Rapid CA Class II

Nine miles of Class I and II

American, Middle Fork - Oxbow Bend / Ralston Afterbay to Drivers Flat Road (CA)

Monitor this Rapid

Gauge Conditions

MF AMERICAN River Above Middle Fork PH Near FORESTHILL CA Upstream Primary

Runnable: ? – ? CFS

Approximate - nearest available gauge. Use as general reference only.

Data from American Whitewater & USGS

CDEC Flow Data California

AMERICAN RIVER OXB Primary

Elevation: 1,070 ft

AMERICAN RIVER LON

Elevation: 6,410 ft

AMERICAN RIVER BIL Dam Release

Elevation: 6,400 ft

Data from California Data Exchange Center (CDEC)

Description

After Kanaka, the river changes in character and flattens out. From here until Chunder it's easy Class I and II in a spectacular forest green river canyon. Spattered throughout this section are active miner rigs with divers along the river bottom, geologic faults in the rock walls, and numerous places for side hikes, sunning beaches, and places to pick wild blackberries. Wildlife includes deer, eagles, hawks, ducks, and rattlesnakes, so be careful along the banks. Bear have been sited in the canyon, but are rare.