Trip Report: 6/6/2023, 800-900 cfs.
This is a great, action packed about 13 mile class IV/IV+ there are four rapids that I’d call V-. The run is remote, and while the majority of the rapids aren’t really class IV+, the remote nature adds to the significance of the run. The character of the run is similar to the Middle Yuba below Our House Dam. Most rapids are read-and-run so long as you’re comfortable reading and making adjustments/changing the plan mid-rapid as a number of the larger rapids have something in them that you aren’t going to be able to see from the top (sticky hole, piton rock, etc.) unless you get out of your boat. Depending on the size of your crew, boat scouting comfort, and portage number it can be a long day especially with the shuttle. For a first time down give yourself 4 hours on the water at least.
There are four major rapids that should be scouted, and could be portaged. They are back-to-back within about a mile of each other located roughly between miles 5-6. The first major rapid has two rocks dividing the channel into three channels. We ran the river left channel. Portage/scout right, boat scout left right above the channel. The second major rapid is a two-tiered drop that we scouted and portaged on the left. It looked to us like the scout and portage on the right would be easier if you were planning running the bottom drop. The third large rapid is a nasty looking ramp with some great opportunities to piton. Portage right. Drop number four we ran far right. Punch through a couple holes on their right side, then boofed a 2-3’ ledge followed by a narrow slot boof. There was wood in the middle drop making it a non-option. We portaged the first two rapids. Going back in I would scout the first big drop from the right and may have paddled it. Zero interest in the second drop.
Awetstate says the ~3 miles below the Tyler Foot Rd. crossing are class I/II boogie water. We found it to be fun II/III- that was splashy and engaging and worth it for the easier shuttle taking out at Our House.
The shuttle is an adventure, no doubt, but we both enjoyed it. We went in from the north side of the river through Alleghany and managed to make it out on the south side towards Washington. Both shuttle vehicles were stock trucks – a Tundra and an F350. I wouldn’t do the shuttle in anything that wasn’t four wheel drive, and don’t be too attached to your paint. I also carried a chainsaw and had MaxTrax with me and will take them next time too, although we didn’t need either. From Alleghany, at the end of town, turn right on Kanaka Road, keep right and the Y and follow it down to the creek, over a bridge an dup a steep climb. Keep straight through the first flat spot. At the second flat take the left fork on the road marked “OHV”. Continue to the next clearing taking your second of two successive rights and follow the road down to the river. From Alleghany to the water took us about an hour.
Towards Washington, take German Bar Rd. to Moores Flat Rd. to N Bloomfield-Graniteville Rd. Ignore all of the ‘gate closed’ signs. You don’t pass through any gates, open or closed. We both thought this was a slightly more challenging drive with a bit more off camber driving.
The write up on Awetstate (
http://www.awetstate.com/MYubaP.html) is also a good reference if you’re planning on making the trip, which I strongly recommend.
Pete Arpin reports:
'I highly recommend paddling the extra couple of class 3/4 miles from Foot
Crossing bridge to Our House Res. The Foote Rd south of the river hugs the
cliff on a Chinese built retaining wall. It is the perfect location for a
3rd world bus plunge or a Foggy Mt Breakdown. The road to the north is OK
but Loooong.
My memory is foggy, but I think dragging a boat down to the put in from the
south, IF the road was impassible, would not be too difficult. Accessing the
put in from the north is verrry looong.
My notes say class 4+ with a couple of 5- @ 566 cfs. They also say I did 3
portages. The 1st was short and at river level. The 2nd is long and partly
in the river. The main obstacle was a huge log and maybe a sticky hole. I
think its described in S&H. I can't recall the 3rd portage. It may have
been a short thing at the end of the 2nd. My foggy recollection recalls a
river similar in character to the hardest portion of the NF Cal Salmon, @ 800
CFS, which I just paddled.
Although very isolated, there are many active and abandoned mining sites.
This means there are many emergency egresses from the canyon...'
Other information Sources:
NID's Public Relicensing Website