April 20, 2023
| Reporter | Matthias Fostvedt |
Our group tried to run Deep Creek (EF Owyhee tributary), but we ran into impassable snow about 10 miles from the put-in. So we pivoted to a South Fork Owyhee trip.
Launched at SF Pipeline Launch Site on Wednesday, April 12. Crutchers gauge 8,500 and dropping; Rome gauge 12,500 and dropping.
Took out at Three Forks on Sunday, April 16. Crutchers gauge 2,500 and holding; Rome gauge 5,500 and holding.
Shuttle took about 5 hours from Three Forks to the SF Pipeline launch site. Even though Duck Valley was basically a lake, the road to the South Fork put-in was fine with stock 4x4 pickups. There were two steep hills, but it was mild by Owyhee standards.
Flows felt like high side of medium on the South Fork and the Upper Main down to Three Forks. Enough water to make easy miles. Enough water to make the rapids very clean.
There are only about five rapids on the South Fork. At our flows, none were harder than class III. On the Upper Main, the two standout rapids—Cabin and Cable—were class IV. Cabin was long and a bit pushy. We basically ran left the whole rapid. Cable was dangerous due to the sieve pile in the middle... but also not very difficult. We boofed into the upper left eddy and then followed the main current back center at the bottom of the rapid. Due to the hazards, about half our group walked Cable on river right.
Scenery-wise, the South Fork starts out in open sagebrush country, but gets more gorged-up and scenic throughout the trip. The Upper Main was classic rhyolite canyons the whole way down. Didn't see any wildlife, but there was great shed hunting throughout the trip.
Camping was unique. None of the sites on the BLM map looked like camps. Every camp we stayed at seemed like a random place that had never been camped at. It was a cool experience and very different from staying at established camps on other popular trips.
Lots of cool stops along the way. Tons of old abandoned homesteads, including Bull Camp, which is where Claude Dallas murdered the two F&G officers in the 1980s. Highly recommend hiking up to the obvious cave high on river right above Cable. Tons of artifacts in there, including the most preserved arrowheads I've ever seen.
That's about it. Great trip. Get in touch with any questions. Pics below:
(1) Typical SF Scenery;
(2) Shed Harvest
Cheers,
Matthias