Cache Creek near Esparto

This is one of the most popular whitewater runs in California, owing to reliable summer flows and proximity to the bay area. Many fun class II+ rapids are concentrated in a short distance. Water quality is improved by north fork releases from Indian Valley reservoir; the whole place seems greener since native americans built a casino at Brooks.

Cache Creek has become big with the “short boat” set because it contains many good play spots. There are fewer rafters than on the South Fork American, so park-and-play kayakers don't mind pulling into an eddy and waiting for inner-tubers and self-guided commercial rafters to pass by. Row-yourself commercial trips are offered by Whitewater Adventures and Rick & Linda Wilson's Cache Canyon Trips.

The Cassady/Calhoun guidebook describes the standard summertime run from Yolo County regional park to Rumsey bridge. Unfortunately this misses the class II+ or III rapids just above, and for a ways below, the Bear Creek confluence. If you have a high-clearance vehicle and don't mind driving rough dirt roads, putting in at Buck so-called Island extends this trip with 3(?) more miles of good whitewater.

The Cassady/Calhoun guidebook also describes a wilderness run, where boaters report frequent wildlife encounters, starting where the dammed North Fork crosses highway 20. For flows see NCI or the USGS site. Although some people run this at flows as low as 250 cfs at Rumsey, it is more popular as a rainy-season run for class II-III boaters, largely for bird watching and pleasant scenery. This section contains few significant rapids, but brush hazards are considerable at high water. At flows above 3500 at Rumsey, watch out for a bridge about a mile down the North Fork, where the river splits around a large island. In the right channel, make sure there is adequate clearance under the bridge. The rapids near and below Bear Creek are more difficult at high water than the rest of the wilderness run.

The Holbek/Stanley guidebook recommends Cache Creek as a rainy season run for its high flows and continuous rapids. There are more scenic choices available after recent rains, but you might enjoy the fast class III+ action of Cache Creek in flood stage.

good Western Frog habitat

Wild turkeys forage for 101 proof liquor

Bald eagle captured on film

The pictures below were taken on the standard summertime run (Bear Creek to Rumsey Bridge) at optimum flow around 750 cfs. Most Cache Creek rapids do not require scouting, but because of its unusual severity, first-timers should stop during the shuttle at the highway bridge that crosses from south to north bank, where you can get a good view of Rowboat Rapid (class III).

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Although parking is tight, it is possible to put in just below the Bear Creek confluence, called the Rusty Truck Put-in owing to an abandoned truck decomposing there (2001). Do not block the gate, because commercial outfitters sometimes use it to drive down to the beach. You will have to carry boats downhill.

.1

Against the Wall, class II
Immediately below put-in, this rapid formerly piled boats into a cliff, but has recently moved left away from the wall.

.3

County Line, class II+ or III-
At a left-side boulder bar, the river drops and curves left next to trees on the right bank. There is a big hole at a tight left turn near the bottom. This rapid is adjacent to the county line sign on Hwy 16.

.5

Yolo County upper site, alternate put-in with a good beach, $3 fee with plenty of parking and a well-maintained outhouse.

Against the Wall, below Bear Creek	River-wide ledge below Yolo upper site

.6

Class II section ending in a fun river-wide ledge that makes a great play spot, even for rafts. The Yolo County Middle Site camp is on the left here. Below that, the river bends left and splits around an island where most of the water goes right. There is a big (but not nasty) hole on the left under a low tree near the bottom of the island.

.9

Another class II ledge drop that is much harder on the left (II+) around some mid-stream boulders, with good play potential.

1.2

Camp Rapid, class II+ or III-
Blind S-turn, where willows block the view, and there are some rather large diagonal holes. This seems to cause much carnage: more than Rowboat because nobody scouts it. A rock on the top right of the main drop moved in winter 2001 so the drop is not nearly as clean as it used to be. This is a rather long rapid.

1.4

Yolo County Campground on the left, alternate put-in

Easier lower portion of Camp Rapid	Boulder bar (wrap!) below campground

1.5

The Wave, class II
Right below the campground swimming beach is a great park-and-play destination for short-boat surfers. There are two playable waves where uptilted bedrock strata emerge. After a short break, there is a big chute at a right turn.

1.9

Interesting diagonal-rock rapids near the highway; not difficult.

2.5

Taft's Tumble, class II
A short drop over the strata shortly above the low-water bridge. It has some holes in it, and can cause carnage, but not like County Line or Camp rapids.

2.7

Hazard! Low-water concrete bridge, portage left
In summertime a float-rope marks the dangerous area above the bridge underflow tunnels. Getting boats out is easy, but the put-in area is somewhat constricted.

	Joe's Nemesis, just below portage
Distant view of dangerous low-water bridge

2.8

Joe's Nemesis, AKA Widowmaker, class II+ or III-
The left side contains a big drop followed by a right turn among rocks. The right side is a bit of a sneak route, dropping steeply but straight over a boulder bar. After the two routes meet, you are confronted with a wrap rock and boulder dodging for another 200 meters or so. Some boaters have problems if they get messed up at the top. The left route is more technical than Rowboat, but waves are not as big.

3.0-4.5

Many fun class II drops (containing sleeper rocks at lower flow), but nothing particularly challenging.

4.6

Highway 16 bridge. If you forgot to scout during the shuttle, it is easier to climb up to the bridge from the right shore. There is a scouting or portage trail along the left bank; at one point it requires stepping in the water.

4.7

Rowboat Rapid, class III
The least turbulent route starts on the left and crosses to the right above some rocks, then plunges into a big hole. The most straightforward route starts on the right, passing close to some exposed rock before plunging into aforementioned big hole (this route is semi-blind because willow trees block your view). Swift but less severe whitewater continues for quite a distance below.

Dani poised at brink of the big hole	In swiftwater below after successful run

5.6

Haswell Boy Scout Camp on right, with plenty of free parking and an old stone building of historic interest (but no plaque). It would be nice to take out just below, but access is poor.

5.7

Island Split, AKA Rock Garden, class II+
The left side is a straightforward drop over a steep boulder bar. The right side is an interesting narrow chute, although somewhat difficult to enter, even at optimum flows, being guarded by rocks.

Boulder drop side of Island Split rapid	Good solitude in the area above Rumsey

6.6

Bulldozered diversion dam moves water to the right. Below is a good class II+ rapid with turbulence and rocks along a cliff on the left.

6.9

Commercial take-out (?) on right, with lawn and volleyball nets, would make an ideal take-out except it appears to be private property.

7.1

This is a good section for bird watching. Boaters commonly see blue herons and white egrets.

8.5

Rumsey Bridge, with interesting double concrete-arch construction. Limited parking. No sanitary facilities are provided.

To access all runs on Cache Creek, take I-5 to Vacaville, then I-505 north. (Boaters arriving from directly west can take either highway 16 or 20.) About 11 miles after crossing Putah Creek, take the Woodland-Esparto exit and turn west onto highway 16. Stay on this bendy road thru Esparto, past the Brooks casino, a long ways to Guinda, then to the small town of Rumsey. Past town, turn north on Sand Creek Road and drive a very short distance to a bridge over Cache Creek, the lower take-out point. Another 2.1 miles upstream on highway 16 is Haswell Boy Scout Camp, visible as a stone building near the creek; this is the most popular take-out.

To reach put-in, continue upstream 6 miles on highway 16 to Yolo County Park. Shortly upstream of the main park entrance are several turn-out areas with plenty of free parking and good access down to the creek. Parking at the Bear Creek confluence is tight, and access is poor except for outfitters, who have a key to the locked gate.

In summertime, if you have a high clearance vehicle, consider putting in where commercial trips do, at Buck Island. This allows you to run all rapids near Bear Creek. To get there, cross the low-water bridge on a dirt road 2.7 miles below Bear Creek. After about 3 miles of steep uphill driving to a summit, turn right on Rayhouse Road. Continue north along Langs Peak ridge, then descend steeply to Cache Creek, reached after about 4 more miles. This put-in adds 6 miles to the standard run.

To reach the wilderness run in wintertime, continue 7 more miles upstream from Bear Creek on highway 16 to its junction with highway 20. Turn left (west) and drive 13 miles to a bridge over the north fork of Cache Creek. A fine BLM river access area is shortly past the bridge, on river left.

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