"There isn't much that is finer than sleeping on a sandy beach, hearing the gentle lap of the water and all under an extravagant bouquet of stars." Linda Kahn Home Page
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Paul Sherrill
" Your care of your guests is unsurpassed. Great food, beautiful river, wonderful company." Kate Chaitin, software designer |
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Wild & Scenic Klamath RiverScenic River Trips with River Dancers The Klamath is California's longest river and second largest. The average flow at its mouth is higher than the Colorado in the Grand Canyon. The Klamath watershed starts east of Crater Lake in southern Oregon. It flows southwesterly into California and then west to the ocean. It slices through the very rugged Siskiyou mountains and Coastal Range. The large wilderness area between Happy Camp and the coastal town of Crescent City is a remote paradise, supporting a rich and lush vegetation and a wide variety of wildlife. The Klamath and its tributaries and the diverse vegetation provide excellent habitat for ospreys, bald eagles, great blue herons, Canada geese....This region of California lies on the migratory route of many tropical birds. These birds make the journey to the forests around Hwy 96 to nest after spending the winter in the rain forests of Central America and the Caribbean. 
The Klamath region remains largely unpopulated. Before white
settlement, the Klamath was home to several groups of Indians, including
a tribe of Modocs known as the Klamath, after whom the river was named.
Other tribes living along the river and its tributaries included the
Shasta, Karuk (whose name means upstream) and the Yurok (downstream).
The subsistence of these Indians depended mostly on the river's abundant
salmon and steelhead and it was profoundly disturbed, first by mining
operations in the fever of the gold rush, then later by dam building and
other dredging operations that cut the fish off some of their best spawning
grounds. Fisheries have been protected since then, and, in 1980, the California
section of the Klamath was added to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers
System, thus being saved from dam building.Every summer, the Yurok and their neighbors share the World Renewal Ceremony that brings good fortune from the spirits to prevent disasters and provide abundant food. Bigfoot legends abound around the world. Native Americans called him Sasquatch. To this day, the area along Hwy 96, between Happy Camp and Willow Creek reports more sightings of Bigfoot than anywhere else in the world. Cryptozoologists, people who investigate unknown animal species, have compiled huge amounts of evidence proving Bigfoot's evidence. Tree of Heaven campground is the meeting place for our very popular class 2 Gentle Klamath run. It is easily accessible from I-5, 10 minutes only from the Oregon border and close to the small town of Yreka. Mellow rapids, warm waters great for swimming and an easy pace make for a relaxing day, ideal for families with small children or first time rafters. 
Happy Camp, halfway between I-5 and the Pacific Coast,
is the meeting place for our class 2/3 Klamath run and most of our
overnight adventures. It was so named in 1851 by a group of gold miners
after they found what they were looking for. Playful rapids, superb
scenery and wildlife combined with secluded camping make the Klamath
one of the State's best summer destinations. We offer 2 to 5 day
wilderness camping trips. A raft carries all our equipment, kitchen,
food, sleeping gear and personal baggage. We travel down river unemcumbered
by the strappings of modern urban life. No cars, no phones, no computers...
just the quiet and peace of the river environment. Our guides take care
of all your needs. They are expert at river navigation, excellent cooks,
storytellers, yoga instructors and musicians...Mostly they are wonderful
human beings who love what they do and take your welfare to heart.
Ukonom Creek, named after a Karok chief, enters the Klamath river,
clear and cool. A rugged 3/4 mile trail leads from the river to the
Ukonom Twin Falls and a nice deep pool great for swimming and cooling
off. This is a place of awesome beauty, the highlight of any trip.
We take care of you. We teach you the basic skills and safety procedures, we lead you down the river and provide support and assistance to ensure the best experience possible.
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