American River South Fork near Coloma

For information about boating this river segment with a commercial outfitter, see the CaliRiver website or California Whitewater Rafting.

This is California's standard intermediate run that many boaters run repeatedly and never outgrow. Annoying user fees can deplete beer money fast. Crowds are a huge problem on weekends during the summer. The whitewater is mostly class II+ with ten class IIIs, two class III+ rapids, and one class IV- that repeat customers never scout. Most commercial outfitters run the lower half on Saturday, and the more difficult upper half on Sunday. They always seem to launch just as you're coming thru.

On the other hand, there are lots of fun but not life-threatening rapids on this river, which can be run almost any day of the year (you'll need a drysuit in winter). The middle third makes an excellent beginner run, the lower “gorge” makes a good training run, and the slightly tougher upper third has good surfing spots. In late September or early October, the poison oak leaves turn red and provide nice autumn color.

For good objective information about Coloma and the South Fork American, see The American River website. For a list of commercial rafting outfitters and kayaking instructors, see their Resources Directory.

Although the length of 20.5 miles sounds long, it can be boated easily in one day, except when days are short in the middle of winter. Car camping is a pain because it is usually hard to find a spot, and even if you do, it might be dusty and overpriced. Most boaters choose one of four sections, listed in order of difficulty:

• C to G, class II. Put in at Coloma Lake, take out at Greenwood Creek: 5.6 miles.
• Henningsen Park to Salmon Falls bridge, class III. Easy put-in: 12.5 miles.
• Greenwood Creek to Salmon Falls bridge, class III. Long carry to put-in, but free: 9.1 miles.
• Chili Bar to Henningsen Park, class III+. Fees at both ends: 8 miles.

For inveterate campers who can carry their own gear, there are some fine campsites on BLM land near a composting toilet on the right bank at mile 12.1, and again near mile 15. For wilderness camping, make sure to prepay for a second day of parking!

mile

0

Put in near or under the Chili Bar bridge, preferably before 9:00. Chili Bar Hole provides good surfing at levels around 2000 cfs, but is rocky at lower flows. Downstream are several easy rapids, two involving large rocks. A trail follows an old mining road on the right bank.

.6

Quarter Mile, AKA Meatgrinder (class III+). A small diversion canal removes water on the left, and a large rock is visible there, just left of center. This is a long rapid (over 1/4 mile, eponymously) that can cause a bruising or bloody swim if you capsize near the top. At low flows, the lead-in rapid can be run either left or far right. Either way, you need to maneuver back to the center, entering the main rapid about 10 meters from the large rock, slanting left-to-right thru a slot between submerged rocks. This is an easy move, but failing to make it can have severe consequences, because the biggest waves and holes are still ahead. After this, keep your bow into the waves as the current funnels you towards Rhino rock on the right. Two rafters died here of foot entrapment within a 3 week period in 1989; the submerged entrapment point was dynamited that fall. A commercial rafting passenger also died here of foot entrapment in July 2000. After Rhino rock, overall wave size decreases, and you can eddy out on the left, or finish the rapid along the right. Good playspots exist near center.

Rafts enter Quarter Mile (1500 cfs)	Rhino Rock at fish flow (250 cfs)	Quarter Mile parts one and two

1.3

Sluice Box, AKA Racehorse Bend (class III-). The river curves left among boulders, then runs into an uptilted slate cliff on the right, with sharp submerged rocks along the cliff. The safest exit is towards center. Bad place to swim, perhaps the worst on this whole run. Big eddy below on the left.

1.5

Maya, AKA Traffic Light (class II+). Choose either a small hole on the right, or a ledge drop on the left. Big but easily avoidable holes at higher water (class III above 3500 cfs). Maya is a popular kayak surfing spot, often with long lines.

1.7

Rock Garden (class II). A maze of small boulders that can help you improve boat control. At lowest flows (under 900 cfs) it is best run on the far left, but most of the time you can go anywhere.

2.4

African Queen (class II+). Several willow-covered islands create a multiplicity of routes. The most common is right almost all the way, cutting left to avoid a shallow-trap at the end of that channel. This route passes some nice surfing waves near the second island. The most fun route is left over a 1 foot falls (not for rafts under 1700 cfs), then center thru a very narrow slot between islands. The far left channel is boring.

2.9

First Threat (class III). The river enters a boulder garden, then turns right into a deep hole along a rock outcropping on the left. The hole makes good advanced surfing, and is flippiest on the left, but can be mostly avoided by skirting right. Popular with hardshell kayakers and bodyboarders, surfing contests are often held here.

3.2

Second Threat (class II+). Almost immediately, the river drops again thru a slot along a rock outcropping on the right. Good swimmer's rapid with a large eddy below, making it easy to reach the rock outcropping for repeated swims.

3.3

Third Threat (class II-III depending). Make of this one what you will. The center is easy and unobstructed, but there are large holes on the far left halfway down, and on the far right near the bottom. Running both holes is an advanced maneuver.

Paddle raft hits the gut of First Threat	Minigorge, shortly above Quiet Zone

3.7

Unnamed (class II+). The river slaloms right to left, and enters a channel on the far left with many barely-submerged rocks. Rafts often get stuck here. Kayak routes exist to the right.

4.0

Minigorge, class II+. The river enters a miniature gorge in bedrock, with pleasant waves and rapids. Major squirreliness towards the end.

4.3

Swimmer's Rapid, class II. A boulder bar rapid with big waves, this is a good place to practice throwbag techniques from the right bank. The Coloma quiet zone begins just below (no yelling, no water fights).

5.0

Campground and cabins on left bank, good for 2-day trips in winter.

5.1

S-Turn, AKA Troublemaker (class IV-), scout left.
The river enters a boulder garden, followed by a falls, with an S channel on the far left. The rapid's name describes your route well. At lower flows, the true path is narrow indeed. If you shade right, a large diagonal wave tends to flip kayaks. If you go far left, you end up in an eddy that is hard to exit. Precise placement into the gut of the hole surfs you next to a big rock on the left below, then thru a steep channel along Gunsight rock, where rafts often end up wrapped. Advanced boaters might want to eddy left, then ferry across the hole, exiting to the right of Gunsight rock. In any case, the swim isn't too bad, but keep your feet up.

David Elliott heads for Troublemaker hole	It surfs him into the left-hand chute

View from right bank as blue raft enters	Imprecise maneuvering, near-wrap on Gunsight!

An alternate kayak chute exists to the right of the main waterfalls, but the bedrock below is badly undercut, and swimmers have been held underwater for nearly a minute.

5.6

Private campground on right, then a steel bridge. River access should be legal, but is prohibited and enforced by the county. Put in at this campground for the longest possible class II run.

5.8

Coloma Lake, a long stretch with slow-moving current. Take-out is prohibited; put-in access for non-commercial groups only, when doing the Coloma to Lotus run (class II).

7.2

Old Scary, class II-. This was formerly a class III rapid on the right shortly above the highway 49 bridge, until high water detoured the river leftward during the winter of 1982.

7.4

Concrete bridge for highway 49. River access should be legal, but at times has been prohibited and enforced by the county. Cheapskates prefer to put in or take out here.

8.0

Henningsen County Park in Lotus. This is probably the best stopping and starting point for breaking up this run into two sections. High parking fees, considering that this is public land. Oddly, overnight parking is not allowed!

8.5

Lotus Ledge. Before the flood of 1997, this made a good surfing hole on the left, but has been (temporarily?) eliminated.

9.0

Camp Lotus, the nicest camping area in this vicinity. Usually full on summer weekends, so make reservations well in advance. Grass and tall sycamores make this a pleasant put-in spot.

Ducklings swimming near Camp Lotus. Oddly enough, the ducks still look realistic when the picture is turned upside down.

9.1

Barking Dogs Honking Geese (class II+). Named after Camp Lotus neighbors. The river curves right and funnels into a nice hole, then turns left and proceeds past a huge rock/hole on the right.

9.3

Unnamed class II rapid with a fun blind traverse behind an island. Many other unnamed class II- rapids.

10.6

Current Divider (class II+). A rock island divides the flow. The most fun route is to the right of the island, then left below. Believe it or not, commercial rafts often get wrapped here.

11.1

Highway Rapid (class II+). A long rock garden, very bony at low flows (under 1100 cfs). The best route is just to the left of a low brushy island, then slaloming around rocks until the slanting left-to-right exit.

11.4

Swimmer's Rapid (class II). Decaying estate on the left, willow bar on the right. Greenwood Creek enters on the right below, marking the end of the quiet zone. This makes an excellent take-out for lightweight boats doing the Coloma to Lotus run, as an official BLM access point. Carry up the trail downstream of Greenwood Creek to a parking lot off highway 49.

11.6

Turtle Lake, a long stretch with slow-moving current, mercifully ended by...

11.9

Cable Car Rapid (class II) and other unnamed class II rapids. BLM land on both banks at mile 12.1, with composting toilet on the right. This is perhaps the best “wilderness” camping spot on this river, with sandy beaches, oak trees, and few mosquitos. Class II and II+ rapids continue without too much flatwater. Many rock formations in this area contain Indian grinding holes.

15.8

Fowler's Rock (class III). Entrance to the Gorge, occurs after the third sighting of the Lollipop tree on top of a distant hill. Good time to put on your paddling jacket! The river bends left around a gravel bar, then flows along a cliff on the left. Rafts are often accidentally parked on a submerged boulder along a house-sized rock on the right, but they can be avoided with a quick left-right slalom. Go right of Fowler's Rock, the tall cabin-sized boulder ahead, then pick a good slot (near center) in the diagonal boulder fence below.

Lollipop Tree above Fowler's Rock entrance	Upper Haystack Canyon

15.1

Upper Haystack Canyon (class II+). Big standing waves in a narrow section of gorge. Not particularly difficult.

16.7

Lost Hat (class III-). After a flat spot with cows and/or cowpies on both banks, the river drops steeply into some big standing waves. This rapid continues unabated into the one below. If you plan to sneak Starr's Cesspool, stay right; otherwise work left.

16.9

Starr's Cesspool (class III+, formerly Satan's Cesspool).
Photographers are usually stationed at several spots nearby. An underwater rock cluster causes a hole and a large curling wave at low or moderate flows. The safest way to kayak this rapid is to eddy out left just above the main drop, then choose the proper exit ramp near the left bank. If you swim, get back in the boat fast, or swim into the lefthand eddy below, to avoid getting bruised in Son of Cesspool just ahead. As a sneak route at moderate flows, a narrow rocky slot is available to the right of the central island, and might be the best choice for beginners, since the eddy left of the curling wave can be tricky to catch.

Pulling back into the righthand eddy	Over the ramp avoids the diagonal wave

Trying to generate photos worth buying, Bill heads directly into the curling wave	A noncommittal lean and a low brace into the curling wave doesn't get it done	Exposing the inflatable kayak's bottom to destructive ultraviolet rays

16.95

Son of Cesspool, AKA Dead Man's Drop (class III). The best route, whether boating or swimming, is just to the right of a submerged rock in the center, but without smashing into the righthand wall. If you're swimming and can't make the lefthand eddy with your boat in tow, let go of your boat, because the swim to the left of the submerged rock will probably kick your butt good. Hopefully some strangers or your boating companions will retrieve your boat.

17.4

Scissors (class III). After a short calm stretch, the river charges over some diagonal bedrock ledges, along the left wall, then around a cabin-sized rock on the right. To avoid swimming, always stay perpendicular to the diagonal drops.

17.6

Lower Haystack Canyon (class II+). Big standing waves in a narrow section of gorge. A bit more difficult than the upper one.

Raft punches big hole in Scissors	Half a raft buried in Bouncing Rock

18.2

Bouncing Rock (class III). Most of the current smashes into a rock on the right, then pours into a large flippy hole. Because the swim below is shallow and rocky, consider sneaking this rapid by ferrying left continuously from the outset (class II+).

18.4

Pre-Op (class III-). Big standing waves with rocks and holes along the banks.

18.6

Hospital Bar (class III). After a small boulder garden, most of the current drops right over a boulder bar into a fast channel along the right bank. A diagonal hole at the bottom is best run on the left, but you can ham it up for photographers by running further right, where a flip is possible. Named for a hospital tent set up during the gold rush.

Hospital Bar from right bank above	Strong wave knocks paddlers backwards!

18.8

Recovery Room (class III-). When the reservoir is down, the hole at the bottom is a miniature version of Hospital Bar. But when the reservoir is full, it is class II at most.

19.3

Surprise (class II-III depending). At the top of a wide gravel bar, the river bends left into a fast chute. Late in the summer, boaters get surprised as this rapid uncovers. You can sneak it on the right, or run over the big center rock into a hole, if you're brave.

19.5

Diagonal (class II+ or underwater). A diagonal rock fence from left to lower right provides several route choices.

20.5

Take out just before or shortly after Salmon Falls bridge, depending on where you parked. Toilets are available in both places.

To reach take-out, go east on highway 50 uphill from Sacramento. Past the top of a long grade, exit and turn north on El Dorado Hills Blvd. After 4-5 miles, cross Green Valley Rd, and go straight onto Salmon Falls Rd, which winds 5-6 miles downhill along Folsom reservoir to Salmon Falls bridge. There are several fee parking lots, one on the left before the bridge. Warning: break-ins occur in these parking lots, when not patrolled, so don't leave anything valuable in your vehicle.

To reach put-in, continue uphill 5-6 miles on Salmon Falls Rd, to the hamlet of Pilot Hill, turning right on the Salmon Falls Cutoff. Then turn right on highway 49, proceed 5-6 miles thru the town of Coloma, and continue uphill again towards Placerville. At an Italian restaurant, turn sharp left at the junction of highway 193, and descend steeply, in low gear, to the river. Cross the bridge and turn left into the Chili Bar resort (privately owned in 1998), which charges fees for both parking and put-in. Early morning parking is possible on a wide gravel bar.

 Creeks Navigation

 Sponsored Links