South Fork of the American River (Kyburz)
| Stretch: | Indian Falls to Highway 50 bridge (1:30 hrs from Davis) |
| Difficulty: | Class IV |
| Distance: | 7.5 miles, one day |
| Flows: | 500 - 3000 cfs. Current Dreamflows gauge |
| Gradient: | 90 fpm (Steeper at beginning) |
| Put-in: | roadside turnoff below Indian Fall |
| Take-out: | Highway 50 Bridge / Historical Site |
| Shuttle: | 10 miles (10 minutes) one-way |
| Season: | spring into early summer, from snowmelt |
This is one of my favorite runs that I have ever done. The rapids start off almost immediately. The style at our flow of 725 cfs was technical, forgiving, and droppy. Paul Gamache called me the night before while driving though town, 12 hours later we were boating. We ran it with Brian who had had experience with this run; because of this we did not scout any rapids and therefore the rapids kind of blend together as one in my mind, so it will be a bad description. But here we go…
Note: I have run this again and I just don’t think you can figure it all out rapid by rapid, the nature is very continuous. We had 575 the second time down, and I wouldn’t do it this low again unless there are no other options. You spend the whole run bouncing off rocks, not in a fun way, but in a constantly avoiding pins or breaches.
Mi 1:
- I have no idea how long the different rapids last and where the miles go, but the
general gist is like this: the rapids are a bit choked, but boat scouting and read on the
go are possible for the first few. There is then one with a large hole on the right next
to a large boulder on the shore.
There is then a center double drop with the second of the two drops being the larger. Above the first drop is a left move which we performed with the aid of a mid stream mini eddy.
There was also a rapid which had a large whole at the bottom, it was not long after these prior rapids. The rapid began with a simple entry but big drop that wasn’t sticky, then a short pool. Next was a pretty simple entrance with the large hole at the end in center. You could kind of make it right of the hole it a preemptive manner.
The rapid I believe was the long rapid. It started on a left turn and just continued going. By the end you wanted to end up left. There was a very sticky hole in the middle of it, before the left move. Throughout the whole rapid there were at least 4 drops spread out by a few yards of waves and rocks. This was the hardest rapid on the run in my mind.
The last rapid of this gorge was rapid on a strong right bend. It is easily visible from the road. Enter center and begin moving right. There is a somewhat large drop with the left side against a wall. Shoot right and wash free with no risk from the wall. See picture.
The rapids from here on out are simpler. The river has one more gorging to do, which provides another class III+ rapid which is run down the left. Then, right near the end is a little zigzag rapid which is also probably class III or III+. There is also a great play wave about half a mile from the end.
Here are some pics that Diane Gaydos contributed from a trip in may 2007 at low water: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5(upriver from put in), 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12
Take out: Highway 50, about 30 (?) miles after Placerville there is a highway 50 bridge with parking and river access on the left before the bridge. Riverton is the place.
Put in: Drive about 7.5 miles past the put in, there is a turnout about 1 mile before the gas station on the right. the turn out is at the beginning of the second passing lane. There is a Forest Service Campground just past the put in. The turn out has a trail leading down to the river, immediately below the Falls. Thanks to Brian van Hout for more detail for this.