'Class II+ whitewater through a river canyon with steep terrain and canyon sections.' is the old description. I would add a lot. First of all, this run has great kayak surfing especially at the higher flows, and it is especially beautiful and remote. It also needs a lot of rain but luckily the Oregon coast gets a lot of rain. We haven't found an upper limit to the flows here but folks running it at 4,000 and 5,000 on the main Trask above Cedar gauge say that it is still only class 3 and plenty of fun.
The run begins at a confluence of two equal-sized streams, where there is also a lovely camp. One of those two streams is the NF of the NF. Below this point the whitewater is twosy with threesy moments, quite continuous in places. Then you get to a waterfall cascading in from the left, and a beach on river right--this is a good break spot before the rapid that you saw from the road on the way up. This beach is also the last easy get-out spot for anyone who has learned in the first bit that the conditions aren't right for them. A quick hike back to the car and you've saved yourself and your buddies from a bad day.
The rapid you saw on the drive up (we're calling it Entrance Exam) rates a 3 in my book, because it's long and the crux is at the top. If you didn't stop to scout it, joke's on you. Big boulders cause the horizon at the top and then there's a long runout that would suck to swim. If this rapid or the river before this spot is unkind to your boating crew it is definitely time to get up to the road however you can, and hike back for your vehicle(s).
Below there by about 1/4 mile is another notable rapid, on a right bend, with a significant hole center left at the bottom. You can go on either side of the hole, which we call 'Canoe Eater'. Downstream the road leaves the river, and getting out becomes difficult.
When you get to the short but beautiful gorge you can look around, because the whitewater is easy. Keep an eye high on the right for a spectacular waterfall after the gorge! When the gorge opens up there's another class 3(+?) rapid, called Landslide for the rock deliveries ariving down a creek on river right. This rapid can be run left or right, and may be worth scouting to check for wood.
Below this rapid the whitewater continues in a 2+ fashion, with a couple of larger horizon lines that SEEM like bigger rapids, but turn out to be straightforward. As always, keep an eye out for new wood, because it falls in without asking us first.
We take out at a campsite on river left that is upstream from the midway bridge takeout mentioned in the logistics section. I have no info on the river below that point but have scouted the '8 foot drop' and am happy to take out above it.
Here's a 2024 video of the run from our friend Kanako:
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
To reach the upper stretches of the North Fork Trask (North Fork of the North Fork technically), turn left off Trask River Road 0.2 mile before Trask Park onto North Fork Trask Road, a gravel road. Peer out the right side and catch a glimpse of the 8-ft drop just before Trask Park, especially if you plan on running it later. To proceed to the upper stretch take-out, drive 3.5 miles on North Fork Trask Road to an obvious fork (goes uphill just after crossing a bridge where the road bends to the right around a side drainage--this is the put-in road). Follow the right fork at river level 0.7 miles over another bridge (this time the NF Trask flows underneath) to a large pullout and small campsite on river left. This is the takeout.
To get to the put-in, cross back over the bridge and go back to the obvious fork just 0.7 mile back. Turn left and follow it for 7.8 miles, bearing right at another fork along the way. The put-in is under a bridge (see photo) where the Middle Fork of the North Fork Trask joins the North Fork of the North Fork Trask.
For those interested in shorter runs, a bridge at mile 8, splits the run into an 8 mile upper run and a 4 mile lower section. If running the lower section be sure to scout the drop just upstream of Trask Park.
There is also a fun class IV stretch that ends where this run begins. Trip Report
here.
Other Information Sources:
Soggy Sneakers: A Paddler's Guide to Oregon's Rivers,
by Pete Giordano & the Willamette Kayak and Canoe Club (The Mountaineers Books)