Generation And Giant Gaps (Tadpole To Colfax-Iowa Hill Road)
The gaps are still expert runs but the river has calmed down some (compared to the Royal Gorge). There is still plenty of class IV and V to be had in here so this run is still for advanced boaters.
Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the American River, North Fork are between a bare minimum of 500cfs and a high of 2,500cfs.
River conditions sourced from USGS 11427000, the Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca
Remember only watercraft are permitted
at Generation and Giant Gaps (Tadpole to Colfax-Iowa Hill Road).
Run Stats
| Status | Runnable |
| Class Level | IV to IV+ |
| Elevation | 717 ft |
| Run Length | 26.8 Mi |
| Gradient | 120 FPM |
| Streamflow Discharge | 560 cfs |
| Gage Height | 1.1 ft |
| Air Temperature | 76° |
| River | American River, North Fork |
| Reporting Streamgage |
Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca
USGS 11427000 |
|
Tadpole Falls
Class V |
|
Mumford Bar Ledge Rapid
Class IV+ |
|
Slide Rapid
Class IV to IV+ |
|
F-14
Class V- |
|
Giant Gap Entrance Rapid
Class III+ to IV |
|
Grater Rapid
Class IV to IV+ |
|
Nutcracker Rapid
Class IV to V- |
|
Locomotive Rapid
Class IV+ to V |
|
Dominator Rapid
Class V |
|
Pinball Rapid
Class IV |
| Gauge | Streamflow | Stage |
|---|---|---|
|
Ward C At Hwy 89 Nr Tahoe Pines Ca
USGS 10336676 |
26 cfs | 5.8 ft |
|
Cosumnes R A Michigan Bar Ca
USGS 11335000 |
199 cfs | 3.4 ft |
|
Up Truckee R A South Lake Tahoe Ca
USGS 10336610 |
74 cfs | 4.4 ft |
|
Trout C Nr Tahoe Valley Ca
USGS 10336780 |
19 cfs | 5.3 ft |
|
Deer C Nr Cameron Park Ca
USGS 11335655 |
8 cfs | 3.6 ft |
|
Third Ck Nr Crystal Bay
USGS 10336698 |
4 cfs | 1.9 ft |
|
Independence C Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10343000 |
2 cfs | 2.2 ft |
|
Truckee R A Farad Ca
USGS 10346000 |
725 cfs | 4.4 ft |
|
Little Truckee R Bl Div Dam Nr Sierraville Ca
USGS 10341950 |
3 cfs | 1.0 ft |
|
Prosser C Bl Prosser C Dam Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10340500 |
30 cfs | 1.5 ft |
| Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
|---|---|---|
|
Independence Lake
SNOTEL 541 |
60" | -3" |
|
soda springs 1.5 ssw, ca
SNOTEL CA-PC-1 |
23.72" | -2.83" |
|
Independence Creek
SNOTEL 540 |
1" | 0" |
|
Echo Peak
SNOTEL 463 |
35" | -2" |
|
black springs
SNOTEL BLSC1 |
41.03" | 1.49" |
|
alpha
SNOTEL ALPHA_MADIS |
162.28" | 0.19" |
|
Squaw Valley G.C.
SNOTEL 784 |
38" | 0" |
|
Ward Creek #3
SNOTEL 848 |
37" | -1" |
|
Hagan'S Meadow
SNOTEL 508 |
5" | -2" |
|
Forestdale Creek
SNOTEL 1049 |
44" | -2" |
|
blue canyon alert
SNOTEL BLUC1 |
0.28" | 0" |
|
alpine meadows-base
SNOTEL AMBC1 |
47.65" | 0.47" |
|
Truckee #2
SNOTEL 834 |
5" | -1" |
|
Rubicon #2
SNOTEL 724 |
25" | -1" |
|
Css Lab
SNOTEL 428 |
27" | -1" |
|
Big Meadow
SNOTEL 340 |
22" | -1" |
|
Carson Pass
SNOTEL 1067 |
33" | -4" |
|
bloods creek
SNOTEL BLCC1 |
31.84" | -0.65" |
|
Independence Camp
SNOTEL 539 |
5" | -2" |
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carr Lake | 12 | 6,668 ft | |||
| Sterling lake- dispersed | None | 7,036 ft | |||
| Donner Summit Area - Lake Spaulding | 25 | 5,045 ft | |||
| Lake Spaulding | 25 | 5,048 ft | |||
| Robinson Flat | 14 | 6,696 ft | |||
| Hampshire Rocks | 30 | 5,921 ft | |||
| McMurray | None | 5,880 ft | |||
| Woodchuck | 8 | 6,256 ft | |||
| Grouse Ridge | 9 | 7,410 ft | |||
| Sterling Lake | 8 | 7,023 ft | |||
| Lindsey Lake | 10 | 6,271 ft | |||
| Fuller Lake | None | 5,380 ft |
| Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar Bowl Resort | 5" | 55° | 0" |
| Alpine Meadows Ski Area | 37" | 49° | 0" |
| Tahoe Donner | 27" | 55° | 0" |
| Donner Ski Ranch | 27" | 55° | 0" |
| Boreal Mountain Resort | 27" | 55° | 0" |
| Soda Springs | 27" | 55° | 0" |
| Squaw Valley | 38" | 50° | 0" |
| River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coloma to Greenwood - (C to G) | 560.0cfs | 5.0 Mi | II to III- |
| Tunnel Run (Ralston Powerhouse to Greenwood) | 642.0cfs | 16.5 Mi | IV- to IV |
| Generation and Giant Gaps (Tadpole to Colfax-Iowa Hill Road) | 560.0cfs | 26.8 Mi | IV to IV+ |
| Yankee Jim Road to Ponderosa Way (Shirttail) | 642.0cfs | 5.0 Mi | II to III |
| Royal Gorge (Soda Springs to Tadpole Creek) | 654.0cfs | 25.0 Mi | V to V+ |
| Chili Bar | 560.0cfs | 8.0 Mi | III to IV |