Baldface Creek
Mckee Cabin to North Fork Smith River
| Difficulty | IV-V |
| Length | 6.3 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Smith R Nr Crescent City Ca |
| Flow Rate as of 56 minutes | 5.51 ftbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | March 12, 2025 |
Projects
The Smith River is one of the last major free-flowing rivers on the West Coast. Known for its exceptional water quality, unique botanical resources, and spectacular paddling opportunities, it flows from the rugged Kalmiopsis Wilderness in southwest Oregon into northern California and the Pacific Ocean near Crescent City. American [...]Read More
The Siskiyou Mountains in Southwestern Oregon give rise to iconic wild rivers like the Wild and Scenic Illinois, Rogue, Chetco and North Fork Smith Rivers. The region is known for its stunningly clear rivers, salmon strongholds, unique and rich biodiversity, and outstanding opportunities for angling and backcountry whitewater adventures. [...]Read More
River Description
A remote class IV/V wilderness run deep in the heart of the Kalmiopsis red rock country. This run has been done in one (very long) day, but if conditions line up doing the run as an overnight is much nicer.
The hike in is between 4-7 miles on old mining roads depending on driving conditions.
The run starts off with a friendly warm up, building to class IV after about a mile. The run continues for numerous miles of read and run class IV give or take with a couple islands that deserve a scout.
The run builds to it's crux at The Great Slide, a set of rapids with large boulders and tall walls with an active landslide on river-right.
Downstream the whitewater eases for a short bit, before leaving red rock country behind and entering a green forest. Bowman's awaits in this section, and should be scouted, preferably from a central island that is hard to reach at higher flows. Mind a sticky hole on a left bend just downstream (far right offers easy passage), then more read and run as the difficulty fades until it reaches the NF Smith confluence at Sourdough Campground.
Sourdough Rapid is not far downstream on the NF Smith, followed by a few more read and runs and one excellent campsite on river-left before reaching Major Moore's access. Boaters can take out here, or continue down the classic section of the NF Smith: content/River/view/river-detail/298/main
Trip Reports:
River Features
Put In
1215 trail crossing.
Take Out
Major Moore's
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportMy wife Priscilla and I paddled Baldface Creek into the NF Smith and down to Gasquet over 4 days (including one hiking day), March 31-April 2, 2024 after a large storm, followed by a few days of warm temperatures and blue skies melting high elevation snow that kept flows enjoyable while on the water. A padded low flow I'd call it. I don't recall any wood that required portaging or that stood out as sketchy.
Trip Report here: http://mthoodh2o.blogspot.com/2025/03/baldface-creek.html