The Middle Fork of the Hood River below Laurance Lake is a fun and beautiful section of whitewater with the occasional poorly placed log. The whitewater is continuous from start to finish.
This section of river was devastated by 2006 floods and was full of wood for many years after, as described in this description on OregonKayaking.net. As of 2016, the wood situation is still pretty bad but more manageable. There is a long section of this run that is wood free and ridiculously fun.
The entire river right bank of this run is a lava flow.The highlight is a spot along the lava flow where you can see both Mount Hood and Mount Adams from the same spot.
Trip Highlights
Mile 0: Put-in below Laurance Lake on the Clear Branch of the Hood. There are a few places to bushwhack down to the river. You'll be dragging your boat over wood and through shallow water until after the Coe and Elliot Branches add more water.
One of the more difficult wood portages on the Clear Branch of the Hood River below Laurance Lake
Mile 0.5: The Coe Branch brings in much needed water from river right. You can hike down this small creek as an alternate put-in.
Mile 0.8: The Enchanted Forest is a short section of dead trees before the Elliot Branch.
The Enchanted Forest
Mile 1.3: The Elliot Branch adds even more water. Below the confluence of the Clear Branch and Elliot Branch the Middle Fork of the Hood River begins.
Below the Elliot Branch the river is steep with many blind corners
Mile 1.7: A double mountain view (Mount Hood and Mount Adams) can be enjoyed in one of the steeper sections. Below here the river is continuous all the way to take-out.
View of Mount Adams from the Middle Fork of the Hood River
Mile 5.6: Take-out at the Red Hill Bridge.
