Salmon River into Klamath (Cal Salmon)

This is a classic must-do run for advanced rafters and hardshell kayakers with an unfailing roll. At low flows it also a good inflatable kayak run. Inflatable kayakers who are comfortable in big water often run this stretch without mishap, and Chris Ursich reports good inflatable kayaking at around 350 cfs. The Holbek/Stanley book says flow range is 500-5000 cfs with 1500 optimum and harder rapids above 2000 cfs. The Cassady/Calhoun book says flow range for rafts is 600-4000 cfs.

Gayle Wilson made two excellent whitewater videos on this river, The Slammin' Salmon and Whitewater Bloopers, both of which are highly recommended. The lesson of these videos is that the Salmon can kick your butt, especially at higher flows. In 1982 a commercial rafting passenger drowned during a long high-water swim. For a while, 3000 cfs became the accepted maximum flow for rafts, although Cassady/Calhoun's 3rd edition now says 4000 cfs, and Holbek/Stanley have always said 5000 cfs.

For skilled rafters, the Cassady/Calhoun guidebook description is enough to get you down this section of river. To learn the rapids and the best routes, you might want to book a commercial trip with an outfitter who knows the river. Private boating groups often make a pilgrimage to the Salmon over Memorial Day.

Some boaters continue this run down thru the Ikes section of the Klamath. In fact, that is usually the only time anybody runs the Ikes. The adventure involves 4.5 miles of class II on the Salmon below Wooley Creek, then some big water starting at the Klamath eddy line. Only .7 mile below the confluence, boaters encounter Little Ike (III-), Big Ike (IV), and Super Ike (III+), all within .3 mile. Lesser but still good rapids continue to Dolan Bar 4.5 miles further.

Upstream of Nordheimer Creek is an excellent 10.3 mile class III run starting at Methodist Creek and continuing past Forks of Salmon. This is an alternative when flows are high, and is a good IK run. Below Methodist Creek, the Salmon offers tight rapids in a narrow gorge, then opens up a bit, where you encounter some fun steep drops. The Salmon flow approximately doubles at the North Fork confluence, with only class II rapids down to Nordheimer campground.

Bloomer Falls from below	Rock garden below Bloomer Falls
Above Morehouse Creek	Cat does tailstand in Airplane Turn
Above the narrow right chute of Cascade	Cat burying bow at the bottom of Cascade
Kayak taking center line in Cascade	Fortunately the hole is not very sticky
Cat entering left side of Cascade	Achilles Heel from below

A good combination trip is to run the Cal Salmon on Saturday, dine at the Indian Creek Cafe in Happy Camp, then motor over to run the Scott on Sunday. This makes one of the best whitewater weekends in California.

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