[jim2020]

Hi,

I'm looking for a recommendation for a class II/easy class III river for a 2 day trip with a group of friends. The plan would be inflatable kayaks and a gear boat. We don't have our own gear, so would need somewhere that rents boats nearby. We're in California so a river within California would be best, but rivers within about 2 hours of a major airport in the western US would also work. Anytime between May - August works.

Thanks

 

[SherpaDave]

Nor Cal /So Cal?

 

[SherpaDave]

Some folks stretch the S Fork into 2 days. Not much river camping but there are a couple riverside campgrounds.

 

[Bigwaterforeveryone]

Lower Klamath, Eel or Trinity could fit the bill. Here's the CA American Whitewater page for more info: https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/state-summary/?state=CA

 

[jim2020]

Lower Klamath, Eel or Trinity could fit the bill. Here's the CA American Whitewater page for more info: https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/state-summary/?state=CA

I couldn't find any companies that rent kayaks and rafts near either the Klamath or Eel, I only saw guided trips. Maybe I missed some?

 

[SherpaDave]

Clavey rents kayaks but it would help knowing where you are from.

 

[jim2020]

The group lives throughout CA (2/3rd around the bay area and 1/3rd in LA).

 

[Norcalcoastie]

Bigfoot Rafting on the 299 outside Willow Creek on the Trinity river does rentals. They’ve rented me both paddle and oar rigged rafts before. They can provide dry bags, pfds, paddles etc. Very reasonable and also run shuttles. Good people. The upper Trinity has a nice run that can be over nighted from Douglas City to Junction City. Very low class (I-II). Don’t go much further though. Some class IV and V are below there and oddly enough people get caught up in the Burnt Ranch Gorge who don’t know better. Beautiful river not much wider than a creek up there.

http://publiclands.org/pdf/CA/TrinityRiver.pdf

 

[okieboater]

Take the drive to Fruita CO and do the Ruby Horse Thief float.

Rent gear and shuttle at the put in.

Stay at the state park super facilities including showers. Plenty of good places to eat in Fruita.

Grand Junction a few miles away has everything including airport.

Ruby Horse Thief is a beautiful canyon to float. Aways has water. Plenty of camps some just awesome with shade others with full sunlight.

Colorado Monument is as scenic as it gets and easy to drive. One of the most scenic drives any where.

Worth the drive for a easy but fun first float.

 

[PBattler]

How About the Grand Ronde?

Grand Ronde, in Northeastern Oregon. There's a great stretch from Minam Store to Powwatka Bridge, or farther, if you like. You can rent boats at the put-in. Beautiful, lush, scenery, mellow whitewater, lovely campsites, mountain goats. No permit lottery - just self-register at the put-in. It's a perfect family trip, in my opinion.

 

[riparian666]

East Fork of the Carson River is a nice overnight run with natural hot springs and easy (class II-III) whitewater. Late spring or early summer, depending on snow pack this winter. California Creeks - East Fork Carson River

 

[trialsize]

Grand Ronde, in Northeastern Oregon. There's a great stretch from Minam Store to Powwatka Bridge, or farther, if you like. You can rent boats at the put-in. Beautiful, lush, scenery, mellow whitewater, lovely campsites, mountain goats. No permit lottery - just self-register at the put-in. It's a perfect family trip, in my opinion.

Great stretch, but probably not a 2-day.

 

[buntina]

S central Oregon. Deschutes or the John Day.

 

[Albuquerque Doug]

Upper Colorado from around Kremmling towards Glenwood Springs is a lovely trip. Bit of a drive from the Denver airport; less so from Grand Junction.

 

[MT4Runner]

Seems like a ton of effort to rent gear and add airfares for an overnight.


Go for something near home for the shakedown.


Then buy an obscene amount of gear and amortize it out over a multiday on another western river.

 

[salsasean]

I 2nd the East Fork of the Carson.

 

[2tomcat2]

Ditto for John Day and Deschutes

 

[Denray]

I live in Eureka. Raftin there since 80. Hawkins Bar to Tish Tang would be perfect. Hawkins to Willow Creek needs 4k cfs up to 20k or more. It's pretty, can camp anywhere practially, including put in. Great campground at finish, Tish Tang.
Big Foot and one other Co in WC rent all the goods. Message me for any more info

 

[Denray]

Back to that lower Trinity run. No permits needed, no rangers to bug you. Those rafting Companies could do shuttle as well as outfit you.

 

[LSB]

What 4runner said = buy a used raft, edit down your car camping gear, figure out a local run, and go