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< July/Aug 2005
	Features
Class III Classics Paddler's whitewater guide for the Everyman Joe Carberry

Rivers weren’t created just to satisfy the adrenaline addictions of the few. Whitewater is for everybody, whether you paddle a Pirouette S or Necky Orbit Fish. With that in mind, we’ve put together our favorite Class III runs: A sampling of great rivers that won’t leave your knuckles white for three days after you reach the take-out. A few of these runs push the Class III envelope, but there’s always a portage or sneak around the tough stuff. So here’s to stress-free rapids, ego-less eddies and whole lot of river camaraderie.

Clackamas River, Oregon

One of kayaking’s most historic rodeos is held every May at Bob’s Hole on the Clackamas River east of Portland. Whitewater enthusiasts from all over the country show up to dust off winter cobwebs. Portland locals are lucky enough to enjoy the Clackamas year-around thanks to frequent rains. "The Clackamas is kind of like a black lab," says Portland local Brian Fields. "It’s an old, reliable friend."

Class III paddlers have several options. The 13-mile section from Sandstone Bridge to the Bob’s Hole take-out has been a staple for years. Many paddlers—especially Portland locals fitting in post-work paddling sessions—put in at Fish Creek and float five miles to Bob’s. The most consequential rapid on this stretch is Hole in the Wall, named for the undercut rock face on river left, but paddlers can easily avoid the hazard by staying to the right. "The Clackamas is great for people of all ability levels," says Fields. "It never gets too out of hand no matter how high the water gets."

Bob’s Hole has withstood the test of time. Frequent high water means the surf wave is constantly changing. "A flood ripped cobble stones out of the tributaries and messed up the wave but recently it’s improved and Joe Bob’s [behind Bob’s] is really starting to surf well again," Fields says. The Clackamas received Wild and Scenic River designation in 1988. Fun Fact: The Clackamas Indians were expert boatmen. They valued canoes so much they used them as coffins. The deceased would be dressed in finery and lashed into a canoe, which then was lodged on a scaffold or hung from a tree.

Kennebec River, Maine

Nothing symbolizes northern Maine like this secluded whitewater gem. Flowing out of the Harris Station Dam with normal releases ranging from 4,800 to 6,000 cfs, the crystal-clear Kennebec courses through miles of beautiful wooded canyons. “It’s guaranteed whitewater all season,” says Alvah Maloney, owner of Maine Kayak. “There aren’t many places you can find big releases like that.”

Two put-ins split the 12-mile river corridor, creating a pair of runs straddling both ends of the Class III continuum. The milder second section starts four miles below the dam, where Carry Brook enters the Kennebec on river left and a long staircase provides boater access. The toughest drop, Black Brook Rapid, comes shortly after the put-in and the ride gets mellower farther downstream.

The upper section boasts continuous big-water rapids that, though not technical, can be intimidating to those who aren’t prepared for big waves, gaping holes and powerful eddylines. Some say the run approaches the Class IV realm at normal release levels; at higher levels, no one disputes the Upper Gorge becomes a no-nonsense Class IV. Magic Falls is the river’s crowning gem, and deserves a scout. Three Sisters, just downstream, is named for three gigantic standing waves that used to flip 20-foot rafts before flooding changed the river bed in the late 1980s. Other nearby options include the Penobscot and Dead Rivers, both a step up from the Kennebec. Fun Fact: The first sea-going ship built by English colonists in the Americas was launched on the Kennebec River in 1607. Today, 90 percent of the country’s toothpicks come from Maine.

South Fork/Main Payette, Idaho

Banks, Idaho, is one of the most dynamic river running locales in the West. The North and South Fork of the Payette meet there, as do generations of river rats. Options for Class III kayakers are as endless as the dam-controlled whitewater. The South Fork of the Payette is considered a Class IV run above 2,500 cfs but normal summer flows usually leave the river at a more manageable 1,500 cfs. The Staircase section is full of Class III drops, punctuated with two big Class IVs, Staircase and Slalom, that can easily be walked along the highway next to the river. "It’s really a gold mine for paddlers," says Brett Gleason, manager of Headwaters Raft Company in Banks. "The South Fork is a beautiful scenic byway."

At Banks, the South Fork becomes the Main Payette, a true Class III run with big, bouncy pool-drop rapids. Both sections can be done in a day.

The put-in for the South Fork is at Deer Creek, six miles west of Banks on the Banks-Lowman highway. Kayakers can take out at Banks or continue down another six miles to the Main take-out on river left.

Banks is 45 minutes north of Boise on Highway 55. Camping is plentiful above Garden Valley. Fun Fact: Idaho is known for its hotsprings, with three along the South Fork alone. Try aptly named Skinny Dipper, five hundred feet above the river looking down on Bronco Billy rapid. Beware of naked old men.

Lower Skykomish River, Washington

Despite recent drought in the Northwest, Seattle boaters still have a classic Class III option in the Skykomish River an hour east of the Emerald City. "On a clear day, you feel like you’re in the Alps," says Seattle kayaker Josh Bechtel. "Mount Ida, Mount Berig and Mount Persis are in the background and the river is wide with big, smooth rocks." But boaters beware: a hard rain can turn dog days on the Sky into a big-water fiesta.

The most substantial rapid on the Skykomish is Boulder Drop, a big Class IV capable of dishing out hefty thrashings, especially when raft companies send their customers through it on inflatable duckies during low water. (The easy portage is along the road on river left.) Levels above 4,000 cfs make the Skykomish a more advanced run, but everything from the bottom of Boulder Drop to Gold Bar is fair game for Class III paddlers. "There’s a saying in Seattle that goes "No Sky until July," Bechtel says. "That’s when the Lower Skykomish boaters come out of the woodwork."

Route 2 runs along the river, so boaters can push themselves with the security of a road above. The classic Skykomish trip starts at Sunset Falls and finishes 4.5 miles later at Gold Bar. However, access to the Sunset put-in is on private land. American Whitewater is negotiating boater access, but for now most paddlers put in just above Powerline Rapid about two miles downstream. Fun Fact: The Snoqualmie Valley, south of the Skykomish, was the setting of the hit movie and television series, Twin Peaks, which aired on ABC in the early 1990s.

South Fork of the American, California

In the last decade, California has become a hair-boating Mecca. With a reputation like that, it’s easy to forget about classics like the Chili Bar section of the South Fork American, where reliable dam releases insure flows through September. "There’s awesome scenery and good playboating within a close proximity to San Francisco and Sacramento," says California Canoe and Kayak’s Demany Smith. "Plus there’s great food and a great vibe at the put-in in Coloma."

Kayakers get on where Highway 193 crosses the river and take off 20 fun miles later at the Salmon Falls Bridge. Boaters can split the run between the upper section and the Gorge. The upper includes the First Threat play spot followed by Meatgrinder, Racehorse Bend, Maya, Triple Threat, and finally Troublemaker. Several Class II rapids follow before the scenic river enters the Gorge. The first take-out is at Camp Lotus.

The gorge is full of Class III rapids, including Satan’s Cesspool and Hospital Bar. After paddling through typical California granite, be prepared to cross Folsom reservoir to the take-out. The less-hardy or those in a hurry can hire a boat for the ride. Fun Fact: The town of Salmon Falls was covered by Folsom Reservoir in 1955. Before being submerged, the settlement was famous for a 20-foot waterfall that kept salmon from spawning in the South Fork’s upper reaches.

Deerfield River, Massachusetts

The beauty of the Deerfield River—three hours from New York City and two from Boston—may be the only thing Yankee and Red Sox fans can agree on. "It’s a lot like the Nantahala," says Zoar Outdoor president Bruce Lessels. "There’s a ton of Class II water with one big Class III and easy access for people living in the cities."

Paddlers put in at Fife Brook Dam and float five miles to Class III Zoar Gap rapid, playing the squirrelly eddy lines along the way. An alternative takeout at Charlemont adds four miles for boaters whose appetite for whitewater is not easily satisfied. Those ready to step up to III-IV can try the upper Deerfield, putting in at Dagon’s Tooth and taking out at the Monroe Bridge. Both runs can be done in a day. Zoar Outdoors offers kayak lessons and shuttles out of its Charlemont headquarters, where Bean Town revelers and Big Apple rowdies are part of the scene. Fun Fact: Nearby Deerfield, Mass. is a colonial New England town frozen in time, with 13 museum houses built between 1730 and 1850. In 1910, the Thomas A. Edison company produced a film there, titled "Ononko's Vow, a Colonial Tale."

Brown’s Canyon, Arkansas River, Colorado

Whitewater doesn’t get more classic than Brown’s Canyon of the Arkansas: bluebird Colorado skies, towering 14,000-foot peaks and romping, stomping Class III whitewater. "The rapids are pool-drop so for someone looking to up their skill level, Brown’s is perfect," says Mark Olson, manager of Colorado Kayak Supply.

Most people put in at Fisherman’s Bridge and take out at Hecla Junction. Those who can’t get enough can take out two miles downstream at Stone Bridge, adding two more rapids to the day’s total, Twin Falls and Seidel’s Suckhole. At higher flows, these rapids get beefy so look before you run. The action starts with Canyon Doors, below Ruby Mountain (an alternate put-in), which offers great play between 1,000 and 1,500 cfs. Then come such classics as Pinball, Big Drop, Zoom Flume, Toilet Bowl and Raft Ripper, all of which make Brown’s Canyon one of the busiest waterways in the world. Savvy boaters learn to dodge the crowds. "Not many people come out during high water or during the evening in mid-summer," Oson says.

If you’re looking for an easy afternoon, plant a chair at Seidel’s Suckhole and enjoy the carnage. Fun Fact: The Arkansas is one of the most heavily trafficked whitewater runs in the world. More than 350,000 people paddle it each year.

Nantahala River, North Carolina

Few rivers represent America’s international kayaking presence like the Nantahala. Slalom champions Rebecca Giddens and Scott Shipley have tested their gate-running mettle there, while rodeo star Andrew Holcombe first cut his playboating teeth on the Nanty. "All the kids who started on the Nantahala have gone on to be part of kayaking’s cutting edge," says Mark Singleton, former head of marketing for the Nantahala Outdoor Center. "From hairball to Olympic athletes, it’s the consummate training ground for whitewater at an international level."

And all of this from a river that personifies Class III. The Nantahala Gorge is an eight-mile run that has been navigated by river craft more than 30 years. Nantahala is a Cherokee word meaning "middle" or "midday" sun. There are places where high cliffs shut out the light until noon so bring a drytop.

Patton’s Run, Delebar’s Rock and Nantahala Falls are the biggest rapids. Be sure to take out after Nantahala Falls as Class V Wesser Falls waits just downstream. The put-in is off Route 19 below the powerhouse. Fun Fact: The Nantahala Outdoor Center’s River’s End restaurant overlooks the slalom course. Lunch there is good, but don’t bother—the biscuits and gravy breakfast will hold you until suppertime.

Lower Yough, Pennsylvania

The Lower Yough’s gentle rapids and numerous play spots make this western Pennsylvania classic a favorite of Class III boaters from New York to Michigan. If you’re pressed for time or looking for a fun evening float, try putting in just below Ohiopyle Falls and running the Loop. This action-packed 1.5-mile section doubles back on itself, so paddlers who take out at the Railroad Bridge have a short walk back to their cars—or to the put-in for another lap.

"The Loop includes Entrance Rapid, a fun, ledgy drop where you can work on eddy hopping, and Doughnut Hole, which is a good place to learn to spin," says Wilderness Voyageurs’ Chuck Trau.

Boaters who take out at Bruner Run get nearly eight miles of river running, with Cucumber Rapid providing the biggest challenge. "There’s a big hole at the top that can give some boaters a hard time," says Trau. Above six feet, Doughnut Hole becomes a dynamic surf wave. "The Yough is a great place for people of all ability levels," says Trau. "There’s a biking trail along the river so paddlers can get out whenever they want to." Fun Fact: Class IV Ohiopyle Falls, 100 yards above the Lower Yough put-in, is a perfect park and huck. Unfortunately, the 18-footer is only legal to run one weekend each fall, during the Ohiopyle Falls Race.

Chattooga River Section III, Georgia

The Chattooga and Deliverance will forever be linked in river-running lore, almost to the point of cliché. Thankfully, there’s more to this gem than squealing canoeists and crazy locals.

The Chattooga was designated a Wild and Scenic River in 1974 because of its scenery and whitewater. The river offers a classic section for every skill level, and Section III is 13 miles of Nirvana for Class III boaters. Watch water levels closely—anything above 2.5 on the Clayton gage gets pushy. The entire run is rated Class III until mile 12, when paddlers should eddy out to look at Bull Sluice, the section’s only Class IV. At levels above three feet, some paddlers rate the Sluice a Class V. "Section III is a gem," says Mark Singleton, American Whitewater’s Executive Director, who lives in nearby Asheville, N.C. "In June the Mountain Laurel is in full bloom. It’s like listening to the Alman Brothers. It never gets old."

When floating the Chattooga you’ll get a sense of the remoteness that Deliverance translated to the silver screen. No motorized vehicles are permitted within a quarter mile of the river, and man-made structures are limited to hiking trails and primitive camping facilities. Few rivers can rival the Chattooga’s combination of scenery and rapids. Fun Fact: The Chattooga forms the northernmost boundary between Georgia and South Carolina. A different Chattooga River rises in west Georgia and crosses into Alabama, where it empties into Weiss Lake.