California & Oregon Packraft Trip 2026

April 30 – May 17 · 18 days · Click any day to expand

All Days

Part 1: Redwood & KlamathApr 30 – May 5

Part 2: Illinois & RogueMay 5 – 17

Trunda + Vojta + Sarka 2 boats Sarka: class II-III Hiking + Promo

Hiking

River

Driving

Promo

Hidden Gem

Logistics

Arrival + Jedediah Smith Redwoods

April 30 (Thursday)

HikeGem

Arrive 13:50

Pick up rental car, drive to C1 Pacific Camp near Crescent City. Set up camp, shake off jet lag.

Crescent City

Stout Memorial Grove

Short walk to a jaw-dropping old-growth grove on the bank of the emerald Smith River. Beautiful for photos, swimming if warm enough.
Access via Howland Hill Road — unpaved scenic drive through cathedral-like old-growth. Drive it slow, it's magic.
Located in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, just NE of Crescent City.

Mapa Jedediah Smith SP Howland Hill Road

NEW: Boy Scout Tree / Fern Falls Trail

5.8 mi round trip through old-growth to a stunning 30-foot fern-draped waterfall. One of the best hikes in Jedediah Smith — and most people miss it. Same park as Stout Grove, trailhead off Howland Hill Road.

Trailhead AllTrails

Tip: If you arrive with energy, Howland Hill Road + Stout Grove is the perfect gentle intro. The road itself is one of the hidden gems — towering redwoods right at car-window height.

Redwood Hidden Gems Day

May 1 (Friday)

HikeGems

Morning: Grove of the Titans

1.7 mi loop on boardwalk through some of the largest redwoods on Earth. Off Howland Hill Road in Jedediah Smith Redwoods.
Go early — parking fills fast by mid-morning. Elevation gain: 147 ft. Takes 30-60 min.

Mapa NPS Info AllTrails

Midday: Fern Canyon

Absolute must-see. 50-foot vertical walls covered in ancient ferns (325 million year old species\!). You walk through a stream in the canyon. ~1 mi loop.
Access via Davison Road from Orick (unpaved, 10 mi). Located in Prairie Creek Redwoods SP.
PERMIT REQUIRED May 1 - Sep 30

Mapa Prairie Creek SP Book Permit

Afternoon Option A: Damnation Creek Trail

Steep descent through old-growth forest to a hidden beach. ~4 mi round trip, 1000 ft elevation drop. Dramatic and quiet — one of the best hikes in the park. Trailhead is off US-101.

Mapa AllTrails

Afternoon Option B: Enderts Beach

1.5 mi round trip to a beach with tidepools and dramatic cliffs. Short and easy, good if legs are tired.

Mapa NPS Info

NEW: Trillium Falls + Roosevelt Elk

Easy 2 mi loop through redwoods to a mossy waterfall. The real draw: Roosevelt elk herds roam the Elk Prairie meadow right at the trailhead parking lot. Unique wildlife encounter — these are the largest elk in North America.

Trailhead AllTrails

Evening: Scout Redwood Creek

Check access points and water level for tomorrow's run.

Redwood Creek area Gauge (min 350 cfs)

Schedule tip: Grove of Titans and Fern Canyon are ~45 min drive apart. Plan the route: Howland Hill → US-101 south → Davison Road. Damnation Creek trailhead is between the two on US-101.

Redwood Creek + Promo Shooting

May 2 (Saturday)

Class II-IV

Redwood Creek — River Breakdown

Miles 1-10: Class II — perfect for Sarka + promo material
Miles 10-12: Class III-IV, Rocky Gap at mile 11.8 = V+ mandatory portage
Miles 12-26: Class I with wood dodging

Put-in: Stover Road | Take-out: Bald Hills Road
Total: 26 miles | Gradient: 30 fpm then 10 fpm

Put-in area WW Guidebook CA Creeks Gauge

Optional: Trunda + Vojta continue (Class III-IV)

If flow and time allow, continue through the harder section with 2 boats.
Rocky Gap (mi 11.8) = V+ — portage river left\!
Sarka hikes out or waits at a road crossing.

Permits

Redwood Creek Dispersed Camping Permit needed (free) — get from Redwood Parks Conservancy.

Scenic Drive to Happy Camp

May 3 (Sunday)

DriveShop

State of Jefferson Scenic Byway (CA-96)

Spectacular drive following the Klamath River through deep canyon country. One of the most scenic drives in Northern California.
Route options from Crescent City area:
• South on US-101 → CA-169/CA-96 along the Klamath
• Or via US-199 east, then south on backroads
Either way: ~2.5-3 hours

Highway 96 Scenic Info

NEW: Ishi Pishi Falls — dramatic Klamath cascade

Powerful cascade on the Klamath River near Orleans. Not a vertical waterfall but a spectacular stretch of whitewater crashing through boulders. Sacred site for the Karuk people — traditional fishing spot for centuries. Viewable from CA-96.

Mapa

Stop: Salmon River Outpost

Small store with local provisions and mountain vibe at Somes Bar. Worth a stop on CA-96.

Mapa

Scout Clear Creek

Bridge crossing 7 mi west of Happy Camp on Highway 96. Stop and check water level, scout put-in/take-out for tomorrow.

Clear Creek / Hwy 96

Arrive Happy Camp — Big Grocery Shop

Last real town for a while\! Buy enough food for: remaining Phase 1 days, Illinois (3 days for 2), start of Rogue resupply.
Camp near Happy Camp or at Clear Creek area.

Happy Camp Klamath NF Recreation

Tip: Happy Camp is small — don't expect a huge supermarket. If you need specialty items, buy in Crescent City before you leave.

Clear Creek Double-Dip + Illinois Prep

May 4 (Monday)

Class IVClass II

Morning — Run 1: Clear Creek Upper (Trunda + Vojta)

Class IV — narrow canyon, crystal-clear emerald water.
Extremely scenic, rarely paddled — great for adventure photos.
Sarka hikes along or relaxes at camp.

Clear Creek AW Beta AW (alt)

NEW: Eight Dollar Mountain / Darlingtonia Bog

Boardwalk through a bog filled with cobra lilies — rare carnivorous plants that look like hooded snakes. Bizarre and beautiful. 10 min stop, right on your route ~8 mi south of Selma on Hwy 199. Eight Dollar Mountain above has serpentine wildflower meadows.

Mapa USFS Info

Evening — Illinois Prep

• Self-register for Illinois River permit at kiosk in Selma (drive ~1.5 hrs south)
• Buy any last supplies (Selma has a small store)
• Drive to Briggs Creek campground (near Miami Bar put-in)
• Pack boats and gear for the 3-day Illinois wilderness run

Selma, OR Briggs Creek CG Briggs Creek USFS

Timing tip: Start the upper Clear Creek early. You want to be done with both runs by ~3-4 PM to have time for the 1.5 hr drive to Selma for the permit kiosk, then back to Briggs Creek.

Don't-Miss Hidden Gems

Grove of the Titans

The biggest redwoods you'll ever see. 1.7 mi boardwalk loop. Jedediah Smith, off Howland Hill Road.

Mapa Info

Fern Canyon

50-foot walls draped in ancient ferns. Walk through the stream. Prairie Creek Redwoods SP.

PERMIT REQUIRED from May 1\!

Mapa Info

Damnation Creek Trail

Old-growth descent to a secret beach. 4 mi RT, 1000 ft drop. One of the quietest spots in the park.

Mapa Info

Stout Memorial Grove

Peaceful old-growth grove on the emerald Smith River. Perfect for first-evening exploring.

Mapa Info

Clear Creek Lower

Crystal canyon with caves, Class II. Arguably the best promo-shooting location on the whole trip.

Mapa Beta

Howland Hill Road

Unpaved road through cathedral redwoods. Drive it slow — trees at window height. A gem in itself.

Mapa NPS Info

Smith River Swimming Holes

Myrtle Beach area — jade-green water, cliff jumping, short steep trail down. Crystal clear.

Mapa Smith River Alliance

Boy Scout Tree / Fern Falls

5.8 mi RT hike to a 30-ft fern-draped waterfall. Best kept secret in Jedediah Smith.

Mapa AllTrails

Trillium Falls + Elk Prairie

Easy 2 mi loop to a mossy waterfall + Roosevelt elk herds in the meadow. Prairie Creek Redwoods.

Mapa AllTrails

Darlingtonia Bog (Cobra Lilies)

Boardwalk through carnivorous plants near Selma. Bizarre and beautiful. 10 min stop on your route.

Mapa

Cape Sebastian

Dramatic coastal cliff viewpoint 5 min south of Gold Beach. Panoramic views. Quick stop on D17.

Mapa

Trunda + Vojta 2 boats Solid III-IV paddlers Self-supported

Illinois River (IV-V)

Rogue — Hike Up

Rogue — Packraft Down

Transition / Rest

Travel

Illinois River

Illinois Launch / Sarka Flies Home

May 5 (Tuesday)

LaunchHandoff

Miami Bar → Pine Flat

Sarka drops off Trunda + Vojta at Miami Bar put-in (elevation 870').
32 miles of wilderness whitewater ahead — Class IV with one Class V (Green Wall).
Recommended flow: 700 - 2,400 cfs

Miami Bar WW Guidebook Gauge USFS

Sarka drives rental to Medford, flies 14:00

Rental car returned at Medford airport. From this point: Trunda + Vojta are car-free and fully self-supported.

Medford Airport MFR Airport

Illinois — Green Wall (Class V\!)

May 6 (Wednesday)

Class V

Green Wall section

The crux of the Illinois. Scout carefully, portage if needed. The Green Wall gorge is committing — once in, options to walk out are limited.
Take your time, this is the hardest whitewater of the entire trip.

Packraft trip report

Safety: Green Wall is the most consequential rapid on this trip. Scout from river left. Portage is possible but difficult. Don't push it if the water is high.

Illinois — Oak Flat → Foster Bar

May 7 (Thursday)

Finish

Oak Flat take-out, continue to Foster Bar

Paddle out of the Illinois wilderness. Continue down the Rogue confluence to Foster Bar — this will be base camp for the Rogue expedition.

Oak Flat Foster Bar Oak Flat CG

Rest & Resupply at Foster Bar

May 8 (Friday)

ResupplyRest

Organize 7 days of food, dry gear

Critical day — pack carefully for the Rogue hike + float. You'll carry everything for 7 days on your back.
Dry out Illinois gear, patch anything damaged, repack for hiking.

Foster Bar Recreation.gov

Key risk: 7 days of food + packraft gear = very heavy packs for the hike. Check if Paradise Lodge or Marial Lodge sell any food (call ahead). Every meal you buy on trail saves ~0.5 kg of pack weight.

Rogue River — Hike Upstream

D10

Foster Bar → Brushy Bar

May 9 (Saturday)

~10 mi

Rogue River Trail — Day 1

Heavy packs, ease into it. Follow the Rogue River upstream through old-growth forest. Camp at Brushy Bar — one of the best camps on the trail.
NEW — Flora Dell Falls: Waterfall right beside the trail between Foster Bar and Brushy Bar. Easy stop, no detour needed.

Foster Bar Rogue River Trail AllTrails

D11

Brushy Bar → Paradise Lodge

May 10 (Sunday)

~10 mi

Rogue River Trail — Day 2

~10 mi upstream. Check Paradise Lodge for resupply — buying a meal or snacks here saves serious pack weight.
NEW — Zane Grey's Cabin (mi 17.3): The famous Western novelist's fishing cabin, now on the National Historic Register. Open to visitors — worth a 10 min stop. Located near Winkle Bar.

Zane Grey Cabin

D12

Paradise → Marial / Mule Creek

May 11 (Monday)

~10 mi

Rogue River Trail — Day 3

~10 mi upstream. Scout Mule Creek Canyon from above — you'll paddle through it on the way back. Narrow, dramatic, committing. Camp near Marial.
NEW — Inspiration Point (mi 25.2): Narrow ledge high above the river with jaw-dropping views of Stair Creek Falls and boaters below. One of the most photographed spots on the whole trail.
NEW — Rogue River Ranch: 1903 homestead at Mule Creek, now a free museum. Native American farming terraces dating back 8,000 years.
NEW — Tate Creek Waterslide: Natural rock waterslide on a side creek. Short scramble off trail. Fun reward after heavy miles.

D13

Mule Creek → Grave Creek

May 12 (Tuesday)

~10 miPut-in

Rogue River Trail — Day 4 (final)

~10 mi to Grave Creek boat ramp. Arrive at the put-in, set up camp. Tomorrow the boats go back in the water\!

Grave Creek BLM Wild Section

Rogue River — Packraft Downstream

D14

Grave Creek → Rainie Falls area

May 13 (Wednesday)

~11 miClass III+

First day on the Wild Rogue

~11 mi downstream. SCOUT Rainie Falls\! Class IV at most flows, with a portage option on river right. This is the first big rapid — take your time.

Grave Creek CA Creeks beta Gauge Permits

D15

Mule Creek Canyon → Blossom Bar

May 14 (Thursday)

~11 miClass IV

The big day — Mule Creek & Blossom Bar

~11 mi. Mule Creek Canyon is narrow and committing — you scouted it from above on the hike. Blossom Bar (Class IV) — the crux of the Rogue float. Scout from river right, pick your line carefully.

WW Guidebook

D16

Paradise area → Foster Bar

May 15 (Friday)

~12 miFinish\!

Final float — back to Foster Bar

~12 mi to the finish. Deflate the boats one last time. You've completed the full Rogue loop — hiked up, paddled down\!

Foster Bar

Homeward

D17

Foster Bar → San Francisco

May 16 (Saturday)

Travel

Hitch to Gold Beach, rent car, drive to SF

Hitchhike or arrange ride to Gold Beach. Rent a car, then drive ~350 mi / 6 hrs south to San Francisco. Stay at Sarka's place.

Gold Beach Gold Beach info

NEW: Cape Sebastian — 5 min from Gold Beach

Dramatic coastal promontory 200 ft above the ocean. Panoramic views up and down the coast. Short trail from parking lot — perfect first stop after picking up the rental car.

Mapa Oregon SP

NEW: Elk Prairie (Roosevelt Elk) — on US-101

Giant Roosevelt elk herds graze in a meadow right next to the highway. Pull over, watch from the car or walk into the meadow. Prairie Creek Redwoods SP. You drove through on Day 2 — revisit if you missed them.

Mapa

NEW: Trinidad Head + Moonstone Beach — on US-101

Short climb to panoramic ocean views from Trinidad Head. Nearby Moonstone Beach has sea caves accessible at low tide and a waterfall pouring into the ocean. Quick stop, right off the highway.

Trinidad Moonstone Beach

NEW: Glass Beach, Fort Bragg — sea glass paradise

Beach covered in colorful tumbled sea glass — decades of ocean smoothing old bottle dumps into jewel-like pebbles. Unique and beautiful. Part of MacKerricher State Park, short walk from parking. On US-101 / CA-1.

Mapa MacKerricher SP

NEW: Russian Gulch Falls + Devil's Punchbowl — Mendocino

Two gems in one park, 2 mi north of Mendocino village. Russian Gulch Falls: 36-foot waterfall in a redwood/fern canyon (3 mi hike RT). Devil's Punchbowl: collapsed sea cave where waves crash in — viewable from a short coastal trail. Both incredible.

Mapa State Park

NEW: Salt Point State Park — 90 min before SF

Wild sandstone cliffs sculpted by wind and waves (tafoni formations). Gerstle Cove marine reserve — tidepools, sea lions, possibly gray whales in May. Great final nature stop before hitting SF traffic.

Mapa State Park

Route note: US-101 straight is ~6 hrs. Plenty of quick stops along the way without major detours — Trinidad, Fort Bragg, Mendocino, Salt Point are all on or near the highway.

D18

Rest at Sarka's → Fly SFO 16:35

May 17 (Sunday)

RestFly

Laundry, repack, real food

Rest day in San Francisco at Sarka's. Enjoy civilization — take a shower, eat something that isn't dehydrated. Flight departs SFO at 16:35.

Permit note: Rogue River regulated season starts May 15. Your float launch on May 13 is before the regulated period — likely only self-registration needed, no lottery. Confirm with Smullin Visitor Center: 541-618-2408. BLM permit info · Recreation.gov

Key risk: 7 days of food + packraft gear = very heavy packs for the hike. Check if Paradise Lodge or Marial Lodge sell any food (call ahead). Every meal you buy on trail saves ~0.5 kg of pack weight.

All links: Trip overview map · Illinois beta · Rogue beta · Illinois gauge · Rogue gauge

Total Days

Rivers

~90 mi

On Water

~50 mi

On Foot

II-V

Class Range

20+

Hidden Gems