Oregon is known for it's stout, creeky feeling rivers and this wild and scenic portion of the upper salmon river is no exception. The upper section is very remote and requires effort to even get to the putin (see access tab for putin directions). The Salmon River Canyon is committing and not a lot of descents have occurred here. Strong class V skills as well as ropework and self rescue skills are a must here. If you do need to do any portaging on any of the falls you will most likely be doing so with ropes as the canyon is very steep.
This section doesn't have a gauge and typically runs in springtime. If you've never ran this before it's best if you hook up with someone who has to get specifics on best levels. Make sure there is enough water, but not too much water, and be sure you know what you are doing if you decide to run this. WARNING: This run is for advanced and expert boaters only.
| Class | V to V+ |
| Current Flow | Visual or Unknown |
| Recommended Flow |
Minimum: Average: Maximum: |
| Typical Season |
Begins: April Ends: June |
| Recommended Use |
Kayaking: Yes Rafting: No Canoeing: No SUP: No Packrafting: No Fishing: No |
| Primary Gauge | VISUAL |
| Length | 5.4 Mile(s) |
| Gradient | 143.0 FPM |
