Royal Gorge (Soda Springs To Tadpole Creek)
The American River, North Fork begins it's life just behind Squaw Valley ski resort on the west facing slopes of the sierras. Professional kayakers have scoped out and started adding this run to their repertoir. The north fork is very steep and small up here and contains a handful of sizable waterfalls. Portaging is common (even for the best kayakers) but for those who choose to run (and have the ability to) these drops can say they've completed the "Royal Flush" of the Royal Gorge.
Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the American River, North Fork are between a bare minimum of 750cfs and a high of 2,000cfs.
River conditions sourced from USGS 10344505, the Truckee R A Boca Bridge Nr Truckee Ca
Remember only watercraft are permitted
at Royal Gorge (Soda Springs to Tadpole Creek).
Run Stats
| Status | Too Low |
| Class Level | V to V+ |
| Elevation | 5,493 ft |
| Run Length | 25.0 Mi |
| Streamflow Discharge | 672 cfs |
| Gage Height | 6.8 ft |
| Air Temperature | 59° |
| River | American River, North Fork |
| Reporting Streamgage |
Truckee R A Boca Bridge Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10344505 |
|
Upper Heath Falls
Class V to V+ |
|
Lower Heath Falls
Class V to V+ |
|
Rattlesnake Falls
Class V to V+ |
|
Scott's Drop
Class V to V+ |
|
Wabena Falls
Class V to V+ |
| Gauge | Streamflow | Stage |
|---|---|---|
|
West Fork Carson River At Woodfords
USGS 10310000 |
87 cfs | 10.7 ft |
|
Spanish C Ab Blackhawk C At Keddie Ca
USGS 11402000 |
100 cfs | 2.0 ft |
|
Dog Creek At Verdi
USGS 10347310 |
2 cfs | 2.5 ft |
|
Upper Truckee R At Hwy 50 Above Meyers Ca
USGS 103366092 |
69 cfs | 6.0 ft |
|
Ash Canyon Ck Nr Carson City
USGS 10311200 |
2 cfs | 4.2 ft |
|
Hunter C Nr Reno
USGS 10347600 |
5 cfs | 7.2 ft |
|
Eagle Rock Ck Nr Stateline
USGS 103367592 |
1 cfs | 5.3 ft |
|
Daggett Creek Near Genoa
USGS 10310400 |
2 cfs | 0.8 ft |
|
Pilot C Ab Stumpy Meadows Res Ca
USGS 11431800 |
3 cfs | 4.1 ft |
|
Third Ck Nr Crystal Bay
USGS 10336698 |
4 cfs | 1.9 ft |
| Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
|---|---|---|
|
Heavenly Valley
SNOTEL 518 |
24" | -1" |
|
alpha
SNOTEL ALPHA_MADIS |
162.28" | 0.19" |
|
alpine meadows-base
SNOTEL AMBC1 |
47.65" | 0.47" |
|
Independence Creek
SNOTEL 540 |
1" | 0" |
|
Mt Rose Ski Area
SNOTEL 652 |
48" | -2" |
|
soda springs 1.5 ssw, ca
SNOTEL CA-PC-1 |
23.72" | -2.83" |
|
Echo Peak
SNOTEL 463 |
35" | -2" |
|
Horse Meadow
SNOTEL 1050 |
23" | -2" |
|
Burnside Lake
SNOTEL 1051 |
22" | 1" |
|
Forestdale Creek
SNOTEL 1049 |
44" | -2" |
|
bloods creek
SNOTEL BLCC1 |
31.84" | -0.65" |
|
Big Meadow
SNOTEL 340 |
22" | -1" |
|
black springs
SNOTEL BLSC1 |
41.03" | 1.49" |
|
Truckee #2
SNOTEL 834 |
5" | -1" |
|
Independence Lake
SNOTEL 541 |
60" | -3" |
|
Carson Pass
SNOTEL 1067 |
33" | -4" |
|
dagget pass
SNOTEL DAGN2 |
2.6" | 1.13" |
|
Rubicon #2
SNOTEL 724 |
25" | -1" |
|
Hagan'S Meadow
SNOTEL 508 |
5" | -2" |
|
Independence Camp
SNOTEL 539 |
5" | -2" |
|
Ward Creek #3
SNOTEL 848 |
37" | -1" |
|
Marlette Lake
SNOTEL 615 |
31" | -1" |
|
Blue Lakes
SNOTEL 356 |
35" | -1" |
|
blue canyon alert
SNOTEL BLUC1 |
0.28" | 0" |
|
Squaw Valley G.C.
SNOTEL 784 |
38" | 0" |
|
Ebbetts Pass
SNOTEL 462 |
41" | -1" |
|
Css Lab
SNOTEL 428 |
27" | -1" |
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northshore | 15 | 6,411 ft | |||
| French Meadows | 75 | 5,330 ft | |||
| Pleasant Dispersed | 10 | 6,413 ft | |||
| Donner Memorial State Park | 54 | 5,951 ft | |||
| Lower Little Truckee | 15 | 6,141 ft | |||
| Ahart | 12 | 5,341 ft | |||
| Independence Lake | 20 | 6,957 ft | |||
| Sterling Lake | 8 | 7,023 ft | |||
| Goose Meadow | 24 | 5,970 ft | |||
| Airport Flat | 16 | 5,383 ft | |||
| Gerle Creek | 50 | 5,272 ft | |||
| Wentworth Springs | 8 | 6,153 ft | |||
| Sterling lake- dispersed | None | 7,036 ft | |||
| Hampshire Rocks | 30 | 5,921 ft | |||
| Hell Hole | 10 | 5,167 ft | |||
| Upper Little Truckee | 26 | 6,187 ft | |||
| Lewis | 40 | 5,280 ft |
| Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra at Tahoe | 35" | 44° | 0" |
| Northstar | 5" | 55° | 0" |
| Squaw Valley | 38" | 50° | 0" |
| Granlibakken Ski Resort | 37" | 49° | 0" |
| Tahoe Donner | 27" | 55° | 0" |
| Alpine Meadows Ski Area | 37" | 49° | 0" |
| Boreal Mountain Resort | 27" | 55° | 0" |
| Donner Ski Ranch | 27" | 55° | 0" |
| Sugar Bowl Resort | 5" | 55° | 0" |
| Kirkwood | 33" | 50° | 0.06" |
| Homewood Mountain Resort | 37" | 49° | 0" |
| Soda Springs | 27" | 55° | 0" |
| River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tahoe City to River Ranch | 534.0cfs | None Mi | I |
| Royal Gorge (Soda Springs to Tadpole Creek) | 654.0cfs | 25.0 Mi | V to V+ |
| Generation and Giant Gaps (Tadpole to Colfax-Iowa Hill Road) | 560.0cfs | 26.8 Mi | IV to IV+ |