What is there to say? This is a great run. In only 1.8 miles this river plummets over steep drops, full of rocks and holes to nail you if you waver. What a ride. Your first time down you can expect to scout 5-6 times and spend about 2-3 hours on the river. There are many steep in between drops that would probably justify a scout if no one knows the lines. The time would also vary depending on if you have probe units to try the rapids out for everyone else.
My day almost didn’t even get started. The night before my family went to San Francisco for a concert on the bay and I didn’t get back to Concord until midnight. As I drifted off the 9 am in Grass Valley meeting time seemed impossible, not to mention enough energy to boat some Class V. As morning came (6 am) I began my drive. As I arrived to Grass Valley and took a nap, I realized I had no energy and wasn’t going to boat. At put-in, others in the group were feeling marginal on their desire to boat. We hike to put-in to talk ourselves into it, I still say I am not boating and then head back to the car. A few feet into the walk back to the car something in my mind changed and I decided to put on. What a great call. Sure enough, after one rapid and the accompanying mix of adrenaline and cold water to the face, I was wide awake.
Although this run is short, there are many rapids. And you can walk most of them. However, even the in between stuff can be big and is certainly sieved out. Furthermore the rapids are fairly continuous so swims are not desired (as if they ever are). On that note, when I say something is class IV+, it is only that rapid I am talking about, there may be another class IV+ just downstream of it, or upstream, thus making the section of a class V experience top to bottom. It is probably a good idea if you are all having doubts, hike up from take out on river right until you can see the last gorge, these are typical rapids that you will be expected to run. For reference we had 300 cfs in middle may from a dam release brought to us by American Whitewater… Thanks guys!
Also, a big thanks to Steve Schimtt for contributing photos and Chezo Litho, Diane Gaydos, Josh Bruckner, and Brad Brewer for contributing video.
Mi 0:
- Start (IV+). Around the first corner there is long boulder rapid. There was also a tree across the top requiring a right entrance. This rapid is easily scouted from the road/trail in. Work down the center, through the holes, and boof the exit.
- Triple Drop (V). What a great three tiered drop. The first is boofed on the right, the center is boofed on the left or center. Be aware of a pocket on the left wall and a cave on the right. The bottom is boofed over the center. It would probably be good to set safety and scout on the left. Also an easy portage on the left.
Cascade (V-). Ok, so it is really only a one move rapid. However, it is big, steep, and very rocky. If you flip in the entrance curler to you almost certainly be in bad shape. Also note, there is a rock after the first drop so keep you nose up.
Slide (V). A shitty little lead in lead to this 10-12 footer. The cleanest line appears to be high on the right side. The landing is shallow and then 50 feet downriver the water slams into a rock, causing a reactionary hole, and then melts off either side into pocket holes.
Pothole (IV+). This rapid isn’t that hard but is consequential. The entrance is on the right shore and involves boofing into a little pot hole. You then want to drive left to boof center left below. Apparently, the day before someone went off the left and pinned briefly underwater.
Zigzag (IV+). Boof the first big hole into the cross current and drop into the less than destructive as expected hole below.
Off the Wall (IV). This rapid totally reminded me of the Waterfall Rapid below Lumsden, but maybe that is just me. You just want to drive into the middle and stay off the wall.
Big Hole (IV). Somewhere in here there was a ramp into a large hole. I think it was here. Run it down the gut.
Lead In to Final Gorge (IV). The rapid dog legs around a blind corner and then straight forward down the left then catch the eddy on the left.
The Button Rapid (V-). As hard as one move can be to get right. Catch the eddy at the lip on the right, ferry out, hit the curling hole, don’t melt right into the bad pocket, don’t melt left into the wall pocket, and boof the center. Easier said then done. Scout or portage on the right. Below is the last chance to scout or portage drops. So if you didn’t before hand, scout at this point using the trail on river right.
Gorge Entrance (IV+). The river bends sharp right and drops sharply over two consecutive drops. Boof the first far left into the pocket, make sure you boof, and then run down the tongue into the hole at the bottom of the second drop. Avoid the eddy on the right below.
Gorge Middle (V). This is one of the more consequential rapids of the run. This rapid is consequential due to an abundance of sieves in the top and bottom half of the drops plus the fact that the rapid above it leads pretty directly into it. Furthermore, a rescue or reentry into the water would be very difficult between the drops. We started right and drove left over the boof. Hit the curler coming off the wall and followed it right. We then followed this current to the second tier into a chute and hole on the right shore. Point your nose left to avoid the eddy against the wall.
Gorge Exit (IV-). A easy ledge at 300 cfs, run right and then some busy runout
Bridge in Sight (IV+). This rapid was a lot bigger than I remembered from the trail. A few steep drops and a wall keep you on your toes until the very end.
Take-out: From Highway 49 in Grass Valley, take Highway 20 towards Truckee. After 16 miles, turn left on Washington Road and follow 6 miles to the town of Washington. Cross the river and continue right on Maybert Road. Follow 4 miles to Canyon Creek. Just on the far side, 100 feet past the bridge on the right there is a turnout that fits a few cars.
Put-in: Continue up Maybert 3 miles to Golden Quartz Picnic Area. Drive past the picnic area and drift left at the no trespassing signs. Go up the steep hill that continues getting steeper. After about 1.5 miles of driving, park at the top of the grade. There is a hill clearing on the right that you can pull up onto. Hike the remaining half mile to the river. The road is washed out, thus necessitating the walk.
