A River Rafting Adventure on the Upper Klamath

The Wild West Lives On!

Written by Jessica

As our van bumps down the windy gravel road, rafts in tow, to the put in on the Upper Klamath River at the John C. Boyle power plant, I feel the excitement rising among the crew. While we have all been down this stretch of river countless times, there is nothing quite like the anticipation of rafting this one of a kind white water known as “Hell's Corner Gorge.”

Not only is this federally protected “Wild and Scenic” canyon famous for outstanding white water, with no less than 47 quality rapids in this one day run, but also for its abundant wildlife including bald eagles, geese, turtles, and deer. With a long history full of Native American Indian settlements and stagecoach robbers, the canyon has an impressive past that is easy to imagine when you pass by what remains of log buildings, a ghost town, and caves in the cliffs that overlook the river below.

We unload the gear and prepare to put in as the water swirls around our feet, pulling us into what will be another epic day on this river. The sun is already peeking over the canyon walls high above us, and the brisk morning air is blowing down river. With our helmets secured, we push off and begin the first 5 miles of the 18 mile journey. This is our warm-up, with class II and III rapids to practice on before we reach the 7 mile gorge where our skills will be tested (again) on such class IV rapids as Caldera and Hell’s Corner. After that, it will be time to relax, sunbathe and swim in the calm water as we finish our day near Copco, California.

But we have a long way to go before we reach our destination. I can almost hear the wheels of the stagecoaches on the dusty trails above us, with the wiley robbers closing in behind them. The Upper Klamath River has a way of making the old Wild West seem very much alive. We push off and embark on an adventure that will not be forgotten.

—Jessica