Two-Day Middle Fork American River Rafting

MILE BY MILE ON THE MIDDLE FORK AMERICAN RIVER

Information for this Mile by Mile guide was gathered from the books “California Whitewater” and “A Guide to the Best Whitewater in the State of California,” as well as from a variety of sources on the Internet.

• Mile 0

  Oxbow Bend.  Put-in (start) for OARS Middle Fork American Whitewater Rafting trips. The trip begins in the eddy just below the Oxbow Powerhouse.  This uninhabited, pristine wilderness area was once home to two mining camps and more than 10,000 people.

• MILE 0.1

  ALARM CLOCK (aka GOOD MORNING COFFEE) (III) As its name implies, this rapid is the wake-up call for the day to come.

• Mile 0.2

  The North Fork of the Middle Fork enters the river on the right.

• 0.3

  LITTLE FIN BACK (II)

• 0.5

  CARLS CRASH OR GUIDE SLAMMER (III)

• 0.7

  SANTA’S MUSTACHE (Also called ORGANIZED CHAOS) (III)

• 1.1

  JAKE THE RIPPER (II)

• 1.4

  LAST CHANCE (IV) This rapid is an almost vertical drop.

• Mile 1.5

  TUNNEL CHUTE (IV) Crowds of miners came to the Middle Fork American River canyon in search of gold in the late 1800s. They realized that gold probably settled into what was formerly a slow-moving, horseshoe bend in the river.  To divert the flow and access the hidden gold, they blasted a tunnel and dug a chute to guide the water through the tunnel.  This alteration to the river created one of the biggest gold discoveries in the California foothills.  Technically, the rapid should be called Chute Tunnel, as you will descend through a narrow 80-foot long chute which concludes with a big drop into frothy, churning water.  You will then pass through a 90-foot long underground tunnel.  This will certainly be a memorable California whitewater experience!

  There are numerous Class III rapids until the Class IV Kanaka Falls rapid.

• Mile 3.3

  Volcano Canyon, river right.  Josephine Canyon, river left.  There was once a great deal of mining activity in this area.

• Mile 4.1

  KANAKA FALLS (IV)  This rapid is also known as CARTWHEEL.  The river rushes to the right over boulders.  The current will sweep the boat toward a rock wall on the right.

  A nine-mile stretch of Class I-II rapids provides opportunity for swimming and enjoying the Sierra Foothill scenery.

• Mile 5.9

  Dardanelles Creek.  Hidden pools and waterfalls can be found up this creek.

• Mile 8.1

  Doodlebug Dredge.  Historical gold-mining landmark.

• Mile 10.2

  Ford’s Bar, Otter Creek, river left.  There is a side hike one mile up Otter Creek.  There is a swimming hole and plenty of ripe blackberries from mid-July to August.

• Mile 13.1

  Canyon Creek, river left.

• Mile 13.2

  UPPER RUCK-A-CHUCKY (IV)  Also called CHUNDER.  Originally named by the gold miners in the 1800s, this rapid provides a fun six-foot drop.

• Mile 13.3

  RUCK-A-CHUCKY (V+)  OARS does not take passengers down this Middle Fork American rapid.  Our guests walk around as guides maneuver the boats downstream to a safe location.

• Mile 13.4

  LOWER RUCK-A-CHUCKY (IV)

• 13.7

  PARALLEL PARKING (IV)

• Mile 14.8-16

  Numerous Class III rapids.

• Mile 16

  Greenwood Bridge.  Take out/end of your California whitewater experience. A set of wide stone steps leads up to a parking lot. Beverages and a return shuttle to the OARS American River Outpost wait at the take-out of your Middle Fork American River rafting trip.