| Pringle Falls | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Deschutes County, Oregon, United States |
| Coordinates | 43°44′35″N 121°36′30″W / 43.74306°N 121.60833°W[1] |
| Type | Rapids |
| Elevation | 4,232 feet (1,290 m)[1] |
| Total height | 25 feet (7.6 m) |
| Number of drops | multiple |
| Watercourse | Deschutes River |
Pringle Falls is a series of rapids or drops on the upper Deschutes River in the U.S. state of Oregon. From just downstream of Wyeth Campground, the rapids begin with about 600 feet (180 m) of whitewater rated class II (novice) on the International Scale of River Difficulty. The next 300 feet (91 m) is class III (intermediate] ending in a class IV (advanced) drop.[2] Soggy Sneakers: A Paddler's Guide to Oregon's Rivers says, "Only expert kayakers should consider this drop, and only after scouting. It is definitely not a rapids for open canoes."[2]
The Northwest Waterfall Survey describes the rapids as "the first major waterfall along the Deschutes River" but qualifies this by adding that the waterfall has been reported to be a cascade series with a total vertical drop of 25 feet (7.6 m) spread over a horizontal distance of 850 feet (260 m). The survey notes that the falls cannot be seen from nearby roadways or other public property.[3]
Most boaters portage 1.5 miles (2.4 km) around the falls, taking out of the river at Wyeth Campground and putting back in below the falls at Pringle Falls Campground. Shorter portages are not feasible because the land on both sides of the rapids is private.[2] The two campgrounds, one upstream and one downstream of the private land, are within the Deschutes National Forest.[4][5]
- ^ a b "Pringle Falls". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. November 28, 1980. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
- ^ a b c Giordano, Pete; The Willamette Kayak and Canoe Club (2004). Soggy Sneakers: A Paddler's Guide to Oregon's Rivers (4th ed.). Seattle: The Mountaineers Books. pp. 291–93. ISBN 978-0-89886-815-9.
- ^ "Pringle Falls". Northwest Waterfall Survey. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
- ^ "Wyeth Campground, OR". Recreation.gov. 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
- ^ "Pringle Falls Campground". United States Forest Service. Retrieved February 14, 2016.