It's an excellent area to see bald eagles, as several pairs nest along the river. Keep your distance. Look for white-tailed deer, elk, sandhill cranes, and waterfowl as well. Please be considerate of private landowners by staying within the river's high-water mark. Between River Junction and Russell Gates gushes a 5-mile section of river known as Box Canyon.
Steep cliffs rise from both sides of the river and thick timber blankets surrounding hillsides.
Cliff swallows construct mud nests on the cliff walls, as do hawks and eagles. While the river has several rocky ledges and dropdowns, the canyon has only one moderately difficult rapid. It's at the lower end of the canyon, about a half-mile above Scotty Brown Bridge, and it will swamp the inexperienced or the unprepared. We have seen a canoe wrapped around the biggest rock here. Those not interested in earning whitewater merit badges can easily walk around the rapid.