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All-Outdoors Adventure Trips |
800-247-2387 |
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ARTA River Trips |
800-323-2782 |
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Tributary Whitewater Tours |
800-672-3846 |
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Turtle River Rafting Company |
800-726-3223 |
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Whitewater Voyages |
800-488-7238 |
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O.A.R.S. |
800-346-6277 |
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Rubicon Whitewater Adventures |
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Destination Wilderness |
800-423-8868 |
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| Sections |
Forks of Salmon to Somes
Bar, which includes the Nordheimer (upper) and Butler Creek (lower)
sections |
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Location |
Siskiyou County, east of
Orleans, northern California |
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Driving Time |
Eureka—2.5 hours,
Medford—3 hours |
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Difficulty |
Class IV-V, Class IV
rafting experience required by most outfitters on the Nordheimer
(upper) section. |
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Trip Length |
18-21 miles (29-34 km) |
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Trip Options |
Paddle raft, oar raft,
paddle-oar raft; one and two-days |
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Season |
April-August |
The Wild and Scenic
California Salmon or simply Cal Salmon, so referred to by river
outfitters to avoid confusion with the famed Idaho Salmon River, is
one of northern California's finest Class IV-V whitewater stretches
for thrill seekers. After a deceptively  easy start near the
community of Forks of the Salmon in the Klamath National Forest,
northeast of Eureka, the Salmon drops into an incredibly beautiful
and rugged gorge with vertical granite walls decorated by hanging
ferns, wildflowers, and sparkling waterfalls. Snowmelt waters from
the Trinity Alps passing over and through large boulder gardens
generate more than fifty exciting rapids that include Class IV
rapids. Also in this stretch are three dynamic Class V
rapids—Cascade, Last Chance, and Freight Train.
Outfitters
normally run one-day trips on both the upper and lower sections of
the Salmon. On two-day trips, the 10-mile (16-km) Class III-IV or
Butler Creek section, is frequently used as a preparatory run to the
more difficult Class IV-V Nordheimer (upper) section.
Rafters
must not take the California Salmon lightly. Its steep gradient
exceeds that of the main Tuolumne. Most outfitters require rafters
to be at least sixteen years old and have Class IV rafting
experience.
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