The section of the South Fork Salmon between Matthews Creek and Methodist Creek is not often boated. It's a wonderful run but has a dichotomous character: most of the run is class II+/III but it concludes with a tight class IV+ gorge just above the take-out at the Methodist Creek River Access. It's this split character that keeps most boaters away and most who do run this section are doing it as an add-on the the upstream South Fork Gorge Run. However, it is possible to take out just above the class IV+ gorge and keep this run in the class III range or (for smaller baorts) portage the class IV+ gorge.
The class IV+ gorge aside, this run has abundant rapids in a pool-drop configuration. At medium and higher flows there are some fun surf waves and play features but it is also boatable at lower flows and a slower pace. A scenic highlight of this section is Big Rock and the beautiful, circulating pool on river right at the base of the towering rock. Some of this run can be seen from Cecilville Road but much of it is out of sight. As usual for a Salmon watershed run, the scenery is great.
For boaters not interested in running the class IV+ gorge, it is possible to take out a ways above it, but the access point is unmarked so most boaters are unaware of its existence. It is not obvious yet includes a wood staircase to help you climb up from the river. Definitely scout this informal take-out before boating if this is your plan.
Although the grand finale class IV+ gorge is perfectly runnable if not a bit snaggletoothed at certain flows or punchy at others, it's possible to portage on the right. The portage isn't super easy because the bedrock is slick and you'll need to climb up and down over small outcrops and boulders. Packrafters will find that their light craft make the portage easier, kayakers will manage, but rafters will not be able to easily portage this gorge, and lining would be very challenging if not impossible.
Flows & Season
This run is in at medium flows between 2,500 and 4,500 cfs at the Somes Bar gage, but has a much wider window of boatable flows, especially above these levels. This run is usually boatable in winter, spring, and--only on big water years--into very early summer.
Logistics
_Put-in_
Put in at the unsigned Matthews Creek River Access, about 1/4 mile downstream of the Matthews Creek Campground near the nine-mile marker on Cecilville Road. There's drive-up access to river level via a short dirt road (#54D022) that departs Cecilville Road near the downriver side of the small bridge over Matthews Creek. This is also the take-out for the upstream
South Fork Gorge Run.
_Take-out_
The take-out is located at the six-mile marker on Cecilville Road, immediately on the upriver side of the bridge over the South Fork Salmon. Most kayakers park in the narrow pull-out and walk the short but steep user trail to the beach below. Rafters often use the short spur road about 150 feet upstream of the bridge where there is a small parking spot and an undrivable old roadbed from there to the beach (not advised to try to drive to the beach, vehicles get stuck and tow trucks take a long time to get here). This is also the put-in for the
Methodist Creek Run.
_Alternate take-out upstream of class IV+ gorge_
This is an unmarked access point near Graham Gulch, and it is not obvious from Cecilville Road or the river. There is a short dirt road off Cecilville Road here and a small area for parking. This is between the 6-mile and 7-mile marker on Cecilville Road and 0.7 miles upstream of the Methodist Creek River Access and bridge over the river.
Additional Info
Salmon River Restoration Council's Whitewater Recreation Page \- great overview and detail on the whitewater of the Salmon River drainage
Salmon River Hazard Map \- map of known hazards in the river and tributaries