Carson River East Fork

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

Starting in pine forest and ending in the high desert, with frequent glimpses of distant snow-covered peaks, offering several hotsprings near midpoint, and containing many fun rapids, this is one of the finest novice runs in California. Its mild class II+ rating can be deceptive however, because the water is swift and cold, the rocks sharp and abrasive, and the bedrock banks sometimes undercut. Flows are highest in the morning, so consider the peaks when deciding if it is too low or too high to run.

After the flood of 1997 the class III rapids above Hangman's Bridge became more class II-like. It is best to avoid crowds and put in at one of the many roadside turnouts south of the bridge, rather than at the bridge. Note that there are no sanitary facilities above Hangman's Bridge, so overnight camping and parking is not permitted alongside highway 89/4. The further up the highway you go, the more the rapids approach class III. The Cassady/Calhoun guidebook describes this upper run in detail, with its 65 fpm gradient and continuous class III rapids. Intermediate boaters usually like to start way upstream for some morning excitement.

Along Markleeville Creek between town and put-in is a nice USFS campground that is often filled on Friday nights. The other side of put-in, Carson River Resort rents cabins and campsites; see www.carsonriverresort.com for pictures and reservations.

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Put in at Hangman's Bridge, or at a turnout along highway 89/4. There is a good one about .4 mile upstream from Hangman's Bridge. Wide-open class II rapids start immediately. Toilet facilities at the bridge put-in.

.4

Hangman's Bridge, the normal put-in, with attendant crowds and a very small beach. Below, rapids can be tight at times, and the lava rock walls are sometimes undercut. A choice of channel is best resolved on the left (1997).

Typical into-a-cliff rapid below the bridge	Near the confluence with Markleeville Creek

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Markleeville Creek enters from the left, increasing the flow by more than half. Rapids become larger but generally safer.

Semi-continuous rapids near the gauging station	Big Rock or Hole in the Middle rapid

6?

The river channel has changed, and although the best route appears to be on the left, most of the water flows to the right thru an old established line of willows.

8.8

Ponderosa bench on the right makes several excellent campsites, all within walking distance of a hotspring on the right bank downstream.

Rapid above first hot springs, left and right	Entrance to Sidewinder from above

9

Sidewinder, class II+
A shallow boulder bar bends left and into a deep low-water channel that approaches the steep left bank. At high water, other routes are available.

Entrance to Sidewinder from below	Hardest part is avoiding the left wall

Perfect position after avoiding left wall	After a short break, Sidewinder part 2

9.3

A big hotspring cascades into the river. A large bench nearby used to make an excellent campsite, but became less attractive after a recent forest fire. Trees are starting to grow back. Good campsites on river right were unaffected by fires.

9.7

A small bench campsite with another small hotspring up a creek.

Ponderosa pines and junipers cling to the rock	Scenic bend with tall Ponderosa pines

12

Wrapper's Rapid, class II+
Recognition: .2 mile upstream, there's a cave high on the left bank. At low flows, a curtain of rocks creates a slalom that many novice rafters fail to negotiate. There is usually at least one wrap here every Sunday during rafting season, except at high water.

Narrow entrance to Wrapper's Rapid at this flow	The slalom is easier to negotiate on the right

14?

Note: Leviathan Creek enters on the right. Guidebooks say that Old Leviathan mine, a superfund site with evaporation pits containing 15 million gallons of acid mine leachate, pollutes the creek with arsenic and other heavy metals, and advise not drinking river water below here. Mitigation efforts started in 1984, and there have been no pond overflows since 1999, so it is probably now safe to filter or purify water below this point.

Cliff dwarfs raft at a steep spot in the canyon	The canyon opens up in places

15.9

A deep canyon with fantastic shapes in the basalt cliffs was the planned site of a dam, fortunately never built.

16.9

Horseshoe bend with many swallow's nests in the left bank cliffs. Dirt ranch roads become visible.

Long class II rapid with views of the high Sierra	Occasional class II rapids continue to the end

20.4

Grafitti warns you of a dangerous eroded diversion dam and falls ahead. Swift water continues. The take out is a gravel bar on the right bank, only a short distance downhill from a dirt parking lot.

 

Hazard! All guidebooks warn of the hazardous diversion dam and waterfalls below take-out. The flood of 1997 eroded the right side of this structure, creating what looks like a class V+ rapid on river right. A short distance below there is a low-water crossing where most of the water goes thru tunnels in the concrete.

To reach take-out, drive north to highway 88, turn right, and descend into Nevada. You can take a shortcut by turning right on Centerville Lane, and left across a bridge before Dresslerville, although going all the way to Minden and turning right on highway 395 thru Gardnerville works too. On 395 just past the Lahonton Fish Hatchery, turn right onto a dirt road where the highway starts climbing a hill. The BLM parking lot is uphill at the end of the dirt road. Vandalism has been reported often in the past.

Good shuttle service has been available in Markleeville or Minden NV. Family Mountain Shuttle Service (Mindy and Paul Washam Jr, 530-694-2704) has been providing reliable shuttle service for 24 years. Great Basin Sports in Minden is willing to do shuttles; the woman to contact is Pat Fried at 775-450-3446. The Markleeville General Store has recommended River Rat Shuttle Service, 530-694-2448. Due to vandalism, it is preferable to leave your vehicle at take-out only for a short time, not overnight.

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