Cal Salmon

Bird’s Eye View

The California Salmon River, or “Cal Salmon” for short, flows through the California Coast Range in the Trinity Alps. The Cal Salmon is located one of the most remote wilderness areas in California and all three forks, as well as a tributary, Wooley Creek, are federally protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The Cal Salmon is no doubt one of the state’s best kept secrets.

California Whitewater

Cal Salmon River Whitewater Photo Gallery

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California Whitewater

The Cal Salmon in a Nutshell

Difficulty: Nordheimer: IV+ (3 V’s); Butler: IV

Gradient: 54 ft/mi

Length: 10 miles, alternate run options

Season: March – June

Put-in: Norheimer

Take-out: Oak Bottom

Who should go: Expert kayakers and rafters, wilderness lovers, folks who want to “get away from it all.”

California Whitewater

Whitewater & Scenery

Whitewate & Scenery “Remote,” “scenic,” and “extreme” hardly even begin to describe the Cal Salmon. Boasting some of the best whitewater in California, the Cal Salmon is the next step up in difficulty from other California rafting classics.

Read more about Cal Salmon Whitewater.

California Whitewater

River Flows

River FlowsThe season for rafting or kayaking on the Cal Salmon is usually in the spring, although it is a free-flowing river and is definitely runnable in the winter as well.

Learn more about Cal Salmon River Flows.

California Whitewater

Logistics

LogisticsOther than getting there (the Cal Salmon River is pretty far from anything else in California), logistics for boating on this river are pretty easy.

Keep reading about Cal Salmon Logisitics.

California Whitewater

Cal Salmon Video

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Watch a Cal Salmon video before you see it up close.

California Whitewater

Places to Eat, Places to Stay
& Things To Do

Places To EatPlaces To StayThings To Do

California Whitewater

Local Gear Shops

Local Gear ShopsBuy gear and other supplies for your whitewater trip on the “T” in Arcata, Redding, or Online.