Top Wilderness Trips

The Illinois River flows through a remote corner of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness in Southern Oregon. It was one of the original rivers listed for study in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 and was declared Wild and Scenic by Congress in 1984.

If you visit this remote canyon you'll most likely go in March or April when the snow is thawing and the rains have stopped. The Illinois River is truly untouched by man because the window of opportunity to float it is narrow and the rapids are difficult.
The Middle Fork of the Salmon River flows through the heart of the largest wilderness area in the lower 48 states.
The Grand Canyon is in the middle of nowhere with little access.
The Forks of the Kern is in a deep canyon and requires a two mile hike into the wilderness.
The Owyhee River cuts through road less territory in Eastern Oregon with limited access.

The North Fork of the Smith will feel like wilderness at put-in after the long dirt road to get there.
The Tuolumne River flows through a deep canyon with limited trail access.
The North Fork of the American is like other deep canyons in California with no access.
The Cal Salmon has a road next to it, but you'll barely notice it. The river is hours from any towns.
The North Fork of the Stanislaus flows through Calaveras Big Trees State park in a deep canyon.