km) before it empties into Abert Lake, which has no outlet. Abert Lake and Abert Rim are spectacular formations that deserve their own blog post, suffice to say that they are definitely worth seeing. So put on your bucket list. If you are a paddler, this is a great place to multi-sport and have a base camp. The historic bar in Paisley is a great breakfast spot after a week of camp food! Look for more fun topics from me in the future @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/Onthelookout/. Until then, enjoy the summer and thanks for reading.
Joey Michael Hodgson is a Fire Lookout, firefighter, kayaker, chainsaw carver, writer, and musician. Check out his blog @onthelookout@blogger.com and current music projects @https://www.reverbnation.com/thelookoutsband?profile_view_source=header_icon_nav
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