Book a trip with an outfitter to witness a landscape transformed by dam removal.
If you’re wild about wild rivers, it’s a good time to explore the Upper Klamath Wild and Scenic River, which flows through the southern portion of Klamath County southwest of Klamath Falls. With soaring eagles, ink-black night skies and fascinating history, the Upper Klamath is truly a singular section of river.
In 2024 it got even wilder. After advocating for decades, a coalition led by several regional tribes succeeded in having dams removed from the Klamath in Oregon and California — including the J.C. Boyle Dam west of Klamath Falls. This opened up hundreds of miles of habitat for salmon and steelhead. During the dam-removal process, three of the region’s outfitters teamed with nonprofit organization American Whitewater to advocate for recreation opportunities on the “new” Klamath. Now these outfitters offer one of the best ways to experience a transformed riverscape.
Salmon Return to Free-Flowing River
In Oregon the river below the J.C. Boyle Dam was managed for hydropower; for decades whitewater guides timed their runs with the predictable but unnatural flows below the power plant.
Now the river is flowing freely. Some of the old infrastructure, such as the concrete canals that once diverted water for hydropower, has been covered in place with material excavated from the earth-and-concrete dam.
When J.C. Boyle’s reservoir was drained in early 2024, it exposed an expanse of saturated mud that cracked dramatically as it dried. Crews have been planting native seeds and plants in a multiyear effort to establish healthy plant communities here.
On October 16, 2024, mere weeks after the completion of dam removal, biologists spotted chinook salmon in Oregon — the first to return to the Upper Klamath Basin in 112 years.
Their swift appearance surprised everyone, says Mark Hereford, fisheries biologist at Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. “I don’t think anyone expected hundreds of fall chinook to come into Oregon. It’s very exciting.”
Biologists are hopeful salmon will thrive in the Upper Klamath Basin, but it will take several fish generations to repopulate this habitat. For now recreational fishing for salmon and steelhead is not allowed on the Klamath River in Oregon. To protect young and adult steelhead from being harvested, ODFW has also created a “slot limit” for rainbow trout, which allows anglers to keep one fish between 12 and 15 inches.
Book a New Klamath Rafting Trip
Starting in 2025, rafting companies are offering brand-new trips that treat guests to a close-up view of one of the most dramatic restoration stories ever told. Most of these incorporate what’s known as the Hell’s Corner reach of the Upper Klamath River, which starts below the old J.C. Boyle powerhouse to the California border. Long a mainstay for outfitters, this 7-mile section begins at Spring Island, threading a spectacular basalt canyon through heart-pumping Class IV rapids.
You can book the Hells Corner of the Upper Klamath Day Trip with Ashland-based Momentum River Expeditions in April and May only. It takes advantage of big spring flows for a full day of wet, splashy paddling. A two-day Upper Klamath River Rafting Safari is a comfy yet action-packed adventure that explores new access to the Klamath River. This trip is available June through September.
Longtime Ashland outfitter Noah’s River Adventures offers a two-day trip through 14 miles of whitewater. You’ll run part of Hell’s Corner on Day 1, with more rapids and an unforgettable experience of Kikaceki Valley the next day.
Between late May and early September, choose from several trips from Phoenix-based Indigo Creek Outfitters. There’s a leisurely, two-day adventure with wildlife sightings, starry skies and gourmet glamping, as well as a three-day trip for groups of eight or more, where you’ll see five distinct sections of the river, with plenty of time for hiking and relaxing. Or sign up for the wait list for the forthcoming Big Bend day trip, which explores a 6-mile route that was not possible before dam removal. It begins with a float through the former J.C. Boyle reservoir reach, then rapidly picks up steam with Class IV and IV+ rapids.
If You Go:
- Watching spawning salmon is an awe-inspiring experience, but do not disturb them. They make their nests, or redds, in gravel, often in relatively shallow water. Observe from a distance with binoculars, and keep dogs and children from getting too close. Pay attention to signage and don’t trespass on private land.
- Be aware that most of these trips have minimum age restrictions. You don’t necessarily need previous rafting experience, but you must be in good physical condition. Prepare to get wet!
- If your desired dates are booked, contact the outfitter to see if there is a wait list or if private trips are available.
Top photo courtesy of Indigo Creek Outfitters
