We are Liquid – this video explores the transition from winter to spring, which is so appropriate right now. The Mt. Shasta Ski Park will be open for its last weekend of the season – April 22nd through April 24th – just as spring whitewater rafting is getting into gear on the Upper Sacramento River and wilder rivers to the west – the Cal Salmon and Scott Rivers. Check in with local rafting companies, Turtle River Rafting and River Dancers to see what spring water adventures await.
Turtle River Rafting will be hosting its annual Cal Salmon River Festivalon Memorial Day Weekend May 27 to May 30. Each day they’ll be rafting a different section of the river. In the evening . . . campfire, stories, and music.
If you’ve been on the water and loved it and are looking for more, check out River Dancers Guide School – April 30th – May 2nd – to learn how to get behind the oars.
The Cal Salmon is a remote Class IV-V river with a short season – and that season is now! Memorial Day is a huge festival weekend on the Cal Salmon when the campgrounds fill up and rafters and kayakers come from all over to run rapids called Freight Train, Last Chance, Airplane, and Cascade Falls. If you’ve run some Class III waters (like the Upper Sacramento) and found yourself yearning for greater thrills then sign up quick for the Cal Salmon. The Nordheimer and Butler runs will challenge paddlers as the river twists down deep granite gorges of the Marble and Salmon Mountains. If the river is running high and fast, you might even get lucky enough to have your guide take you to the confluence with the Klamath River and a monster rapid called Big Ikes.
The rafting is challenging on any section and once you get off the water you’ll be camping with your rafting company, which means they’ll be preparing your meals. You’ll be camping in a remote setting where the campground provides running water and vault toilets, but little else. It’s a car-camping situation, so bring what you need to be comfortable. Also keep in mind that there is thriving poison oak in the campground and along the river.
Paddling the Cal Salmon is a stunning way to spend the day: the rapids will test your skills and nerve, the beauty of the canyon will delight your senses and the camaraderie shared with your boatmates adds a special twist to the day.
Cascade Falls on the Cal Salmon
River Dancers and Turtle River Rafting are Siskiyou County guide companies that run the Cal Salmon. Check their website for more info and give them a call if you’re looking for an adrenaline-pumping adventure this Memorial Day weekend. Turtle River has their annual Memorial Day Festival planned for May 28th-31st that includes music and story-telling around the campfire after days spent in serious whitewater.
Whether you prefer the splash of whitewater on your face during a wild spring rafting trip or the bliss of sunshine on your cheeks on a summer float trip, Siskiyou County has the river for you. Thrill seekers and mellow river runners can find their joy with northern California rafting companies as they explore the Upper Sacramento, Scott, Cal Salmon, and Klamath rivers this spring and summer.
With late precipitation in the mountains, spring rafting is likely to hold on longer this year than usual, meaning that the Upper Sac, Scott and Cal Salmon will be running through May and possibly into mid-June, according to Turtle River Rafting owner Rick Demarest. A few trips have already gone out on the Upper Sac on the Class III section south of Dunsmuir that Demarest calls “by far the best spring rafting.” Memorial Day Weekend is high time on the Cal Salmon, which offers remote Class IV and V sections for advanced paddlers.
Come summer time, the boating shifts to the Klamath River where multiple-day camp trips are very popular with families. Turtle River takes its clients on three to five-day trips where the sense of wilderness envelops you in nature as you camp along the river and watch the wildlife throughout the day.
“These days it seems that our cultural routines don’t include much time in nature. Being in the wilderness is especially valuable to children to expand their world and open up new possibilities,” Demarest mused.
For those that can’t get away for a multiple day trip, the float trip from Tree of Heaven outside of Yreka is an easy one or two day trip that can usually be booked on short notice. Even with a short day on the water, you’ll reap the rewards.
“Probably the biggest benefit of rafting is just time together and the chance to spend a few days with nothing to do,” said Demarest, whose daughter is a guide.
Experience the incredible beauty of the Upper Sacramento river Canyon in full spring bloom. Watch fresh flows of creeks and streams that feed water to the thirsty state of California. Challenging without being demanding. Exciting for novices and experienced rafters alike.
As days grow longer thoughts are turning to water and the upcoming rafting season. Should be a good one as El Nino conditions continue to prevail. The water content of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range snowpack is well above normal. Anticipate exciting spring whitewater and strong flows throughout the summer.
If you’ve been putting way too many hours on the job and need to clear your mental desktop…. try something wild for a change. Learn the ropes of running whitewater rapids and captaining a raft.
