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Rapid CA Class IV

Steep Microgorge Rapid

American Whitewater 41.1607, -123.2086

Save this feature with the run it belongs to.

Gauge Conditions

Salmon River a Somes Bar CA Downstream Primary

Runnable: 2,000.0 – 4,500.0 CFS

Data from American Whitewater & USGS

Photo

Photo courtesy of American Whitewater

Description

Steep Microgorge Rapid is a technical Class IV drop with a narrow, rock-lined channel that forces paddlers to thread a precise line through multiple diagonal hydraulics and ledge holes. The rapid features a complex entrance with a mandatory move required to avoid a large mid-channel boulder, followed by a series of powerful, closely-spaced waves that demand aggressive boat control and quick maneuvering. Paddlers must be prepared for significant vertical drops and potential pin hazards in the constricted gorge section.