The uppermost reach of Wooley Creek is deep within the Marble Mountain Wilderness Area. It is even more remote than the sections below and boaters rarely--almost never--venture this far into the wilderness to paddle here. Yet, it is still possible to paddle even further upstream on the North Fork of Wooley Creek.
The run below the confluence of the North Fork and mainstem Wooley has been done by rafters, kayakers, and inflatable kayakers coming on foot from both the downstream and upstream directions.
This run is so little known that you'll be hard-pressed to find a boater who has run it and could tell you more. Dean Munroe's pioneering commercial raft trip on Wooley Creek in 1984 put in a mile below the North Fork confluence at Bear Skull Camp. This is an alternate access if, for some reason, that extra mile hike to the forks is too much.
The run is reported to be generally Class III; however, there is one Class IV+ rapid, Úynaam, about one mile downstream of Bear Skull Camp in the vicinity of the confluence of Deadhorse Creek.
The specific locations and difficulties of individual rapids and the run's flow range are uncertain, though boaters have reported that the more commonly run section of
Wooley Creek from Wooley Camp to the Salmon River is more difficult than this reach. Consider that if flows are good (medium range) this far up in the drainage, that they may be high in the downstream gorges.
There is still true adventure and exploration to be had in the Klamath Mountains. Please file a trip report if you go.
Additional Info
California Creeks