Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Recreation - Wild and Scenic Chetco River

Designated Reach: October 28, 1988. From its headwaters to the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest boundary.

Classification/Mileage

• Wild: 25.5 miles
• Scenic: 8.0 miles
• Recreational: 11.0 miles
• Total: 44.5 miles

The Omnibus Oregon Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1988 designated 44.5 miles of the Chetco River as wild and scenic, from its headwaters in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness down to the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest boundary just above Loeb State Park. The designated segment of the Chetco is located within Curry County in southwest Oregon on the Chetco Ranger District. The Chetco Wild and Scenic River is divided into three segments: a 27.5-mile wild segment from the headwaters down to Mislatnah Creek; a 7.5-mile scenic segment from Mislatnah Creek down to Eagle Creek; and a 9.5-mile recreational segment from Eagle Creek down to the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest boundary.

The Chetco heads in steep, deeply dissected, sparsely vegetated, mountainous terrain within the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. Over its 55.5 mile length, the Chetco drops from 3700 feet to sea-level as it empties into the Pacific Ocean between the towns of Brookings and Harbor, about 5 miles north of the California border. In the upper section, the river floor is fairly narrow and boulder-strewn with numerous falls and rapids. As the river leaves the wilderness, its character gradually changes. The country becomes less dissected, the river gradient gradually becomes less steep, the river bottom widens, and the surrounding hills become more densely forested. The river narrows in several areas, crossing through rock outcrops and leaving enormous boulders in the riverbed. The Chetco River Gorge, just below Steel Bridge, contains steep sides and unusual rock formations. Below this, the Chetco continues to broaden, and the gradient becomes less steep, with sand and gravel bars and raised river terraces becoming more common.

The Chetco River Assessment, which was completed in 1990, evaluated all the resources and values on the river. This report identified recreation, water quality, and the fishery as being outstandingly remarkable values (ORVs). To qualify as an ORV, each value must be a unique, rare, or exemplary feature that is significant at a regional or national level.

Water Quality

The Chetco's water quality was found to be an ORV based on its striking color and clarity, its ability to clear quickly following storm events, its contribution to both recreation and fisheries, and its contribution of exceptionally pure and clean water for the domestic water supplies of both Brookings and Harbor. The quantity of water in the Chetco varies greatly throughout the year. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, which maintains a water gauge at river mile 10.7 (Second Bridge), the Chetco's average discharge over the 18 year period from 1969 to 1987 was 2,364 cubic feet per second (cfs). The maximum discharge during the period of record was 65,800 cfs on January 16, 1971. The minimum discharge was 45 cfs on October 21-23, 1974. During the flood of December 22, 1964, which was before the official period of record, the level of the river reached an extreme gauge reading of 32.25 feet, and the discharge was 85,400 cfs.

Fisheries

The Chetco River fishery, typical of Pacific coastal systems, is dominated by trout and salmon. There are important populations of anadromous winter steelhead, fall chinook salmon, and sea-run cutthroat trout. Coho and chum salmon are occasionally observed. Resident cutthroat and rainbow trout are abundant in upper stream reaches. Native populations of fall chinook and winter steelhead are supplemented with hatchery fish. The Chetco provides excellent spawning and rearing habitat and has some of the highest salmonid smolt returns of any coastal stream in Oregon. Pacific lamprey, three-spined stickleback, and assorted sculpin are also known to inhabit this system.

Precipitation

The average annual precipitation along the Chetco's upper reaches is about 120 inches, decreasing to an average of 80 inches toward the coast. Most of the precipitation falls between the months of October and June, with a portion of that falling in the form of snow, primarily in the higher reaches.

Recreation Opportunities

The Chetco River and its adjacent corridor offer a wide diversity of recreational opportunities. In winter, salmon and steelhead fishing and whitewater kayaking are the primary recreational uses. In summer, fishing, four-wheel driving, swimming, boating, camping, sightseeing and picnicking are the major attractions.

Primary transportation routes within the river corridor are the North Bank Chetco River Road 1376, the South Bank River Road 1205, and associated spur roads. Recreationists can access the recreational and scenic river segments and launch boats in several locations, including:

• Miller Bar
• Nook Bar
• Redwood Bar
• Upper and lower South Fork Camps
• Low-water Bridge Site
• Forest Road 1917-067
• Dispersed campsite at Steel Bridge

Various trails access the river, both maintained and unmaintained. Maintained trails include:

• Chetco Gorge (in the recreational segment)
• Tincup (in the scenic segment)

Access to the wild segment can be accomplished by trails within the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. The Chetco River at the Slide Creek confluence is accessible from the eastside of the wilderness via the Upper Chetco Trail, southwest of Chetco Pass.

The Taggart's Bar area of the Chetco can be accessed by a combination of the Johnson Butte and Upper Chetco trails. These trails are listed as 'most difficult' and are open to hiking, and pack and saddle users.

For trail information and directions to the trailheads visit the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Trails web page.

Fishing and Boating

Restrictions: Mandatory permits are required to float the Chetco for all users year-round. Free self-issuing permits are available at a boat registration station along the North Bank Chetco River Road (Forest Service Road 1376). Motorized boat use is not allowed on any river segment. Motorized vehicle crossings of the river are prohibited.

The primary fishing season for steelhead and salmon is sometime between November and March. Commerical outfitters are authorized to provide the public guided fishing trips under Special-Use Permit. Make sure any outfitter guide you hire is under permit with the Forest Service.

Whitewater floating on the Chetco is limited by a lack of adequate access to the upper areas of the river (especially in the wilderness) during the high flow season. A very limited number of kayakers have floated through the wild segment of the Chetco during high-flow conditions. Rapids are class III and below during the summer months during average flows. During the winter months rapid class is higher depending upon flow conditions. Summer floating during low water conditions has become an increasingly popular river activity on all river segments.

Camping

Day-use of the river bars and access for boat launch is free. Overnight use of Miller Bar, Nook Bar, Redwood Bar, Little Redwood Campground and South Fork Camps requires payment of a fee (non-reservation sites). Fee stations are provided at each site. A camping fee is also required at Loeb State Park on the North Bank Chetco River Road prior to reaching the forest boundary.

River Ethics

When camping on remote sites without facilities, use existing fire-rings. If a fire-ring is not present, contain your fire using a fire pan. Pack out all garbage and unburned fire residue. Whenever possible, if a toilet facility is not available, pack out human fecal waste using a wilderness toilet system designed to meet state requirements (no use of plastic bags and provide for discharge into a recreational vehicle dump site). If you don't have a satisfactory pack-out toilet, bury the waste above the high-water mark, in mineral soil (not sand), 6"- 8" deep, above the high water mark.

Wilderness Use

Permits are not required for the Kalmiopsis Wilderness (although a permit must be obtained for floating the Chetco River). The Forest Service appreciates your filling out our voluntary registration cards at the trailheads. Wilderness and wild and scenic river corridors are sensitive environments which require the practice of the best Leave No Trace ethics in minimizing impacts while still enjoying these natural areas.

In addition, please follow these wilderness restrictions:

• Maximum group size for overnight use is 12 persons; the maximum number of stock animals per group is 9 saddle or pack animals.
• Possession or use of motorized vehicles or equipment is prohibited.
• All wheeled mechanisms, including bicycles, wagons, carts, and wheelbarrows are prohibited (wheelchairs excepted).
• Use only "processed" or pelletized feed for stock animals. Hay or unprocessed (viable) grain is not permitted.
• For fires, do not use wood from live or dead standing trees or brush. Firewood should consist of only small dead and down material.

Chetco Wild and Scenic River Photos