Hazard Warning: Hazard information may be user-submitted and unverified. Conditions change frequently. Always scout rapids and obstacles yourself.
Waterfall CA Class V+

Ruck-A-Chucky Falls

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)
Photo
Ruck-A-Chucky Falls
Photo courtesy of American Whitewater
Description
Excellent view of all 3 channels at the Top of Ruck-A-Chucky while a Tributary Whitewater Tours guide (see link at top right of this page) sets up to run the Class V+ Middle Channel. To the left of the raft in the top of the photo is the entrance to the Class VI left channel characterized by being obstructed with huge boulders all the way down. The middle channel, that the raft is about to run, is relatively free of obstructions, but at the bottom are submerged boulders and severely undercut rocks. A swim here would be long, deep, and quite possibly injurious. On river right (foreground) is the entrance to the Boulder Sieve Death Trap that you must avoid at all costs.
Location
Type
Waterfall
Difficulty
Class V+
Mile Marker
14.5 mi
Directions
Navigate
View Full Run
Oxbow Bend / Ralston Afterbay to Drivers Flat Road
American, Middle Fork
II-IV(V+) 15.2 mi
Hazard — Exercise extreme caution. Portage recommended — scout before running.
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater