Access to a Renewed Klamath River (OR/CA)

Posted: 11/07/2024

By: Thomas O'Keefe

The four Klamath River hydropower dams have been removed, and this brings new opportunities for boating and experiencing the 45 miles of restored river. Before boating, river users need to learn about the new river reaches and know the current status of access points. We know everyone is eager to get out on the river, however some areas are not ready to receive visitors. It’s incredibly important that the boating community respect these closures and encourage others to help protect the area's natural and cultural resources. 

Two access points in particular, K’utárawáx·u Access (Grizzly Hill) and K'účasčas Access (Fall Creek) are on land that will be managed by Shasta Indian Nation and not yet open to the public. Those planning to boat through K’íkac’éki Canyon must begin at Access Point 1 and take out at Iron Gate, 16 miles downstream. These two intermediate access points will not be open to the public until the spring of 2025. Attempting to enter or exit the river at the start or end of K’íkac’éki Canyon jeopardizes our relationship with the Shasta Indian Nation and potentially our ability to complete and use these sites. These lands, including these access areas, are the Tribe’s ancestral home and are being returned to the Tribe to steward and manage. American Whitewater is actively working with the Tribe to help develop these areas for recreational river use.

The information below is intended to help the whitewater community learn about all of the access points on the newly undammed Klamath, their current status, and to understand how to be respectful visitors to this wealth of new whitewater: 

Keno Dam: Open to the public. The put-in on river right below Keno Dam is currently accessible via old Wagon Road on federal land, but requires a high clearance vehicle. The access site on river left that was a park managed by PacifiCorp is closed. Future management of this site is unclear, but American Whitewater has notified various entities of our interest in river access at this location.

Pioneer Park West: Closed to the public. This access site is located just downstream of the Highway 66 bridge on river right and is currently being developed as a take-out for the Keno run. The concrete ramp is in place, and additional development of recreational facilities will proceed in the coming months. The site is currently owned by Klamath River Renewal Corporation and will be transferred to the State of Oregon or its designee. While this access area is closed, boaters can access the river within the Highway 66 right-of-way.

Moonshine Falls River Access: Closed to the public. The Moonshine Falls access is immediately downstream of the former J.C. Boyle Dam site on river right. This is the typical put-in for the class IV/V Big Bend Run. This site will be transformed into a formal river access, but the improvements, including a raft slide and stairs to the water, have not yet been constructed. The site is currently owned by Klamath River Renewal Corporation and it will be transferred to the State of Oregon or its designee.

Spring Island: Closed to the public. Spring Island is the standard put-in for the Hells Corner Run and take-out for the Big Bend Run. This site was closed during the dam removal process and at least one locked gate currently prevents drive-in access to the site. American Whitewater is working to get the gate unlocked and the site reopened. The site is on federal land and managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Frain Ranch: Open to the public. Frain Ranch is an alternate put-in for the Hells Corner Run and is located immediately above Caldera Rapid on river left. A high-clearance vehicle is required. The site is open and managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Stateline River Access: Open to the public. Stateline is an alternate take-out for the Hells Corner Run located on river left at Stateline Falls. A high-clearance vehicle is required. The site is open and managed by the Bureau of Land Management. 

Access 6: Open to the public. Access 6 is the standard take-out for the Hells Corner Run and the put-in for the Beswick Run. It is accessible with standard clearance vehicles. It is open and will remain available for public use as long as PacifiCorp owns the property. The gate may be closed for ranch operations.

Access 1: Open to the public. Access 1 is the put-in for the K’íkac’éki Valley Run through the former Copco Reservoir footprint and, for now, it is the only available put-in for the K’íkac’éki Canyon and Iron Gate runs. It is open and accessible with standard clearance vehicles and will remain available for public use as long as PacifiCorp owns the property.

K’utárawáx·u Access (Grizzly Hill): Closed to the public. For now, the only way to access  K’íkac’éki Canyon is by putting in six river miles upstream at Access 1 and boating 16 miles to take out at Iron Gate. K’utárawáx·u l Access (pronounced Ku-ta-ra-wa-hhu) is being built directly at the entrance to K’íkac’éki Canyon and is scheduled to open in May 2025. Until this new access is open, please do not attempt to find an alternate way into the canyon: this area is a sacred landscape containing sensitive cultural resources, is an active revegetation site, and is private property not open to access. It is extremely important that the boating community respect this limitation and wait for the new access to open.This access and surrounding 2,800 acres are being returned to the Shasta Indian Nation. Please help build a good relationship with the Shasta Indian Nation and honor their request to not access this area until they are ready to receive visitors.  

K'účasčas Access (Fall Creek): Closed to the public. Once re-constructed and opened to the public, K'účasčas (pronounced Ku-chas-chas) will be the primary take-out access point for the Wards Canyon Run and the put-in for the Iron Gate Run. The K'účasčas Access and surrounding 2,800 acres are being returned to the Shasta Indian Nation. This is a sacred landscape and culturally sensitive area. Please help build a good relationship with the Shasta Indian Nation and honor their request to not access this area until they are ready to receive visitors.

Iron Gate Access: Open to the public. This is the take-out for the Iron Gate Run and is on the river right immediately downstream of the double bridges below the former Iron Gate Dam site. The site is open and features a drive-up concrete boat ramp. Additional improvements are forthcoming. The site is currently owned by Klamath River Renewal Corporation but will be transferred to the State of California.