The Klamath river originates at
Klamath Falls, Oregon. It runs just about 300 miles to the sea, and along
the way it merges with the Trinity river system at Weitchpec. The Klamath
river is one of the wests big rivers, and is the second largest river in
California. It is over twice the size of the third largest river in California.
To this day the river serves as an anchor for the local Yurok, Karuk and
Hoopa peoples. In the not so distant past it provided a sustained source
of nourishment through fisheries, a means of transportation and fertile
silt covered river bars for cultivation.
When the white man came to the
North Coast in search of gold, the river was the only reasonable way to
move large parties of gold miners inland, this being accomplished at the
time by steamboats.
Today it is the focal point
of our area. Primarily a recreation river now, the Klamath has Salmon,
Steelhead, Trout and Sturgeon all in their seasons. The river is runnable
by jetboat as far as Ishi Pishi falls, although the farthest most operators
go is Coon Creek falls. |