River Flows

Farther afield
If you are tired of the Saturday crowds on the Alpine Canyon section of the Snake: consider the Hoback (tributary to the Snake) which is mostly class II, with one class III rapid at high water. Also, the Murtaugh section of the Snake and the Greys River offer whitewater for expert boaters. Maps of the Hoback are available from Jean *Reference: Gary Nichols' River Runner's Guide to Utah and Adjacent Areas. There are many rivers that are just a few hours from Logan that can be boated. One area that I plan on exploring this next Spring are some of the streams that flow out of the Uintas! When I have more information about local rivers I will let you know.

Blacksmith Fork
The Blacksmith Fork River, which is just twenty minutes south of Logan also has some great whitewater. The run on this river is short, only 3 miles in length but offers some technical creek boating. The run starts where an old dam has been removed and continues to the mouth of the canyon. At the put-in there is a five foot falls that can be run but should be scouted in high water. There is parking at both the put-in and take-out which makes for a convenient shuttle. During low flows the Blacksmith Fork is class II-III, but during the Spring and early Summer it turns into a raging class III-IV+ run! This river should always be scouted before boating it, since it has many sweepers and strainers. Often times there are trees that fall across the entire river blocking it completely.

The Logan River
First Dam to First East is suitable for experienced intermediate paddlers at moderate to high flows and beginners (with river experience) at low flows. There are two diversion dams which often require a portage.

The Bridger Campground to Second Dam section is similar but more likely to be too low due to diversion for power generation. This section is best during May and June. There is a bridge about half way down the run that often has to be ported because it is to low to boat underneath in high flows. Also on this section, there is a wave past the bridge that is a must. When the water level is right you can get three or four boaters on it at the same time! Brandon Moore and I both sat on that wave at the same time for a good ten minutes. This run is a great beginner section on the Logan; the whitewater rarely gets above class 2. Due to the many overhanging trees along the Logan River it is essential that paddlers scout their routes. It is not uncommon for trees to block the river completely. There are 3-4 trees near the Guinevah-Malibu Campground that are likely to be undercut by Spring run-off. When they fall they will block the river.Sections of the river further up the canyon should be scouted carefully.

There is a good class II-III run that starts at the China Cave climbing area and continues on to Third Dam! This section can be run from early spring to early winter. There are no dams or diversions that remove water from the river. Make sure to scout this section every time you run it.

The Staircase section of the Logan River starts at the Greenhouse climbing area just below Second Dam and continues on past the Stokes Nature Center where there is a decent play spot. The run ends in the back waters of First Dam. The whole run is less than two miles in length. It is possible to boat it a few times in a day if once doesn't give you a sufficient fix. The Staircase run only has good flows during the months of April, May, and June. This is an expert run and should not be attempted by anyone who is not comfortable with the fact that they might get hurt. The rating on this section of the Logan is class IV-V!

Rick's Springs to the China Cave climbing area will take you a couple of hours but has a lot to offer. It has been proposed that this section of the river be designated as "Wild and Scenic;" when you kayak this part of the river you will see why. The river is incredibly beautiful, with many side streams entering from both sides. There are several small springs that cascade down limestone walls through green mossy beds. Wildlife is abundant; don't be surprised if you see moose, deer, ducks, beaver, and maybe an otter. The whitewater is awesome and goes on for miles and miles. The run has several spin holes, waves, and cartwheel spots that you can stop at and enjoy. This section is class III-IV+ and should not be run by beginners. Intermediate boaters will want to make sure that they are kayaking with experienced partners. I have been on this section of the river and seen some pretty scary rescue situations.