Umpqua, North

The run starts in the pool at the base of Toketee Falls (or above if you are into big waterfalls) and continues down to the Soda Springs Reservoir.  Not many groups have gone through the gorge below Toketee in boats, so flow recommendations are not finite and the upper limits are not known.

Most of the year, this reach has about 70 cfs released into it out of Toketee Reservoir.  When it does flow (over 300 cfs), it's a special treat.  The run starts off with the monstrous Toketee Gorge and Falls, a class V+ endeavor most paddlers will choose to avoid.  A short trail leads from the parking area past the gorge on river right, at the end of the trail paddlers descend steeply to river level.  This last scramble requires dexterity, and possibly rope work.

Once at river-level, take a moment to soak in Toketee Falls from the bottom.

Hot tip: Not many people get to view Toketee from River left, but you have a kayak, so consider treating yourself to that.

Boulder garden rapids start right out of the gate.  While only one pushes class V at the recommended flows, a few should be scouted.   After about 1 mile of rapids in a beautiful gorge (everything is scoutable/portageable) a bedrock, ledgy rapid that feels out of place marks the end of the first section of whitewater.  A short way below this ledgy rapid, a pump house releases water into the river at a bridge.  Just downstream, a short reservoir ends in a dam.  There is an easy portage on the left around this dam.

The amount of water being released from the pump house will dictate the character of the next part of the run.  At 300 cfs this section is class II-III, at 800 cfs it's high quality class III-IV, and at 2,000 cfs it's big water class IV.  Regardless of water level, there is plenty to look around at, whether it be natural or anthropogenic.  The North Umpqua below Slide Creek dam gage shows how

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