[msteudel]

Hi there,

My wife and I have been doing an annual trip on the Wild and Scenic section of the Grande Ronde in late September. Love how empty it is, the fishing is great, and the rowing, while not higher class rapids, does keep you on your toes which is a lot of fun for us. But we have been kinda wondering what's next. What would you recommend as something maybe a little harder, something different, something similar distance from Seattle.

Thanks for the beta!

Mark

 

[JBlotter]

John Day and Deschutes!

 

[msteudel]

John Day and Deschutes!

Thanks JBLotter! We've done John day (though not WS section yet). Any sections on the deschutes you recommend? I've done it once for fishing and white horse rapids didn't seem so hard, but could've been the flows that we did.

What about the rogue?

 

[MT4Runner]

mid-summer Main Salmon?

 

[msteudel]

mid-summer Main Salmon?

Thanks! I'll look into it, I always thought main salmon might be class IVs, but sounds like they might be more in our range.

 

[MT4Runner]

Black Creek, Big Mallard, Elkhorn, Growler, and Chittam can be IV- rapids, depending on flow.

Black Creek, Big Mallard, Elkhorn, and Chittam get burly with higher flows.
Growler can be technical at lower flows.

But the Main is by no means a fully "Class IV" river at moderate flows. It's really a Class III river with a couple of IV's.

American Whitewater

The primary advocate for the preservation and protection of whitewater rivers throughout the United States and connects the interests of human-powered recreational river users with ecological and science-based data to achieve goals within our mission.

www.americanwhitewater.org

 

[Pinchecharlie]

I have no idea what’s actually up there but I’ve Been intrigued with bc for the last few winters. As much snows up in there , there must be rivers? Be more a summer thing maybe or maybe not I dunno but it might be worth researching? Close to you guys or at least closer than Idaho? I have this idea that it’s the last wild place lol. Could do a different kind of trip too and fly out to West Virginia for a weekend lol. My wife wants to see the pyramids…oh bother.

 

[msteudel]

I have no idea what’s actually up there but I’ve Been intrigued with bc for the last few winters. As much snows up in there , there must be rivers? Be more a summer thing maybe or maybe not I dunno but it might be worth researching? Close to you guys or at least closer than Idaho? I have this idea that it’s the last wild place lol. Could do a different kind of trip too and fly out to West Virginia for a weekend lol. My wife wants to see the pyramids…oh bother.

Yeah I should figure out what's up there as well for these sorts of trips. I've spent a lot of time sea kayaking and sea canoeing off of BC, should see what else is up there!

 

[B4otter]

Rivers are flat and ugly. Always upstream wind. Freezing ass until June and can snow in July... 'skeets can drain you on rare occasion temps get high enough to let them fly. Best to stay away and watch videos instead...

 

[anjarnold8]

If you get skunked on permits the lower salmon can be a great trip from Hammer Creek to Heller Bar (the last stretch on the snake can be a long day if you don't have a motor, but doable). I did it twice last summer and I was very pleasantly surprised with how good the trip was. Flows under 20K are very doable, under 12k and it's a really easy safe trip.

The Owyhee river from Rome to Birch Creek is also a great trip if you are looking for late April into May (if the road to Birch Creek isn't washed out).

 

[wharf-rat]

I have no idea what’s actually up there but I’ve Been intrigued with bc for the last few winters. As much snows up in there , there must be rivers?

Nope, no Rivers here. eh!

 

[Pinchecharlie]

 

[huntarrr]

The lower Deschutes around Maupin is cool for a day trip, but not tons of whitewater for a multiday unless you plan to fish a lot and hit the rapids on the last day. The Kootenay is excellent in BC and very family-friendly.

 

[AK Andy]

Tatshenshini (Alaska/Canada) - it's closer to Seattle than to most places - get on the permit list now - you'll want to do it eventually and you can defer for years till the time is right.

 

[Koffler]

If you get skunked on permits the lower salmon can be a great trip from Hammer Creek to Heller Bar (the last stretch on the snake can be a long day if you don't have a motor, but doable). I did it twice last summer and I was very pleasantly surprised with how good the trip was. Flows under 20K are very doable, under 12k and it's a really easy safe trip.

The Owyhee river from Rome to Birch Creek is also a great trip if you are looking for late April into May (if the road to Birch Creek isn't washed out).

Yep-- I agree-- a great trip!!!

The downside is you are typically competing for camping spots-- seems like half of Boise is there every weekend (since its just "show up and go", and don't have to draw a permit).................

 

[Andy H.]

If you've never done the South Platte from Globeville Landing to Fort Morgan you dont' know what you're missing. And it and the downstream stretch to the state line are the ONLY sections of river in Colorado that don't require a hard-to-get permit. Or at least that's what I'll be telling folks from here on out...

 

[Conundrum]

The downside is you are typically competing for camping spots-- seems like half of Boise is there every weekend (since its just "show up and go", and don't have to draw a permit).................

Half of Boise appreciates you inviting people from Seattle to increase the competition.

 

[Koffler]

Hey!! I'm not invitin' em!!!! I am trying to discourage them from coming!!!!

Koffler

 

[Nanko]

Carry/ mule/ fly boats in higher on the Minam and finish the trip as you have been doing.

 

[caverdan]

If you've never done the South Platte from Globeville Landing to Fort Morgan you dont' know what you're missing. And it and the downstream stretch to the state line are the ONLY sections of river in Colorado that don't require a hard-to-get permit. Or at least that's what I'll be telling folks from here on out...

You forgot about the Arkansas East of Pueblo. You have to be mindful of a dam or two......☠......but defiantly not permitted.