it from
the better-known Salmon River in Idaho--is a charter member of the state
Wild and Scenic Rivers System as well as one of the finest whitewater runs
in the country. Until the late 1970's only a few kayakers had boated this
river. Tom Foster, Bill Wing and Jim Cassady pioneered rafting here, and
the river quickly became popular. But the river is rarely crowded.Photos courtesy of All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting
Whitewater rafters soon find themselves in an intimate, steep-walled gorge, where sparkling green waters splash through an exhilarating series of Class IV - V rapids separated by deep quiet pools. Heavy precipitation -- 80 inches a year on average -- encourages the growth of lush forests along the river and feeds the brilliant side creeks that often drop down spectacular cascades into the main stream. Even in June, storms can move in quickly, so always bring wetsuits. The run can be extended by putting in at Methodist Creek on the South Fork, six miles above Forks of Salmon, and by running the Ikes section of the Klamath and taking out at Orleans.
Excerpted from California Whitewater by Jim Cassady & Fryar Calhoun
General Information
- Put-In: Forks of Salmon or Nordheimer Campground
- Difficulty: Class V
- Length: 19 miles
- Season: April - June
- Gradient: 47 feet per mile overall
- Runnable Levels: 500 to 5000 cfs
- Take-out: Somes Bar or Oak Bottom Campground.
Cal-Salmon Hompage
River Descriptions Page
Mile-by-Mile River Map
River Conditions
Camping
Whitewater Permits
River Access Shuttles
Rafting with an Outfitter
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