This is the classic day run on the South Fork Salmon with several class IV rapids and at least one class V, Double Drop, at medium flows. The road climbs away from the river at Goat Creek and does not return until the take-out at Poverty Flat Campground. The Poverty Flat overlook along the shuttle route offers a distant view of the river far below.
This section is closed to paddling during April, May, August, and September in an effort to reduce disturbance of spawning salmon. Review the rules
here.
Logistics: To reach the South Fork Salmon, turn east on Warm Lake Road (FR 579) in Cascade at Highway 55 mile 116.1. It's 24 miles up this road to the turn for the South Fork Road (FR 474) at Warm Lake Road mile 55.9 (on the way you will pass a Trail Creek Hot Spring at Warm Lake Road 60.5, 0.1 mile up the hill west of the FR 409 junction). The South Fork Road (FR 474) parallels the river on river right.
The put-in is at South Fork Road mile 7.9 where Goat Creek passes under the road through a large culvert. A small pull-out provides parking for a shuttle rig and it's a bit of a scramble down to the river. From this point the road immediately climbs away from the river and at mile 9.6 you can stop at the Poverty Flat overlook for a view into the canyon below. Continuing on to mile 13.6 is the Poverty Flat Campground where the road returns to the river. The road comes close to the river at mile 14.0 providing several options for easy access if you don't want to drive into the campground. You can also paddle down to Tea Pot Hot Spring at mile 15.3 although the springs will be inundated at higher flows.
Both Warm Lake Road and South Fork Salmon Road are paved. An alternate access is to come in from McCall over the Lick Creek road and access the run from the downstream end. The Lick Creek Road is not paved and may be snowed in early in the season.