Sacramento, California, US

1) Box Canyon Dam to Dunsmuir (Box Canyon)

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Photo of Scott Yoder by Darin McQuoid @ 5ft

River Description

This run is a class 4 classic.   Beautiful rapids are set in a deep, impressive box canyon of high cliffs.  In several areas, curtains of water cascade down the cliffs from large springs.

It's just off I-5 and if you're driving though in season it makes for a fun paddling diversion. It is tough to figure out if it's running by using the Sacramento @ Delta gauge as a guide as that gauge is close to 40 miles downstream from the put-in. There are too many variables to come up with a simple formula using that gauge as a guide, but there is a good rule of thumb.  As the season progresses the flow in box canyon will be an ever increasing percentage of the total flow at the gauge. In season paddlers will often post the height of the Cantara Gauge on Dreamflows.com (The Cantara guage is the stick gauge at the end of Box Canyon on river left). It's a good bet that Box will have boatable flows from late March thru May.

Take out: Beneath the Dunsmir Avenue bridge in Dunsmir. 

Put in:  The furthest upstream put in requires the use of ropes to descend to the river.  From the left side of the dam, hike downstream a short ways to a clearing, then look for an improvised system of ropes and ladders leading down to the river.  Alternative put ins are at: Ney Springs Fishing Access, Stink Creek and Cantera Loop.

Other Information Sources:
A Wet State: Box Canyon
Jefferson State: Box Canyon 
Ca Creekin: Box Canyon 
Oregon Rafting
Dreamflows Bulletin Board: Box Canyon page
Syskiyou County Flood Control and Water Conseration District  -  Phone - 530-842-8250
Cassady & Calhoun, Holbek & Stanley, Schwind, Gerald Meral