The West: Four great places to go river rafting this fall

When most people think of whitewater rafting trips, visions of hot summer days and big rapids come to mind. But come fall, temperatures are milder, water levels on rivers become more mellow.

That means fewer Class IV (difficult) and more Class III (challenging, but fun) rapids. On many trips, rafters can jump on stand-up paddle boards in flatter sections and stroke their way downstream.

Steve Markle, spokesman for the Angels Camp-based O.A.R.S. rafting company, said two popular California sites — the Tuolumne and Merced rivers — aren’t on the fall rafting lineup because their flows are too low at this time of year.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t plan a paddling experience elsewhere. Here are four places that offer autumn river trips in the West:

1. The Middle Fork and South Forks of the American River in the Sierra foothills east of Sacramento are two fun fall options. Many outfitters will continue to run trips daily through September and on weekends through October. The South Fork has exciting but not-too-scary stretches of whitewater, while the Middle Fork has some hair-raising drops such as the Tunnel Chute and Chunder Rapids.

2. Markle said one of his favorites for a fall river trip in the West is the Colorado River through Cataract Canyon in Utah. Giant sandy beaches are more exposed this time of year, which makes them ideal for camping and beach games.

In addition, cooler and shorter days mean earlier campfires and stargazing in places like the heart of Canyonlands National Park, a top International Dark Sky Park through which the Colorado flows. O.A.R.S. and other outfitters run trips in Cataract Canyon through October.

3. In the Northwest, ROW adventure company spokesman Jason Kruger said the Middle Fork of the Salmon River is a great destination for blue-ribbon trout fishing, colorful scenery and pleasant temperatures for hikes.

4. Similarly, he said Oregon’s Rogue River is one of ROW’s more popular fall trips because of good fishing, lack of crowds, plenty of fun rapids and more active wildlife.

Info: O.A.R.S. at oars.com; ROW Adventures at rowadventures.com

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