| Difficulty | III-IV |
| Length | 15 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 40 fpm |
| Gauge | Smith R Nr Crescent City Ca |
| Flow Rate as of 50 minutes | 290 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | April 21, 2025 |
Flows
The water on this run is always crystal clear unless levels are high, and it's known as one of the most scenic runs on the West Coast. Good flows are available in the winter rainy season, October to April, when an average of 92 inches of rain falls. Summers are dry, so the rivers get too low for boating. There is a foot gauge painted onto a pipe near the take-out for the NF Smith, and it actually correlates pretty well (usually within 0.5' at medium levels) with the USGS Smith River near Crescent City gage. Here is what to look for on the pipe.
6' --- (very low) Has been done at least once by packrafters at this flow, they reported a fun day and a 7-hour trip.
7' --- (very low) Has been done at this flow by IK's, better suited to an overnight approach.
7.5' --- (low) Can be done in hard shell kayaks, but it's about the minimum for this craft.
8' --- A friendly low level for kayakers, and while doable in R2 style rafts some would consider it too low.
8.5' --- Low runnable for rafts, but a worthwhile flow for kayakers looking for more class III than IV.
9' --- A fun level, and a good mix of class III and IV.
10' --- Considered the ideal first time level in any craft. Expect a Class III/IV, pool and drop experience.
12' --- The connoisseurs flow, it becomes continuous and pushy, but still Class IV.
13.5' --- Has some mean spots, not a good flow for those without prior knowledge of the run.
14' --- Pretty filled in, big, fast and continuous. Still class IV (IV+) but unforgiving to a swimmer, with a few large features
16'-18' --- Becoming quite large, few or no eddies, strong boils and seams, very fast currents
19'-20' --- It has been run this high in kayaks and crafts built for big water. Here is a video<
...Put in at the large boulder bar upstream and within sight of Major Moore's Bridge (County Road 305 / Low Divide Road).
Diamond Creek enters the NF Smith on the left at a dramatic confluence featuring a waterfall cascading in from a side stream after recent rains. Boating Diamond Creek into the North Fork Smith is an alternate way to get on the river and makes for an interesting and full day (and a very long shuttle).
Kayaks, packrafts, and other easily carried craft usually take out at the Gasquet water plant, located on the river left side of the North Fork at the confluence with the Middle Fork. The site is marked by two sets of steel pipes angling into the water. It's a steep scramble up the rocks to the road. Rafts usually continue downstream on the Middle Fork to take out at Margie's River Access along US 199.