Middle Fork of the Feather River (Devil's Canyon)

Stretch:	Nelson Point to Milsap Bar
Difficulty:	Class V
Distance:	32.7 miles
Flows:	750-3,000 cfs. Current Dreamflows gauge
Gradient:	69 fpm average
Put-in:	Nelson Point
Take-out:	Milsap Bar
Shuttle:	85 miles, 3 hours 1 way
Season:	Spring and Summer from snowmelt

“This is it! The Middle Fork of the Feather is the best self-supported wilderness trip in California.”

“It is hereby declared to be the policy of the United States that certain selected rivers of the Nation which, with their immediate environments, possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values, shall be preserved in free-flowing condition, and that they and their immediate environments shall be protected for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.”

Scenery.

Sieve (IV+).

Big One (V).

The rapids begin to get more and more manky, several drops are class IV to IV+ in nature purely because of the boat abuse factor. The rocks are very hard on the boat and seriously impossible to avoid. Despite that, occasionally there is a rapid that sticks out a little more.

Nose (IV).

Boof

Splat (IV+).

Much nicer

In Between

Hard Left (IV).

Clearing it

Right Left Hole (IV).

Diane

Bad Beta 1 (IV+).

Left Line

Right hole

Camp One: We camped just downstream of this rapid on the right. There was a nice platform with a file pit and everything. You could also continue down two more rapids and there is a nice sandy beach camp on the right.

The next 7 miles goes by really fast, a lot of class II-IV- all read and run. The rapids start to clean up finally, and you will soon see the bridge come into view. You will see the river start to drop, the granite cliffs rise faster than you thought possible, and you will get your heart pumping.

Scenery

A foot bridge crosses the river marking the beginning of Franklin Canyon.

Bridge and Canyon looming...

Looking upstream

Entry (IV-).

Deep Water

Franklin Falls (V).

Over the shoulder

From Below

Double Drop (IV+).

Get'r Done

Same instant, different camera, it is that good

Split Drop (V or IV).

Left

Right

Large Side Waterfall

Triple Drop (IV+).

left

2-part (IV+).

Top

Bottom

Looking back up from Boat Pin

Boat Pin (IV).

3-part (V).

What Dreams Are Made Of (V).

The Gorge

Entering the maw

Contimplating the bottom

Making the Move at the Bottom

Junky (IV+).

Clearing the hole

Hole (V-).

Boofing the hole

S-turn (IV+ to V-).

Coming around the Corner

Dam (V-U).

A quarter mile later we were at camp for the night under the Pasic Crest Trail Foot Bridge. Fire pits and litter were there to greet, but thankfully no hikers. The whole trip we saw not another soul out there, very pleasant.

Camp

Tupper and Corey proud of being gapers

The water rose over night

Many good rapids in this section. A few are:

Long One (IV to IV+).

The top

Scenery

Steep But Easy (III).

Mike Dropping

Unscoutable (IV).

Center Boof

Sieve (V).