Below Mckay's Reservoir To Confluence With Middle Fork Stanislaus River river run
Below Mckay's Reservoir To Confluence With Middle Fork Stanislaus River
There are several notable rapids and obstacles along the way, including "Pinball," a boulder garden that requires precise maneuvering, and "Deadman's Drop," a steep and technical rapid. Other notable features include "Rattlesnake," "Edison Hole," and "Hell's Kitchen."
There are specific regulations to the area that must be followed by visitors. For example, all boaters must possess a valid California Boater Card, and all boats must carry a Type I, III, or V personal flotation device for each person on board. It is also important to note that this section of the river is closed to boating during the winter months.
Overall, the Whitewater River Run below McKay's Reservoir to the confluence with the Middle Fork Stanislaus River is a challenging and exciting destination for experienced paddlers. Visitors should be aware of the specific regulations and ensure they have the appropriate equipment before embarking on the journey.
Plan your run down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram; rain ahead of a run typically lifts flows 12-48 hours later depending on the basin.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks -- the upstream story that drives next week's flows.
Regional streamflow levels
USGS streamgauges around Below Mckay's Reservoir To Confluence With Middle Fork Stanislaus River -- useful for spotting upstream pulses and gauging which tributary is contributing what.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black C Nr Copperopolis Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Cherry C Bl Valley Dam Nr Hetch Hetchy Ca | 144 cfs | → |
| Big C Ab Whites Gulch Nr Groveland Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Lk Eleanor Div To Cherry Lake Nr Hetch Hetchy Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Eleanor C Nr Hetch Hetchy Ca | 440 cfs | → |
| Cherry C Bl Dion R Holm Ph | 1,720 cfs | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest boat launches, other paddle runs, and campgrounds so a day on the water can grow into a full weekend.
🛶 Other river runs
- One Mile Downstream Of State Park Boundary In Sec 24, T5n, R15e To Mckay's Reservoir
- Calaveras Big Trees State Park Boundary In Sec 24, T5n, R15e To One Mile Downstream Of State Park Boundary In Sec 24, T5n, R15e
- One-Quarter Mile Downstream Of Forest Road 5n75 Bridge Crossing To Calaveras Big Trees State Park Boundary In Sec 24, T5n, R15e
- One-Quarter Mile Upstream Of Forest Road 5no2 Bridge Crossing To One-Quarter Mile Downstream Of Forest Road 5n75 Bridge Crossing
- Sandbar To Confluence With North Fork Stanislaus River
⛺ Campgrounds
- Calaveras Big Trees State Park
- Boards Crossing
- Wakalu Hep Yo (Wild River) Campground
- Wa Ka Luu Hep Yoo (Wild River) Campground
- Wa Ka Luu Hep Yoo
- Sand Bar Flat Campground
Whitewater safety
- Check the flow before you run
- Use the linked-gauge card and Regional Flow panel above. Class ratings change with flow -- a Class III at low water can become Class IV+ at high water.
- Know your skill ceiling
- Pick runs comfortably below your ceiling. Cold-water and big-water runs raise the consequences of any mistake.
- Wear the right gear
- Helmet, PFD, drysuit / wetsuit when water is below 60°F. Throw bag, knife, and whistle on your person, not in the boat.
- Scout, set safety, and run with a team
- Scout new rapids on foot, set safety with throw bags above the consequence pool, and run with at least one other competent paddler.
- Respect the river
- Strainers, undercuts, low-head dams, and wood can kill at any class rating. When in doubt, portage.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Below Mckay's Reservoir To Confluence With Middle Fork Stanislaus River as a favorite, set a discharge threshold (e.g. "alert me when flow hits 600 cfs"), and the iOS app pushes the moment the linked gauge crosses.
About Below Mckay's Reservoir To Confluence With Middle Fork Stanislaus River
What's the optimal flow for Below Mckay's Reservoir To Confluence With Middle Fork Stanislaus River?
The optimal flow depends on the section and the craft. Check the Run Details panel for the linked gauge and current status.
How fresh is the cfs reading on this page?
The linked USGS streamgauge reports continuously (every 15 minutes); Snoflo refreshes throughout the day. Hover the streamflow sparkline to read individual datapoints.
What's the whitewater class?
See the Run Details panel for the class rating Snoflo tracks for this run. Class ratings change with flow -- a Class III at low water can become Class IV in high water.
Where do I put in / take out?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions to the put-in. For shuttle planning, check the Nearby Boat Launches panel and the river run operator's site.
Can I get alerts when flows hit the optimal range?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this run, set a discharge threshold, and you'll get a push the moment the gauge crosses.
Other runs near here
Snoflo-tracked paddle runs within driving distance of Below Mckay's Reservoir To Confluence With Middle Fork Stanislaus River.