Smith, North Fork

The North Fork Smith offers sweep boaters an ideal mix of technically challenging whitewater, near-continuous current, and stunning scenery / water quality that are undeniably best observed from the elite heights achieved during sweep boat navigation.

Recommended sweep boat flows range from 9.5 to 11 on the pipes, but daring sweep boaters will find an acceptable range exaggerated beyond the common-folk sweep boater comfort zone.

Normal areas of concern for all crafts, including the little boaters, remain true for sweep boaters. In particular, Scout, Serpentine, and Golf Course all represent classic challenges, albeit with straightforward solutions and predictable outcomes.

Unique danger lurks under the guise of “beauty” and is completely unrealized by the little boaters who may offer verbal noises of encouragement to enjoy a moment in the famous NF Grotto. Unfortunately, momentary joy delivers misfortune and suffering to even the most intellectual of sweep boaters when the curtain waterfall inevitably fills the non-self-bailing craft quite quickly and leads to self-inflicted shame. Here, the FOMO hits hard for sweep boaters, who are encouraged to observe the grotto from a safe distance.

Margie’s offers the best take-out location for sweep boaters. Four raft thwarts to use as rollers and three little boater friends makes the task of pushing the sweep uphill to the highway doable, but still ridiculous. Choose your friends wisely for this sweep boat adventure. Your sweep boat problems are enjoyed and shared by those who partake in your shuttle.

A classic winter run on the North Fork Smith, just with a few more boaters than normal. With an ideal flow of 8,000 cfs at the USGS gage in the morning, something close to 75 boaters decided to run the North Fork on this Sunday of BoatSmith 2025. By far, its the most boaters I've ever seen on this run in a day, but it worked out fine as a very long train of boats with most groups generally merged together.

The river was gently rising all day and the pipe at the Gasquet water plant read about 11.5 feet at the end of the run around 3 PM (USGS gage read 8,900 cfs / 11.04 ft. at the same time).

Without a doubt, this is one of the finest river-running day trips on earth and this level was a perfect low-half of medium flow: a littly fluffy with big waves, a few big holes, but well-defined with eddies, seams, and a ton of play. I took my Antix 2 half slice, the perfect boat for the day.

I moved across the country in 1997 specifically to be near the Smith River, which I had never seen but had heard amazing things about (mostly from a dawn-of-the-Internet website guide with photos of the runs). So it was fitting to be back on the Smith again paddling with my long-time boating partner and friend, Eric, who reminded me that we met in early 1998 on a Smith River trip--the North Fork, we both think. Twenty-seven years of the North Fork and I'm always ready to go back!

Joint trip with friends of American Whitewater and Smith River Alliance on the North Fork Smith River.

Incredibly scenic canyon with so many class 3-4 rapids

Sundance Kayak School instructor paddles into Scout Rapid on river left.

Stopping for a lunch break on NF Smith.

Yesterday 1/2/11 I made my 20th trip down this run and every trip confirms my first impressions...that this is one of the most uniquely beautiful class 3/4 river runs anywhere and I count myself lucky to have it in my neck of the woods.
There are a few things to know that will help any trip down this run;
1)Bearfoot Brad, one of the worlds best shuttle drivers (707)457-3365. for a small fee he will save you hours of driving and fill you with tons of local info. (he also posts the daily report of conditions on dreamflows.com)
2)forget about cfs this run is calibrated from the paddlers gauge at the confluence of the NF & MF. For a first time for the class 3/4 boater I'd say 9.5 to 10.5 is the ideal level ... Swimmers and gear can be easily rounded up, you'll have time to look at the scenery and there are still 8 or so class 4's and lots 3' to 4' high wave trains with the rare 5'-6' high wave to spice things up. Above 12 I hear things start to get big and fast, missed rolls at that level and above could result in long swims, lost gear and a epic hike out.
3)lots of surf waves so if your comfortable in class 4 in the playboat... bring it
4)bring sun glasses on sunny days. With a north to south orientation and a low winter sun, the glare can be blinding