This is a neat section of stream that locals visit when other runs in the area are too high. The rapids would be rated class II+ if there were pools for rescue, but some parts of the creek are nonstop fast with some bigger features, earning it a class III or III+ for continuousness at least when at 8 feet or more. The flow is reported in both feet and cfs and if you're interested in the conversion please see the writeup about the upper stretch (link below).
Brush and branches line the banks and the current races along the outsides of the bends, tossing unwitting paddlers into the tangling brush.
There are some sections with bedrock that forms lovely waves and holes for surfing. Some surf spots even have eddy service. A strong paddler with a fast boat could surf all day long. A beginner surfer will find lots of smaller spots to try out.
The
Jordan Dam has been run, but it is a recommended portage (on river right). You will see why when you are there. It is located 1.8 miles upstream from the takeout, just before the creek passes under Jordan Road. The portage trail is begins on the right not far above the dam. Carry up the trail to the road above the drop, and back down to the river below it on the same side. You may have to carry downstream under the bridge or farther to find an easy launch spot.
For the last 1.5 miles the road parallels the river. Logging trucks roaring by will remind you that the top of the run feels remote, and even near the bottom there are only a few houses in sight from the water.
The stick gauge is 2.6 miles downstream from the Hannah Bridge takeout. It's on river right downstream from where Highway 226 crosses Thomas Creek near Shindler Bridge Rd. Because Thomas Creek rises and falls quickly, it's worth taking a peek at the stick on your way. Six feet is minimal, eight feet is a good flow and it can be run a fair bit higher. (At 8 feet it took 2.5 hours to navigate with a lunch stop and a portage at the dam.) One local says it's fun down to 700cfs and passable to 400. Anthony says the most fun flows are from 1350-1800cfs. Soggy says 1200-1600 is optimal. In short, if you want to enjoy this creek you must catch the correct flow by watching the gauge after a storm.
Here is
a report that appeared in the Statesman Journal (one of Salem's local newspapers) about kayaking this stretch of river.
When the gate at the put-in is open it is possible to lengthen the run by driving another 2+ miles upstream to where a side road crosses Thomas and a launch point can be found. The whitewater in this short section is more like the lower than the upper.
There is also an
upper stretch that used to be a go-to intermediate creek run for the local paddling community, however Weyerhaeuser restricted access and it is only available now during hunting season. Some years the flows and access line up, some years they don't. Because of the blocked access fewer people know the run.