Tangled Jungle

As of 2020, this section is reported to be impenetrable.

The creek enters an section of dangerously thick brush for the next 4/10s of a mile.  Though this is the natural channel coming from the base of the dam, it never receives high flows which could clear out the streambed.  Most of the year the release is only 8 to 10 cfs which encourages thick brush growth in the channel.   With fall release flows, water is flushing through this brush in many areas.   The difficulty rating given is not due to rapids but to fast current, sharp turns and dangerous brush.

High winter flows that would normally clean this channel are mostly captured by the reservoir, then diverted over the spillway into the spillway channel 1/4 mile to the west.

It appears that boaters enter Rancho Temascal property as they enter this jungle area.