Springtime Rafting Adventures
in Northern California

The Upper Sacramento River between Simms Campground and Dog Creek Road is a dream run. It is challenging, yet not too hard, and it contains nearly 50 Class II-IV rapids on this one day stretch. Some rapids are long and continuous and some are pool-and-drop, but none are harder than easy Class IV (depending on the flow). Water seems to come from everywhere as numerous sidestreams tumble into this lush canyon.

Accessibility is easy because the river is located right off Interstate-5 between Shasta Lake and Mount Shasta. The takeout is near the majestic arches of the old Dog Creek Bridge near the historic town of Vollmers, which is named after the pioneer family and ancestors of one of our guides, Eric.

Our most remote river, The South Fork of the Trinity, begins at the end of a seldom-traveled road, sharing this access with a home that can be reached only by crossing the river in a hand-powered tram. The rugged terrain kept even the hardy 49ers from settling its lush canyons. Folded rocks dazzle intrepid paddlers as they relax in the quiet serenity that separates the exciting rapids of this trip. Hardly a trip passes where a bald eagle isn’t spotted soaring overhead. Long Class IV rapids collectively referred to as The Three Bears, and a spunky surprise, Goldilocks, round out a great day. The South Forks flows northward in a north/south canyon creating ideal sun exposure for generating springtime warmth. Most years the South Fork has raftable flows into early May.

Springtime on the Mainstem Trinity brings big water delight. On the Pigeon Point run we begin one mile up the North Fork of the Trinity. One of the largest tributaries of the Trinity, the North Fork floats us past the historic mining town of Helena on clear green water that contrasts the swollen Trinity that waits downstream.

Those familiar with the Trinity in the summer will find that during the spring the river’s long trains of towering waves make for an exciting change of pace. The appropriately named Good Morning America shoots the raft through the first rollercoaster of the day. The Slot is an impressive river wide hole, leaving the raft one good route through the rapid. Huge angling waves and lots of fun splashes take the raft through the Tidy Bowls, and the surprisingly large waves of Hells Gate arise unexpectedly. Hell Hole, still impressive and challenging—but missing its steep drop—is unrecognizable as the summertime waterfall. Sailor Bar’s large and splashy diagonal waves bank the raft around the corner. Pinball still contains large rocks that require technical backpaddling. The last Class III before Big Flat, Fishtail, is still long, and now also contains the largest hole of the day.