the beautiful south fork of the salmon river between sawyers bar and forks of the salmon in california. travel northern california and the beautiful marble and salmon mountains. raft the salmon river, otherwise known as the cal salmon. hiking mountain trails in the russian wilderness area of the salmon mountains. camp in forest service campgrounds in the klamath national forest.

... Bloomer Falls ... a class IV rapid
... but get here earlier in the year to see or raft it at that level.

Although we've tried, it's simply not possible to convey the depth of Salmon River Gorge in photographs. A clue is given in this photo, however, see the logs on the ledge? Left behind by the high water flows at one time? This is a powerful river. And although relatively unknown, even in California, the gorge offers three class V rapids, several class IV and IV+ and a few lesser rapids for those less daring souls. We show many peaceful scenes in our photographs. Perhaps next year we can go a little earlier. Then we can show its power as well as, it's beauty.

Rafting on the Cal Salmon in NoWhere ...

I've done some reading about rafting on the Cal Salmon, as those who want to distinguish it from the more familiar and easier rafting experience on Idaho's Salmon River, call it. I learned that Bloomer Falls were damned by a landslide in the flood of 1964. The Dept of Fish and Wildlife dynamited river to open up the flow. The consequence were tremendous rapids, that caused the death of even an expert rafter in 1981. He was thrown against the walls of the gorge, knocked unconscious, and drowned. Once again the Department of Fish and Wildlife stepped in and dynamited the river. Obstensibly to help the salmon runs. One rafter I read said he liked to think it was done to make the river safer again. Well, the result exceeded any rafters' expectations. Bloomer Falls was left with next to no fall in a class II rapid. But the river preserves its own. Sediment deposits have brought the rapids up again - class IV, and quite a ride. :-)

... & the river meanders a peaceful flow ...

Travel northern California. See the Marble Mountains, the Salmon Mountains, the beautiful Salmon River, Sawyers Bar, the best living mining town, the magnificent Salmon River Gorge. Raft the Cal Salmon, try your hand at mining and/or fishing. Hike the Russian Wilderness in the Klamath National Forest. Or simply enjoy yourself sightseeing.

Forward ~ river's tranquility sets the mood ...

Back ~ ...and creeks add their perspective
to the river's flow ...

USFS: Klamath National Forest.

Brad and I offer the Salmon River Travel Guide: A step back into history: Places to Visit, including a brief offering of hiking trails, mountain lakes, etc., in the Russian Wilderness, and Travel Directions.

 rafting on the cal salmon river in northern california - class V and IV rapids. travel northern california and the beautiful marble and salmon mountains. raft the salmon river, otherwise known as the cal salmon. hiking mountain trails in the russian wilderness area of the salmon mountains. camp in forest service campgrounds in the klamath national forest.