Middle Fork | South Fork American River Chili Bar Combo

MILE BY MILE ON THE MIDDLE FORK AND SOUTH FORK CHILI BAR SECTION OF THE 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.

• MIDDLE FORK AMERICAN RIVER 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 guests 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 our American River Outpost at the take-out of your OARS Middle Fork American rafting trip.

• SOUTH FORK AMERICAN RIVER CHILI BAR SECTION - Mile 0

  The Nugget campground at Chili Bar is our put-in (start) for OARS Upper South Fork American River Chili Bar rafting trips. 

• Mile 0.3

  CHILI BAR HOLE (II) For many years Chili Bar Hole was the site of the Chili Bar Rodeo. On low-water years, the competition moved downstream to First Threat Rapid. Chili Bar was named after the Chilean road builders during the early Gold Rush days. A ‘hole’ is created when the river current drops over a rock or ledge and circulates instead of continuing its downstream flow.

• Mile 0.6

  MEATGRINDER (III) A long rock garden with big waves and a hidden boulder at the bottom. Meatgrinder is also known as “Quarter Mile Rapid” because of its length. At high flows, this rapid has some huge waves and holes.

• Mile 1.3

  RACEHORSE BEND (II+) At Racehorse Bend rapid, the river drops and bends left, pushing current into the right wall.

• Mile 1.5

  MAYA (II-III) There is normally a pretty easy run down the middle, but there is a big hole at higher flows. There is a sneak route on the far right.

• Mile 1.8

  ROCK GARDEN (II) As its name implies, this is a rock garden to be maneuvered through with skill.

• Mile 3.0

  Site of old miner’s cabin on right bank.

• Mile 3.1

  TRIPLE THREAT (III) Three separate drops, and all three can be run down the middle – with lots of bouncy, splashy fun. First Threat Rapid is a favorite kayak surfing hole and site of the American River Festival Rodeo. The third drop is after a sharp left-hand bend.

• Mile 5.1

  TROUBLEMAKER (III+) This is the biggest rapid on the upper section of this whitewater rafting trip. The river bends sharply right and then left, passing Gunsight Rock. It’s also sometimes referred to as “S-Turn” rapid. Professional photographers frequently are stationed riverside, as are a host of whitewater enthusiasts, often cheering and applauding as you pass through the rapid. You may review and/or purchase photos from Hotshot Imaging after completing your American River rafting adventure.

• Mile 5.2-10.6

  Easy Class I and II rapids. Pass the historic Gold Rush town of Coloma.

• Mile 5.5

  Coloma Resort. This is located on the banks of the American River and is adjacent to the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park.

• Mile 5.6

  Coloma Bridge. Built in 1917, also known as the “one-way bridge.”

• Mile 6.0

  Marshall Gold Discovery State Historical Park. The park is located where gold was first discovered in California and sprawls across both sides of the highway, encompassing a museum, a full-scale replica of Sutter’s Mill as well as a ghost town of restored period buildings and Gold Rush artifacts. At the museum you can learn how to pan for gold. Bekeart’s Gun Shop, located in the Park, offers similar activities and old-fashioned trade goods.

• Mile 6.6

  BEGINNER’S HOLE RAPID (II) Also known as “Taco Bender,” this is a fun play spot for kayakers.

• Mile 7.1

  OLD SCARY (II) The river bends sharply left, with an island midstream. Old Scary used to be one of the most difficult rapids on the Chili Bar-to-Coloma section of the South Fork until high water in 1982 changed the rapid.

• 7.3

  LAUGHING EDDY (II) Also known as “Blue House Eddy” or “Whiplash.” There is a sharp-edged eddy on river left, at the blue house shortly above the bridge. An eddy is an area of usually calm water behind or downstream of an obstruction in the main current, such as a rock, where water flows counter to that of the main current.

• Mile 7.4

  Highway 49 bridge and highway access.

• Mile 8.0

  TAKE OUT (end) for the South Fork American River Chili Bar Run is at OARS American River Outpost.