{"id":15494,"date":"2018-03-01T10:00:35","date_gmt":"2018-03-01T18:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com\/?p=15494"},"modified":"2021-02-17T13:15:14","modified_gmt":"2021-02-17T21:15:14","slug":"wild-scenic-rivers-102","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2018\/03\/01\/wild-scenic-rivers-102\/","title":{"rendered":"Wild & Scenic Rivers 102"},"content":{"rendered":"

From flyfishing havens to whitewater excursions, the second installment of Wild & Scenic Wednesdays featured some of our favorite rivers right in our backyard. This month\u2019s rivers come from our friends at Western Rivers Conservancy<\/a>, which protects river lands and public access to outstanding waters across the West. Wild & Scenic Wednesdays are just one way we\u2019re celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act. Learn more about how you can celebrate the 50th Anniversary and help NRS, American Rivers, American Whitewater, OARS, Yeti, Chacos and REI fight for 5,000 more miles of designated Wild & Scenic rivers at\u00a05000miles.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

North Umpqua, OR (Wild & Scenic circa 1988)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Photo: Tyler Roemer\/WRC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. The North Umpqua is one of only two rivers in Oregon that originate from snowmelt in the Cascade Range and flow through the Coast Range, directly into the Pacific.<\/p>\n

2. One of Oregon\u2019s premier whitewater destinations, the North Umpqua boasts more rapids per mile than just about any other river in the state.<\/p>\n

3. In the 1930\u2019s, Zane Grey, the famed sportsman and author of popular Western novels, maintained a cabin on the North Umpqua, where he spent much of the decade fishing (and doing a lousy job of keeping the river a secret, which he purportedly wanted to do).<\/p>\n

4. The North Umpqua is likely the most legendary steelhead stream in the country, and one of the most famous in the world, all for its healthy runs of fish, spectacular scenery and treacherous wading conditions (which have led to plenty of epic swims).<\/p>\n

5. The North Umpqua is fed by snowmelt that is trapped in volcanic soil and released during the summer months. This is what gives the river its clear, emerald-green waters and makes it one of the few West Coast rivers that are boat-able all summer long.<\/p>\n

John Day River, OR (Wild & Scenic circa 1988)<\/strong><\/p>\n