Trask, N. Fork

'Class II+ whitewater through a river canyon with steep terrain and canyon sections.' is the old description. I would add a lot. First of all, this run has great kayak surfing especially at the higher flows, and it is especially beautiful and remote. It also needs a lot of rain but luckily the Oregon coast gets a lot of rain. We haven't found an upper limit to the flows here but folks running it at 4,000 and 5,000 on the main Trask above Cedar gauge say that it is still only class 3 and plenty of fun.

The run begins at a confluence of two equal-sized streams, where there is also a lovely camp. One of those two streams is the NF of the NF. Below this point the whitewater is twosy with threesy moments, quite continuous in places. Then you get to a waterfall cascading in from the left, and a beach on river right--this is a good break spot before the rapid that you saw from the road on the way up. This beach is also the last easy get-out spot for anyone who has learned in the first bit that the conditions aren't right for them. A quick hike back to the car and you've saved yourself and your buddies from a bad day.

The rapid you saw on the drive up (we're calling it Entrance Exam) rates a 3 in my book, because it's long and the crux is at the top. If you didn't stop to scout it, joke's on you. Big boulders cause the horizon at the top and then there's a long runout that would suck to swim. If this rapid or the river before this spot is unkind to your boating crew it is definitely time to get up to the road however you can, and hike back for your vehicle(s).

Below there by about 1/4 mile is another notable rapid, on a right bend, with a significant hole center left at the bottom. You can go on either side of the hole, which we call 'Canoe Eater'. Downstream the road leaves the river, and getting out becomes difficult.

When you get to the short but beautiful gorge you can look around, because the whitewater is easy. Keep an eye high on the right

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