Cal Salmon Half Day Rafting - Class IV

Previous paddling experience is recommended but not required for Class IV rapids, as long as you can swim, are fit and adventurous, and ready to paddle hard. This is an advanced Class IV run with continuous rapids and technical features that require confident paddling and good physical fitness. If you're new to rafting, we recommend starting with a Class III or easier Class IV trip before tackling the Cal Salmon.

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No, pets are not permitted on Class IV. If you’d like to bring your pooch, we’d recommend booking a trip that’s Class III or lower.

Our guide-to-guest ratio is typically 1:6

The only reason a trip would be outright canceled is for wildfires and air quality/safety issues. Rain is normal, and we have all the gear needed to keep people warm and cozy. We have canceled trips due to snow but always check in with guests to see how they’d like to proceed. Some folks are happy rafting in the snow, so it really depends on the guest!

The river has a way of taking items from us, so if it’s not tied down or secured, you could lose it. General rule: don’t bring anything you’d hate to lose. Don’t wear expensive jewelry, don’t bring your only pair of prescription glasses, don’t bring electronics, and we don’t recommend bringing your phone (it doesn’t work in our area anyways). There is a professional photographer on the run, but if you’d like to document the trip and have a GoPro, consider using one of our helmets with a GoPro mount. If you’d like to bring your phone or camera, we’ll supply you with a dry bag.

You’ll need at least four people in your group to book this trip.

Both trips run the same exciting section of the Cal Salmon—the Butler Ledge stretch—featuring the “Miracle Mile” (Class III-IV) and the powerful Gapping Maw (Class IV+). The main difference is time on the water: the Half-Day trip includes one lap of the run and a light riverside snack, while the Full-Day trip includes two laps and a full organic lunch served between runs.

If you're short on time but still want an exciting trip, the half-day is a great fit. If you're looking for a longer adventure with more whitewater and a meal included, the full-day delivers maximum river time and value.

All of the guides at Six Rivers Rafting are thoroughly trained and have a river or swiftwater rescue cert, an advanced first aid cert (usually of the wilderness variety), and a CPR cert. Guides have also completed a guide training/school and have proved proficient on all sections of the river they are taking clients on. The experience level of our guide team ranges from well over 20 years to first-year rock stars. Our guides tend to come back and work for us for many years, providing a wealth of experience and stability to our operation. All of our guides are also knowledgeable when it comes to river ecology and the surrounding wildlife. They passionately share information about local species, landmarks, and conservation issues in a friendly and interesting way.

We make many efforts to reduce our waste. Food is packaged in reusable containers and served with real plates and silverware. Reusable water bottles allow us to hydrate without creating waste. Leftover food is turned into compost. All other waste is either recycled or reused at the owner’s house. (Plastic Ziploc bags can be cleaned and used over and over!)

We are locally owned. As an active member in our community, we enjoy donating rafting gift certificates to local charities for their fundraising efforts. We love seeing our gift certificates generate income for the local Creekside Charter School and the Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka! Plus, we get the added benefit of later enjoying the company of the gift certificate recipients!