Whitewater Run CA Class III-IV

3. Below Tiger Creek to Red Corral Road

Mokelumne, N. Fork

Linked via: Proximity 93% confidence Synced 3mo ago

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Gauge Conditions
Mokelumne River a Woodbridge CA Downstream Primary
Runnable: ? – ? CFS
Approximate reading: This gauge is 47.5 miles away on Mokelumne. Use as a general reference only.
Data from American Whitewater & USGS
Run Map
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Description
The Tiger Creek section on the North Fork Mokelumne is an incredible paddling and scenic resource. The section boasts a class III+ rapid at the beginning, tons of pool/drop class III in the middle, and a couple of nice class IV rapids right at the end. The scenery is wonderful the whole way, with many granite cliffs and slabs rising out of the water and lush green hillsides. This is a great run for class III paddlers wanting to step up their game, or wanting to practice some creekier moves in a comfortable setting. Scouting and portaging is fairly easy along most of the length, but it does require extra effort at the last class 4 rapid. Access to the run is easy, with nice parking areas at the put in and take out provided by BLM & PG&E.   The shuttle is short and quick on a road that parallels the run just out of sight most of the time.  People commonly get 2 runs in a day on this little jewel.  The Tiger Creek section was opened up by American Whitewater through long negotiations with PG&E. The recreational release flows on the Moke are a minimum; water year type and accretion from Cole Creek, the Bear River, and Tiger Creek proper can cause the flow observed on the North Fork Mokelumne to be greater than that number. Flows will be closer to the 700cfs or 900cfs release volume in dry years or particularly cold Springs. Please make sure you check recent flows before committing to a run! Take out: Red Corral Road bridge of the Mokelumne is about 80 miles from Modesto, but you should allow about 1 hour and 45 minutes. From Jackson head east on CA-104/CA-88 12.5 mi Turn right at CA-104/CA-26 4.6 mi to Red Corral Road Take a Right on Red Corral Road Put in: From the take out a dirt road follows the river upstream on the north side. Tiger Creek dam is about 3 miles upstream. There is a modest amount of parking and easy access to the river a few hundred yards downstream of the dam. Other Information Sources: A Wet State Foothill Conservancy A GUIDE TO THE BEST WHITEWATER IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, HOLBEK & STANLEY, 1988 Here are some videos at 700 cfs & 893 cfs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XqarXvqx8g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6fAHdESNmc
Difficulty
Class III-IV
Length
2.9 mi
Rapids
0
Access Points
Put-in
38.4389, -120.5060
Take-out
38.4231, -120.5410
Shuttle Info
The map shown below does not yet recognize the gravel road that goes directly along the river between the take out and put in.  The directions to travel back up to the main highway are unnecessary. **Getting There:** Red Corral Road bridge of the Mokelumne is about 80 miles from Modesto, but you should allow about 1 hour and 45 minutes. From Jackson head east on CA-104/CA-88 12.5 mi Turn right at CA-104/CA-26 4.6 mi to Red Corral Road Take a Right on Red Corral Road **Camping**: Indian Grinding Rock State Park, on Pine Grove-Volcano Road, not too far from Hwy 88.  [http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page\_id=26661](http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=26661) RV park: Jackson Rancheria on Hwy 88: [http://www.jacksoncasino.com/lodging/rv-park](http://www.jacksoncasino.com/lodging/rv-park) . Gets good reviews for that sort of thing, and convenient to Electra or Tiger Creek Dam Run. Just east of Jackson. Combo resort -- cabins, tent camping, motel rooms, vacation cottages (sleep 6), RVs, etc: Gold Country Campground Resort, On Tabeaud Road just east of Pine Grove off Hwy 88, so closer to Tiger Creek Dam Run. [http://www.goldcountrycampground.com/](http://www.goldcountrycampground.com/) . There's also an RV park with cottages in Plymouth, the 49er Trailer Village: [http://www.49ervillage.com/](http://www.49ervillage.com/) Farther afield, people can camp at Pardee Lake Resort: [http://www.pardeelakerecreation.com/campmaps.html](http://www.pardeelakerecreation.com/campmaps.html) (209) 772-1472. It's about a half-hour from Jackson via Stoney Gate Road. Lake Amador: [http://www.lakeamador.com/camping.htm](http://www.lakeamador.com/camping.htm) New Hogan Reservoir, near Valley Springs: [http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/visitors/projects.cfm?Id=L212390](http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/visitors/projects.cfm?Id=L212390) On the N. F. Mokelumne just below Salt Springs, on the Cosumnes at PiPi Valley, Bear River Reservoir, Kirkwood Lake, etc. If you want details on those, let me know or people can find their own info online. Hotels and Inns There are historic hotels in Jackson (National Hotel, newly renovated, pricey), Mokelumne Hill (Hotel Leger), Sutter Creek (American Exchange Hotel), Plymouth (Plymouth Hotel) and Ione (Ione Hotel). All have websites so I won't list them here. In Volcano, 10 min from Hwy 88, 15-20 min from Tiger Creek takeout, there's the St. George Hotel (historic hotel with newer motel), the Volcano Union Inn and Pub (4 really nice rooms, includes breakfast, great hospitality, good restaurant), and the Volcano Rental Cottage, next door to the Volcano Union Inn and sleeps 6: [http://www.vrbo.com/427307](http://www.vrbo.com/427307) (it's a neat little house). We have fewer B&Bs than we used to, but if anyone wants info on those, I'm sure it can be found online. There are several in Sutter Creek -- Eureka St. Inn, Sutter Creek Inn, Foxes, Gray Gables, more. Motels Jackson Lodge -- less expensive, right on Hwy 49 north end of Jackson with nice view. Motel rooms and cabins. [http://www.thejacksonlodge.com/](http://www.thejacksonlodge.com/) Other less-expensive places to stay in Jackson are the Linda Vista Motelhttp://www.yelp.com/biz/linda-vista-motel-jackson  and El Campo Casa Motel: [http://www.yelp.com/biz/linda-vista-motel-jackson](http://www.yelp.com/biz/linda-vista-motel-jackson) and the Country Squire Motel in north Jackson: (209) 223-1657. Jackson also has a Best Western (Best Western Amador Inn, corner Hwys 49/88) and a Holiday Inn Express (Hwy 49, S part of town). There's a motel at the Jackson Rancheria and also motels in Sutter Creek and Plymouth. [http://www.touramador.com/member/?cat=6](http://www.touramador.com/member/?cat=6) Houses
Difficulty Classes
I Easy II Novice III Intermediate IV Advanced V Expert/Extreme VI Unrunnable
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater