< Printer Friendly Middle Fork of the American River (Tunnel Chute)

Middle Fork of the American River (Tunnel Chute)

Stretch:	Ralston Powerhouse to the old Greenwood Bridge
Difficulty:	Class IV+ (1 portage), harder at higher flows
Distance:	16.5 miles, 1 day
Flows:	800 - 1600 cfs. Current Dreamflows (est) gauge
Gradient:	23 fpm average
Put-in:	Ralston Power House outlet
Take-out:	McKeon Road at old Greenwood bridge site
Shuttle:	25 miles (~ 45 minutes)
Season:	Spring and Summer, from dam release
Written:	© 2004
Featured in A Wet State's contribution to World Kayak's Video Guide

For information on rafting the Middle Fork of the American please check out:

Tunnel Chute (V).

There is a class III rapid in this stretch that isn't any harder than the others except that it has a pour over rock that the main current goes into and creates nasty hole, it is easiest if this isn't your cup of tea to move left of it.

Kanaka Falls AKA Cartwheel (IV).

Flat with a few class I and II rapids. The end of the flats comes at the end of a very long pool (~1.5 miles) that has power lines coming down the left ridge at the end of it.

Upper Ruck-A-Chucky AKA Chunder (IV+).

Ruck-A-Chucky (U).

Lower Ruck-A-Chucky AKA Parallel Parking (IV).

Catapult (III).

View Middle Fork of the American (Tunnel Chute) in a larger map

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