South Fork of the Smith
River Gorge
River Gorge
Location - Gasquet, California
Difficulty - Class IV-IV+ Length - 1.5 miles
Level - 4,200 cfs on main branch gauge
Date - 4/1/2007
Difficulty - Class IV-IV+ Length - 1.5 miles
Level - 4,200 cfs on main branch gauge
Date - 4/1/2007
After warming up on the Smith River's Oregon Hole run
our group decided to check out the lower gorge on the
South Fork of the Smith River. Since this gorge is only a
mile from the Oregon Hole takeout we didn't even have to
change between runs. The South Fork was running at a
high flow and it is only a mile long so we scouted some of
the bigger drops from the road before committing to the
river. After looking down at the giant holes and walled
out rapids I was reluctant to get on the run, but in the end
I realized the river was within my abilities and launched
under sunny skies. A few of the group decided to watch
from shore instead of paddling and the photos seen here
were taken by them.
Despite being just over a mile long the South Fork Gorge
starts off with a nice stretch of big and pushy class III
boulder garden style rapids that let us get used to the
fast and pushy water. This whole first stretch was boat
scoutable, and while there were a few big holes, all of the
moves were pretty easy and obvious. After cruising
down this fun stretch of whitewater the canyon walls
closed in as we eddied out above the first big drop that
had been scouted from shore before putting on. We
made a second scout at water level and picked a thin line
leading just river right of a large hole at the top of the
rapid and a massive hole just below on river right.
Messing up here would mean a beating and any swim
could carry someone into the next drop. The first two
boaters made the line look easy enough and despite
being nervous I ran the rapid smoothly and eddied out
below much relived and very excited. This was the
pushiest water I had seen this year and it was really fun
to feel the power of some bigger class IV rapids. The
next two drops were just below and they certainly
deserved the scout we gave them from river right.
our group decided to check out the lower gorge on the
South Fork of the Smith River. Since this gorge is only a
mile from the Oregon Hole takeout we didn't even have to
change between runs. The South Fork was running at a
high flow and it is only a mile long so we scouted some of
the bigger drops from the road before committing to the
river. After looking down at the giant holes and walled
out rapids I was reluctant to get on the run, but in the end
I realized the river was within my abilities and launched
under sunny skies. A few of the group decided to watch
from shore instead of paddling and the photos seen here
were taken by them.
Despite being just over a mile long the South Fork Gorge
starts off with a nice stretch of big and pushy class III
boulder garden style rapids that let us get used to the
fast and pushy water. This whole first stretch was boat
scoutable, and while there were a few big holes, all of the
moves were pretty easy and obvious. After cruising
down this fun stretch of whitewater the canyon walls
closed in as we eddied out above the first big drop that
had been scouted from shore before putting on. We
made a second scout at water level and picked a thin line
leading just river right of a large hole at the top of the
rapid and a massive hole just below on river right.
Messing up here would mean a beating and any swim
could carry someone into the next drop. The first two
boaters made the line look easy enough and despite
being nervous I ran the rapid smoothly and eddied out
below much relived and very excited. This was the
pushiest water I had seen this year and it was really fun
to feel the power of some bigger class IV rapids. The
next two drops were just below and they certainly
deserved the scout we gave them from river right.
Our group was looking at a constriction where the Smith
dropped into a big breaking wave and moved to the left
before dropping into another narrow constriction that
appeared to contain a sizeable hydraulic. The danger here
was emerging from the first drop out of control and being
swept river right into a nasty spot created by a few house
sized boulders. About a third of the flow went to the right
and towards the hazard, so being on line was important.
Running left all of the way was not an option because that
side of the river was guarded by a large pourover. The first
wave crashed over my head and I came out with a quick
brace but stayed in control and made the move left before
powering through the next hole.
The last drop was just below and Steve charged ahead and
out of sight, appearing in a river left eddy after some time.
As I approached he signaled for me to paddle hard, but I
didn't like the looks of things so I eddied out on the right and
scouted with everyone else. The river here dropped into a
big river wide hydraulic before sweeping to the right around
a blind corner. Ultimately I was intimidated enough by the
size of the hole and the fact that I didn't know what was
around the corner that I snuck the drop by using a seal
launch on river right. One other person joined me on the
sneak, but the others ran the rapid and managed to punch
the hole without any incidents. Immediately after seal
launching I rounded a bend and saw that this was the last
drop on the river. I was disappointed about not having run
the last rapid as it was not particularly dangerous, but this
did not detract from the experience. I really enjoyed the
power and beauty of the South Fork and it was good to be
intimidated by a run. Being humbled is always a good thing.
Our run was made at a level considered just over the
maximum recommended flow, but even at this level the
rapids were pretty straightforward. If the water were much
higher it could kick up a few big river wide holes that would
be unportageable. I would recommend that people give the
bigger drops a good look from shore before committing to
the canyon. Although you could get out of the gorge in most
places, it would be possible to paddle yourself into eddies at
the top of rapids from which you would be committed to
running a few of the drops.
dropped into a big breaking wave and moved to the left
before dropping into another narrow constriction that
appeared to contain a sizeable hydraulic. The danger here
was emerging from the first drop out of control and being
swept river right into a nasty spot created by a few house
sized boulders. About a third of the flow went to the right
and towards the hazard, so being on line was important.
Running left all of the way was not an option because that
side of the river was guarded by a large pourover. The first
wave crashed over my head and I came out with a quick
brace but stayed in control and made the move left before
powering through the next hole.
The last drop was just below and Steve charged ahead and
out of sight, appearing in a river left eddy after some time.
As I approached he signaled for me to paddle hard, but I
didn't like the looks of things so I eddied out on the right and
scouted with everyone else. The river here dropped into a
big river wide hydraulic before sweeping to the right around
a blind corner. Ultimately I was intimidated enough by the
size of the hole and the fact that I didn't know what was
around the corner that I snuck the drop by using a seal
launch on river right. One other person joined me on the
sneak, but the others ran the rapid and managed to punch
the hole without any incidents. Immediately after seal
launching I rounded a bend and saw that this was the last
drop on the river. I was disappointed about not having run
the last rapid as it was not particularly dangerous, but this
did not detract from the experience. I really enjoyed the
power and beauty of the South Fork and it was good to be
intimidated by a run. Being humbled is always a good thing.
Our run was made at a level considered just over the
maximum recommended flow, but even at this level the
rapids were pretty straightforward. If the water were much
higher it could kick up a few big river wide holes that would
be unportageable. I would recommend that people give the
bigger drops a good look from shore before committing to
the canyon. Although you could get out of the gorge in most
places, it would be possible to paddle yourself into eddies at
the top of rapids from which you would be committed to
running a few of the drops.
A boater approaches the last warm up rapid before the South Fork really gorges up and heads
through the crux of the run.
through the crux of the run.
Bob enters one of the big four rapids in the South Fork Gorge. The hole to his left was trashy
looking and the one below him was enormous. His boat is pointed at the only smooth line
through the rapid.
looking and the one below him was enormous. His boat is pointed at the only smooth line
through the rapid.
Brad Bassi lining up at the top of the first big drop. I decided to clip the edge of the first hole to
avoid the huge hydraulic against the river right wall.
avoid the huge hydraulic against the river right wall.
Bob dropping into the first part of the second big rapid on the South Fork Gorge. Another
constriction and riverwide hydraulic is just our of sight as the river bends left. Heading right at
the end of the photo leads to a mess of huge boulders.
constriction and riverwide hydraulic is just our of sight as the river bends left. Heading right at
the end of the photo leads to a mess of huge boulders.