Rogue, North Fork

Dropping in

Whole run is free of wood as of May 27th, 2020. 900cfs was a really fun flow.

Big tree fallen in the middle of the longest flatwater stretch a ways above the final chutes above the take-out. It's clearly visible from a long ways off. There is a sneak route on the far left but it's tight and may not go at higher water (there was room at 500CFS). Definitely scout the drops below the flatwater stretch for wood.

Karma and indeed the entire run are free of wood in Sept 2019.

I'm going to take exception to the new 4+ rating you guys give this run and Karma. Most locals consider the Mill Ck. section below the Mill Ck. falls and Takilma gorge 4+ and with this run considerably easier and less dangerous, it should be rated class 4. No doubt at flows over a 1,000cfs Karma gets some push and probably deserves it's 4+ rating given in the rapids section, I would go even a little further and say over 1,500cfs Karma might be low class 5 (at least it looks like class 5 as I walk it at that flow). But most of the boating done on this section (I'd bet over 90%) are at summer flows of 400 to 800cfs and a class 4 or 4- rating for both karma and the run in general are more in line with it's difficulty at those flows. As for the run; sure you can make it class 5 by running the put-in rapid and Knob falls, but in the 100 or so times I've been down this run, I've seen the put-in rapid run around 20 times (and usually by the same people) and Knob Falls never. The point being; this is a class 4 run with an optional class 5 and a portage in my book.

This run and the two below (Takilma & River Bridge) are summer and fall Rogue Valley staples. In the 9 years I've been boating on this stretch I have never seen it too low to boat. Both Dreamflows and Pat Welch post daily estimates online. The two estimates do vary a bit from each other but the difference is consistent so both work. I'd say below 800cfs the run is easier (solid class 3 boaters should be OK 800 on down) as Karma becomes less pushy and the two holes on the right mid way down disappear. The best way to scout Karma is to stop in the eddy on the right above the 3+/4- rapid leading into it. Eddy out right then climb the right wall and walk to the overlook about 150' downstream for the birds eye view. Even then you'll only see 2/3 of the rapid as the last 8' sloping ledge is out of sight as the river curves to the left. To spot this large eddy; it's on the right before the river will make a 60 degree turn to the left, narrowing down between large boulders with a horizon line just past the boulders. Trust me you'll know when you see it. As of 2011 it is now really easy to spot the eddy as a 1' to 2' diameter log now spans the river just below the eddy as you head into the drop above Karma. Don't count on this log being there next year though.
After Karma the river mellows out until Knob Falls, I go up and over (more work but faster) but most of my buddies opt for the seal launch below the falls. I would go up and over unless you're with somebody who knows where to get out above the falls. This run even though upstream is better at low flows than River Bridge as the channel is more narrow and the water deeper. Oregon Kayaking, Jefferson State Creeking and Dreamflows all have write-ups with pictures of this run

A run down the North Fork Rogue Natural Bridge run

The normal way of getting to the river is a seal luanch.

Access here is not very user friendly but you can get down to the river.
At Natural Bridge the North Fork Rogue disappears into a lava tube. This view is looking downstream to towards the entrance where the river goes underground for a couple hundred yards. It's worth the time to check out this feature before you put-in at the downstream end.

View upstream from the footbridge. On river left is a lava tube into which you must not go!

Narrow spot not far above the Knob Falls portage.

Karma Scout, river right.

Junky rapid at low water but there are still a couple of lines.