Salmon

Following a long, deep pool on a left bend in the river, this long rapid drops over a steep boulder bar into a fast runout at the bottom. It's mostly a straight shot down the center but lateral waves--some of which break at certain flows--add a bit of spice.

As the name implies, the current all heads toward a large rock wall at the bottom center of this rapid. It is clearly visible from the top. Avoid the wall by heading right at the bottom or by heading left to enter a large recirculating eddy that will feed you back out into the main current upstream of the wall.

The current is pushed to the far river left by a large cobble bar here and this constriction helps form a nice set of standing waves. At lower flows there is eddy access one of the upper waves via a river left eddy. The Karuk name for Three Dollar Bar, the flat on river left, is ishvínnipich.

The rapid at Oak Bottom forms a great set of standing waves at a range of flows. The famed Oak Bottom Wave that was a popular play spot in the late 90s and early 00s is no longer what it once was due to changes in the boulder bar that forms the rapid's constriction but it still is a very good surf wave and is sometimes surfed park-and-play style. It's a very short downstream paddle from the parking area at the Oak Bottom River Access to the wave and the walk back up is easy.

There are three small rapids on the right hand bend in the river by the George Geary River Access, a place known to the Karuk as takirkiraam ('the acorn leaching place'). Although the river can be accessed here via a trail from the day use area along Salmon River Road, boaters do not often use this access because it truncates the run and cuts off plenty of good whitewater. This is a common swimming and hangout spot for locals and Native familes so expect to see folks in the river here in late spring and summer.

The George Geary River Access is closed at times every summer so that members of the Karuk Tribe may conduct ceremonies here without disruption. Please be aware of the current closure status in summer and adhere to all closures for ceremonies.

Boaters sometimes use the walk-in Blue Hole River Access as a put-in for the lower half of the Lower Salmon, usually to extend the Ikes Run on the Klamath River by adding this reach of the Salmon River to start the day. This is also a popular swimming spot in the late spring and summer; the roadside parking area holds about four vehicles maximum. Blue Hole is about two miles upriver from Somes Bar and Highway 96 on Salmon River Road. There is a sign for this river access.

This is the most significant rapid on this run. After a very long pool, the river drops quickly and a large boulder splits the current near the top of the rapid. Depending upon flow and craft, boaters can go either left or right of the boulder. A good pillow forms on the upstream side of the rock and a clean line to the left means missing the rock and the pillow to stay on the main flow that heads downstream. The line to the right of the rock is tighter at all flow levels but it is more of a straight shot past the boulder but you will likely have to punch a small hole then cut back to the center after the boulder.

This long rapid can be run mostly in the center although some maneuvering around rocks is required at lower flows. The rapid ends just upstream of the Highway 96 bridge.

The final rapid on the Salmon is a long, straight shot down the center of the flow as the river is pinched between a cobble bar on the right and a rock wall on the left. Aim for the eddy at the bottom right where the waters of the Klamath mix with the Salmon. Paddle up this eddy on its Klamath side to set up for crossing the much larger Klamath to reach the take-out immediately below the bridge or to continue downstream on the Klamath for the Ikes Run.

Please be aware that the area surrounding the Salmon and Klamath confluence is very spritually significant to members of the Karuk Tribe. Act with utmost respect for the place and people, be quiet and minimize your presence. Be sure to know of and adhere to the annual summertime closures of the Lower Salmon and Klamath so that tribal people may conduct ceremonies along the river without disruption.

The Salmon and much larger Klamath converge in a beautiful confluence downstream of the Ishi Pishi bridge. While not a rapid per se, the confluence is like one with powerful, swirling currents and strong eddy lines. To reach the take-out on the far side of the Klamath, it's easiest to paddle upriver in the eddy on Klamath River left then cross the fast, wide current with a jet ferry or s-turn. Some paddlers will tell you this is the hardest move of the day--it's more intimidating than it is difficult.

Take out on river right of the Klamath River, directly opposite the conflunece of the Salmon River. This is sacred land belonging to the Karuk Tribe. Please act accordingly. It is best to park your vehicle up on Ishi Pishi Road to keep the river access clear and to avoid occupying tribal land any more than necessary.