Elk River

I agree with Sean Welsh...great run. I've been down twice, both times putting in at the campground 7+ miles upstream of the hatchery (Sunshine Bar?). This gives you a mile of class 1/2 warm-up before the first class 3/4 gorge. The first gorge has a bunch of pool-drop class 3 and a couple of class 4 rapids. One of which is the 'Sluice' the most dramatic rapid on the run...a 3+lead-in to a 6 to 8' sloping drop into a chaotic looking hydraulic that is easier than it looks. The other drop in the first gorge that is worth a scout is the last one (you can see this one on the drive up if you pay attention and thus avoiding a river scout). On the river you'll spot it by the boulders narrowing the stream with mist raising from river left and the river swinging 90 degrees to the right...run hard right to avoid the sticky looking hole on the left. After this is a three mile or so section of mostly class 2 with a few class 3's towards the end, just before the last gorge. The last gorge is great!; Five somewhat blind class 3+ to 4 drops separated by boiling class 2/3 water with tight to the walls surging eddies all in just over a 1/4 mile. Next time I'm going to figure out how to lap this gorge.