Upper Sacramento River Rafting
The Upper Sacramento River is an excellent California whitewater rafting trip in the spring, providing pure fun on 50 plus rapids in its nearly continuous 30 miles of whitewater. On this N. California rafting trip there are majestic views of Mount Shasta and Castle Crags as the river passes through the beautiful canyons of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. There is also hardly any rafting traffic! Only minutes north of Redding, the “Upper Sac” is the handiest whitewater in the northern California mountains. It features beautiful side creek waterfalls, abundant bird life and one of the best trout fisheries in California. We highly recommend this run for active first timers and Class III-IV veterans.
In addition to rafting the Upper Sacramento area has a lot to offer, with stunning scenery and you can’t beat it for fishing, biking and hiking. The quaint historic railroad town of Dunsmuir has the beautiful waterfalls of Hedge Creek and Mossbrae, caves and soda springs. There is boating and caverns at Lake Shasta to the south and of course the majestic 14,162 foot Mount Shasta looms just to the north. Accommodations and restaurants are plentiful in Dunsmuir and Mt. Shasta.
Upper Sacramento River rafting - 1 day trips:
The most popular section of the Upper Sacramento River covers the 14 miles from Sims Flat to Dog Creek near Lake Shasta. It has consistent Class 3-4 rapids including White Horse rapid a few miles upstream from Dog Creek. We serve lunch on all our 1 day rafting trips.
Upper Sacramento River rafting - 2 day trips:
On our 2 day rafting trips, some opt to run the same rafting trip as the first day as its definitely a really fun ride, or we raft upstream of Sims Flat. Though less scenic at the beginning as the river passes through Dunsmuir, there are spectacular views upstream of Mt. Shasta and on the right, the granite peaks of Castle Crags. Numerous Class 3-4 rapids and the highlight of this trip is the Class 4+ rapid of Mears Creek Falls. There is the option to walk around this rapid and continue the short distance downstream to Sims Flat while the rafts are maneuvered through or around the triple drops.
A third day is occasionally spent further upstream which can include the Class 4 rapids of Box Canyon. This requires a tricky put-in just down from Box Canyon Dam, or an easier put-in 2 miles downstream misses most of Box Canyon, but still provides Class 3-4 rapids and the picturesque Mossbrae Falls fed by springs on the left bank.
Our multi day California rafting trips include all meals from lunch on day one to lunch on the last day.
Camping on Upper Sacramento Rafting Trips:
On our overnight trips, we usually camp at the Forest Service campground of Sims Flat. However, for more facilities, arrangements can be made at private sites in Dunsmuir, or at the 4,000 acre Castle Crags State Park. This park lies at the base of 6544 foot granite spires, the Pacific Crest Trail runs through it and it is further from the railroad tracks that run through the canyon.
Distances/Times for travel for the Upper Sacramento River:
Castella……….…...11 mins/7 miles (S)
Dunsmuir…….….17 mins/12+ miles (S)
Mt. Shasta…….…25 mins/22 miles (S)
Redding……..........40 min/42 miles (N)
Sacramento…...…..3 hrs/214 miles (N)
Ashland……….1 hr 45 min/98 miles (S)
Chico……….2 hrs 30 min/121 miles (N)
San Francisco…..4 hrs/256 miles (NE)
Reno……………<4 hrs/235 miles (NW)
Other Class 3 or 4 California rafting trips:
- South Fork American River
- Middle Fork American River
- Lower Klamath River
- Trinity River
- California Rafting - easy or intermediate rivers
