This last fall i went on my first multiday trip in cataract canyon and it was one of the best trips i have ever taken. I was just wondering if anyone could suggest other great trips that i can dream about while i wait for summer. Maybe your top 5 in terms of play, scenery, and overall coolness of the place.
Whitewater Bang for your Buck-Middle Fork of the Salmon/Snake/Selway
Beginner-Desolation/Gray Canyons
Best Desert Trip-Salt
Middle of Nowhere-Tatshenshini/Alsek, AK
Also look at the San Juan, Yampa, Rogue, and Gates of Lodore.
Non-permitted:
Jarbridge/Bruneau, Gila, Labrynth and Stillwater (flat but scenic), linked runs with multiple public access points, etc.
There's many more that I'm just not thinking of right now. With a little more detail regarding specifically what you're looking for, I'm sure we could point you in the right direction. Bottom line is, they're all awesome.
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"The world would be a better place if everyone kayaked."-Brad Ludden (Valhalla)
"You only get one chance to run a drop blind."-DD
And those are really just the classics. There tons more multidays in the form of creeking expeditions and international if you want to think big: Canada, Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, Chile, Peru, China, Russia, the Baltics, etc. The list goes on and on.
So many rivers...so little time.
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"The world would be a better place if everyone kayaked."-Brad Ludden (Valhalla)
"You only get one chance to run a drop blind."-DD
I'll add my vote for the Yampa and Lodore Canyons. Not the hardest whitewater in the world but they are two incredibly scenic canyons with beautiful camping and great side hikes.
I'm suprised that no one mentioned the South Fork Salmon yet. Although not as long as the Middle Fork, it has similarly gorgeous scenery, and better whitewater. Plus, you can link the SF Salmon canyon run (the traditional overnighter) with either the Secesh, Goat Creek Run, or the East Fork South Fork/Johnson Creek if you want a longer trip. The only caveate is that the entire drainage was torched this summer, so wood will be an issue this year, and the forest scenery will be on the black and ghostly side of things.
My personal favorite is the Clarks Fork Box. Not for everyone, but if you're game you would be hard pressed to find a better mix of challenge, scenery, and solitude.
I'm praying for snow so that the Jarbidge/Bruneau will run this year.
Add the Main Salmon River in Idaho to the list of great multi-day trips. It's not as pristine at the Middle Fork of the Salmon, but it's typically much easier to obtain a permit for. You can turn it into a longer trip by adding non permitted sections (before and after the wilderness section) to your trip. The river has big water, big rapids, hot springs, and depending on the water level, large beaches that can make for fun camping.
If you don't draw a permit, you can always launch pre-season, anytime up to June 20th. You can pretty much take the run as fast or slow as you want. In 2006 we launched the morning of the 19th and pulled off the afternoon of the 21st, covering 96 miles with an average of 5 hours on the river each day. Even the flat water sections were moving.
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