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Rapid CA Class III+

Satan's Cesspool

American, South Fork - 8. Greenwood Creek to Folsom Reservoir (CA)

Monitor this Rapid
Gauge Conditions
SF American River near Pilot Hill CA Downstream Primary
Runnable: ? – ? CFS

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

Data from American Whitewater & USGS
CDEC Flow Data California
AMERICAN RIVER JNC Primary Dam Release
Elevation: 4,468 ft
AMERICAN RIVER ICH Primary Dam Release
Elevation: 5,454 ft
AMERICAN RIVER AMK Primary
Elevation: 3,840 ft
Data from California Data Exchange Center (CDEC)
Photo
Satan's Cesspool
Photo courtesy of American Whitewater
Description

A long moderate rapid gradually bends to the left and leads to a low rocky island.  A sneak route can be taken to the right, while the standard route is to the left.   The main current sweeps quickly left at the top of the island, then then is forced sharply back to the right by a cliff wall on the left.   In the final chute, there is a ledge at the top right, and immediately another on the left, creating a crazy, twisting, turbulent drop.

 

Below the ledges the rapid is clean and deep.  Swimmers have a large catch pool to collect their gear.   However, the next large rapid, "Son of Satans" is only 70 yards downstream and at high flows they will run together. 

 

Photographers are often stationed atop the cliff on river left and also downstream on river right. 

Location
Type
Rapid
Difficulty
Class III+
Mile Marker
5.3 mi
Directions
Navigate
View Full Run
8. Greenwood Creek to Folsom Reservoir
American, South Fork
III 8.9 mi
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater