North Fork Smith River (California)
{{distinguish|North Fork Smith River (Umpqua River)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox river
| name = North Fork Smith River
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| map_size = 260
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| pushpin_map = USA California
| pushpin_map_size = 260
| pushpin_map_caption= Location of the mouth of the North Fork Smith River in California
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = United States
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = Oregon, California
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| subdivision_type4 = County
| subdivision_name4 = Curry County, Oregon, Del Norte County, California
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| length = {{convert|28|mi|km|abbr=on}}{{cite book|author=Palmer, Tim|title=Field Guide to Oregon Rivers|publisher=Oregon State University Press|location=Corvallis|year=2014|pages=123–24|isbn=978-0-87071-627-0}}
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| discharge1_avg = {{convert|942|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}
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| source1 = Klamath Mountains
| source1_location = Chetco Peak, Kalmiopsis Wilderness, Curry County, Oregon
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|42|08|16|N|123|56|49|W|display=inline}}{{cite web | work = Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) | publisher = United States Geological Survey | date = January 19, 1981 | url ={{Gnis3|264212}} | title = North Fork Smith River|accessdate=December 30, 2015}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|3879|ft|abbr=on}}Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
| mouth = Smith River
| mouth_location = Gasquet, Del Norte County, California
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|41|50|52|N|123|58|08|W|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|315|ft|abbr=on}}
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| basin_size = {{convert|158|sqmi|abbr=on}}
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| extra = {{Designation list
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| designation1 = nwsr
| designation1_type = Wild, Scenic
| designation1_date = October 28, 1988
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}}
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The North Fork Smith River is {{convert|28|mi|km|adj=on}} tributary of the Smith River that begins in the U.S. state of Oregon and ends in the U.S. state of California. Arising near Chetco Peak in the Klamath Mountains, it flows generally south to meet the Middle Fork Smith River at Gasquet, California. The combined streams form the Smith River.{{cite web|title=United States Topographic Map|publisher=United States Geological Survey|via=Acme Mapper|url=http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=41.847778,-123.968889&z=12&t=T&marker0=41.847778,-123.968889|accessdate=December 30, 2015}}
Wild and scenic
The entire {{convert|13|mi|km}} of the river that lie within Oregon are part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. In 1988, {{convert|8.5|mi|km}} was designated "wild" in two separate segments, from the headwaters to Horse Creek and from Baldface Creek to the Oregon–California border. The {{convert|4.5|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch between Horse and Baldface creeks was classified "scenic".{{cite web|title=Smith River (North Fork), Oregon|publisher=National Wild and Scenic Rivers System|url=http://www.rivers.gov/rivers/smith-nf.php|accessdate=December 30, 2015}}
Recreation
Hiking trails near the North Fork include North Fork Trail, which follows a ridge along the southeast edge of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness in the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest in Oregon. Suitable for hikers and horseback riders, the {{convert|12.4|mi|km|adj=on}} trail passes through the area of the Biscuit Fire.{{cite web|title=North Fork Trail #1233|publisher=United States Forest Service|url=http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recarea/?recid=70604|accessdate=December 31, 2015}}
Connected to the North Fork Trail is the Baldface Trail, which crosses Baldface Creek, a North Fork tributary. The {{convert|6.8|mi|km|adj=on}} trail, which also passes through the Biscuit Fire area, is suitable for day hiking but not for horse riding.{{cite web|title=Baldface Trail #1215|publisher=United States Forest Service|url=http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/recarea/?recid=70432|accessdate=December 31, 2015}}
The North Fork Trail also connects to the Kalmiopsis Rim Trail, which links to a large network of trails in and near the wilderness and other parts of the national forest. The Rim Trail alone is {{convert|28.4|mi|km}} long.{{cite web|title=Kalmiopsis Rim Trail #1124|publisher=United States Forest Service|url=http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/recarea/?recid=70564|accessdate=December 31, 2015}}
Sourdough Campground, undeveloped but open to dispersed camping in a meadow along the river, lies near the confluence of the North Fork with Baldface Creek in Oregon. Further downstream, North Fork Campground is about {{convert|0.25|mi|km}} from the lower river on the California side of the border in Six Rivers National Forest. The remote campground, open all year, has five sites for tent or trailer camping, picnic tables, fire rings, a vault toilet, and limited parking, but no drinking water or garbage pickup.{{cite web|title=North Fork Campground|publisher=United States Forest Service|url=http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/srnf/recarea/?recid=11444|accessdate=December 30, 2015}}
Lightly used by whitewater enthusiasts because it is difficult, remote, and often of insufficient flow for boating, the river is sometimes run for its lower {{convert|13|mi|km}} in rafts or kayaks. This segment, all within California, is rated Class III (intermediate) and IV (advanced) on the International Scale of River Difficulty.
Water quality
The North Fork's water is of outstanding quality, with low turbidity and almost no pollution. Little logging or road building has occurred in its watershed, and silting after storms is not a problem. However, a proposed nickel mine along Baldface Creek threatens to pollute the river and damage its anadromous fish habitat as well as that of the main stem Smith River. In 2012, the Red Flat Nickel Corporation asked permission from the United States Forest Service to allow exploratory mining along the creek.{{cite news|title=Nickel Mining Company May Mine Oregon Creek That Feeds Scenic California River|last=Associated Press|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2014/05/nickel_mining_company_may_mine.html|newspaper=The Oregonian |date=May 4, 2014|accessdate=December 31, 2015}} Many local, state, and tribal agencies as well as environmental, fishing, and recreational organizations strongly oppose mining in the watershed.{{cite news |last=Moriarty|first=Liam|title=Oregon Nickel Mining Proposal Runs Into Stiff Opposition|url=http://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-nickel-mine-proposal-runs-into-stiff-opposi/|publisher=Oregon Public Broadcasting|date=July 16, 2014|accessdate=December 31, 2015}}
Tributaries
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://kalmiopsiswild.org/explore-kalmiopsis-wildlands/the-rivers/wild-and-scenic-north-fork-smith/ KalmiopsisWild]
- [http://smithriveralliance.org/ Smith River Alliance]
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Category:Rivers of Curry County, Oregon
Category:Rivers of Del Norte County, California
Category:Rivers of Northern California
Category:Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest