The South Fork Gorge is a classic class IV/V run of just under two miles in length but with half a dozen larger rapids and several smaller one rapids. The river runs right along the road and although you can't really see down into the gorge while driving the shuttle, you can get out and spend some time looking at it from above. From Craigs Beach the run begins with the Slalom Course, a fun stretch through a long sequence of boulder garden rapids with multiple routes to choose from and plenty of spots to eddy out.
The entrance to the gorge is marked by a fun double drop down the right side known simply as #1. After a long pool, #2 offers a choice of lines but right is usually preferred. After this drop you will want to catch the eddy on river right to scout #3, aka Good Luck!, one of the bigger drops in the gorge. The preferred line can vary with flow but generally involves avoiding a ledge hole on the right and a large midstream rock towards the bottom of the drop.
After a short pool, another horizon line awaits. An easy scout is available on river left for #4, the Boof. There are actually a few options for a boofs depending upon flow, or no boofs when the river is high.
Two final drops await. On the first of these, #5, the main flow heads down the left with a tricky line through two slots. There's also a fun slot over a rock lip on river right. The next drop, #6, is a steep drop with runout that pushes into the gorge wall on river left. There's a river left line over a ledge and a river right line that takes you down a fast ramp.
The remainder of the gorge is a flatwater paddle out to the Slant Bridge. Take-out on the sandy beach on river right just below the bridge and hike up the trail to the Smith River Forks River Access area. The rope swing under the bridge is definitely worth a go.
Check out Jason Rackley's
South Fork Gorge and
Robin Clifton's 5-minute video.