Class III-IV South Fork Smith River, CA

The Smith River was added to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 1981 at the request of the Governor of California. In 1990, the portions of the Smith River on the Six Rivers National Forest were redesignated through the public law that created the Smith River National Recreation Area. More than 300 miles of the Smith River drainage are designated wild and scenic, making it one of the most complete river systems in the National System. The emerald-green Smith River flows freely and naturally, without a single dam for its entire length. It is the only major system in California to do so.