Salmon River Canyon (Split Falls to Road Access)
Oregon – US
- Class
- V to V+
- Length
- 5.4 Mile(s)
- Gradient
- 143 FPM
- Put-in elevation
- 2,375 Feet
- Take-out elevation
- 1,598 Feet
- Typical season
- April to June
Current Flow
Visual or unknown
No gauge reading is available for this run — check it on site.
- Primary gauge
- VISUAL Gauge detail & alternatives
Recommended levels
| Minimum | — |
| Average | — |
| Maximum | — |
Recommended use
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Canoeing
- SUP
- Packrafting
- Fishing
Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.
Flow history — last 6 days
No gauge history recorded in the last 6 days.
Photos
No photos added for this run yet.
Description
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.
Rapids
| # | Rapid | Class | Recommended flow | Description | Scout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Split Falls | V | —–— | The action starts right at the putin with a 20 foot waterfall drop. Run towards the right and regroup in the pool below. |
Scout from the putin. |
| 2 | Little Niagara Falls | V | —–— | Little has several drops you can take. Take the time to scout it and choose your drop. |
Scout from either bank. |
| 3 | Vanishing Falls | V to V+ | —–— | The river corridor narrows here and this drop is either a sketchy run in your boat or a sketchy portage with your boat. Ropes can be handy here. The base of the falls lies in a narrow canyon with undercut walls and strong currents since all of the river is cutting through this slot at this point. |
Scout it! |
| 4 | Frustration Falls | V to V+ | —–— | Aesthetically this is one of the prettier falls out there. From a kayak perspective it is one of the scarier must make move waterfalls there is. Frustration Falls drops a total of 75 feet but it's broken up into several drops. As you descend you need to make the eddy's above each drop to make sure you are lined up right and hit your overall line. |
Scouting requires a must make eddy at the top of the falls. |
| 5 | In Between Falls | V- to V | —–— | A smaller 15 to 20 foot falls lives between Frustration and Final falls. If you've made it down Frustration successfully, these falls will feel comfortable and doable. Still make sure to scout and get your right line. |
|
| 6 | Final Falls | V to V+ | —–— | This has been run but many choose to portage this last set of falls. |
Kayak it or rapel or jump it to portage. |
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put-In | Split Falls | 2,375 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | Accessing split falls requires hiking up from the putin on the Salmon River trail which runs the course of the canyon on the northen side of the river. This trail is often high above the river bed so escaping down the trail if you run into trouble isn't always an option once you get into the canyon. |
| Take-Out | First Bridge Crossing | 1,598 Feet | No | No | No | High Clearance | Take the Salmon River road south out of the small town of Zig Zag and follow it for about 7 or 8 miles. Where the road crosses the river, this is your take out. |
Camps
No river camps added yet.
Permit
No permit is required, or permit info hasn't been added yet.
Fishing
No fish species have been associated with this run yet.
External Links & Resources
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Community Run Notes
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