Upper Miller River

Royalston, MA

Annual thaw causes the upper Millers to swell each April, creating a seven-mile high-volume spring run. Explosive standing waves provide paddlers with plenty of opportunity to practice ferries and play moves along the way. Local companies also offer guided raft trips down the Upper and Lower Millers. look for a reading of five to nine feet on the USGS gauge at south royalston.

Your Ride

Pyranha Varun

Local Beta

When you finish your shuttle at the end of the day, head to renowned Pete and Henry’s Inc. in royalston for some fried fish and a pint of beer.

Upper Sacramento River

Sims Flat, CA

The Upper Sacramento packs a whopping 50 rapids into a 30-mile section of river. With several highway access points, paddlers can tailor their run to their skill level and timeframe. Below Sims Flat is where the class

III paddling is concentrated. With 14,000-foot Mount Shasta looming in the background, paddlers will find surf waves, holes and side creek waterfalls.

Your Ride

Wavesport Diesel

Local Beta

Check out the falls at Hedge Creek and Mossbrae, caves and soda springs in the nearby town of Dunsmuir to the north or the caverns of Lake Shasta to the south.

This article appeared in Rapid, Spring 2013. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read the rest here.