Scott River
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California, USA
The Scott River Rafting guide
The Scott River is a Wild & Scenic River that winds 60 miles through Northern California before joining with the Klamath River. It boasts several Class V rapids and has wonderful scenery throughout. The Scott typically needs to be run during the spring melt, so the best season is April-June.
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Based in Southern Oregon, Indigo Creek Outfitters is our preferred partner for the Scott River. In addition to the Scott, they operate on the Klamath and Rogue River. Learn more about Indigo Creek Outfitters.
Safety
The Scott is an intermediate to expert river run. There are numerous Class Vs in this section, including Boulder Creek Falls Rapid, which we recommend as a portage. Scout when in doubt.
Permits
Permits are not required to run the Scott River.
Shuttle Info
The Scott River has great highway access throughout, making the shuttle easy. It’s easiest to leave a car at Johnson Bar. Leaving a car in town at Mill Creek can be a bit tricky.
Indian Scotty Campground to Johnson Bar
We have mapped the river from Canyon Creek Bridge to Johnson Bar. This is a fun section, with challenging rapids, and pretty consistent action throughout.
Mile 0 – Access Point – Put In:
River Left. Put-in just above the Canyon Creek Bridge. This access puts you below Boulder Creek Falls Rapid, which we highly recommend against if you’re in a raft.
Mile 0.05 – Canyon Creek Bridge:
Canyon Creek Bridge crosses over the Smith River just downstream of Canyon Creek Rapid.
Mile 1.13 – Kelsey Creek Confluence:
River Left. Kelsey Creek enters from the left-hand side.
Mile 1.35 – Scott River Road Access Point:
River Left. Just downstream of the Scott River Road bridge, you can put-in/take-out here.
Mile 2.17 – Sticky Ledge Rapid:
Class III. At most flows, there is a large sticky ledge hole on the right-hand side of this river. This can be skirted to the left.
Mile 2.6 – Deep Creek Confluence:
River Left. Deep Creek enters the Scott from the left-hand side.
Mile 2.82 – Unnamed Class IV-:
Class IV. At high flows, the rocks in this rapid become huge holes. Run left or right at the entrance. Can be scouted from the road.
Mile 2.98 – Middle Creek Confluence:
River Left. Middle Creek joins the Scott river from the left-hand side.
Mile 3.37 – Tombstone:
Class IV. Big hole at top, with several large pourovers in the center of the channel at most flows.
Mile 3.89 – White House Rapid:
Class V. Scout on the right. Shallow entrance right-of-center. There are several large waves/holes at the bottom of this rapid. Standard run at the final drop is far right. Just below is Tompkins Creek Rapid – be sure to pick up swimmers if you have them here.
Mile 4.11 – Tompkins Creek Rapid:
Class IV. Enter right-of-center, and stay in the center of the current. The river makes a sharp left turn roughly halfway through the rapid. Work right to stay away from a large undercut boulder on the left side.
Mile 5.7 – McCarthy Creek Confluence:
River Left. McCarthy Creek enters the Scott River from the left-hand side
Mile 7.76 – Schuler Gulch Rapid:
Class V. At high flows, scout right, at low flows scout left. There are enormous boulders everywhere in Schuler’s Gulch. Enter left of center, and work left to avoid a large rock with water pillowing off of it. Halfway through the rapid is a passage through 2 large boulders. You can eddy out on the right-hand side just below these boulders. The exit of this rapid involves going through a tight slot on the far right side of the river, but not ramming into the right wall. It’s a tricky move.
Mile 9.26 – Little Ferry Creek:
River RIght. Little Ferry Creek enters from the right side.
Mile 9.38 – McGuffy Creek Confluence:
River Left. McGuffy Creek enters just downstream of Little Ferry Creek, before the confluence with Big Ferry Creek.
Mile 9.51 – Big Ferry Creek Confluence:
River Right. Big Ferry Creek enters the Scott River from the right-hand side.
Mile 10.65 – The Sneaker Hole:
Class IV. When the flow is medium/high, a large hole forms here on the right side. You won’t know until you see it…Stay left here to avoid unfortunate carnage
Mile 10.81 – Pat Ford Creek Confluence:
River Right. Pat Ford Creek enters the Scott River from the right side.
Mile 10.95 – Miner’s Camp Take Out:
River Left. This the first take-out opportunity below the bigger rapids.
Mile 11.96 – Bill Berry Creek Confluence:
River Left. Bill Berry Creek enters the Scott River from the left-hand side.
Mile 12.16 – Mill Creek Bridge:
The Mill Creek Bridge passes over the Scott River, and is the last bridge you’ll see before Johnson Bar.
Mile 12.16 – Mill Creek Confluence:
River right. Just below the Mill Creek Bridge, the aptly-named Mill Creek enters from the right side.
Mile 13.39 – China Doctor Creek Confluence:
River Left. China Doctor Creek enters the Scott River from the left-hand side.
Mile 14.13 – Scott River Road Bridge:
This is the last bridge, just before the Johnson Bar take-out on river right.
Mile 14.23 – Johnson Bar Take Out:
River Right. Scout this take out before committing to it. In recent years it burned in a wildfire and has become overgrown. The road to the river has also partially eroded. If time permits, float less than a mile to the Klamath River and continue another half mile to Sarah Totten Campground, where there is better river access.