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 | 105 cfs |
| Gage Height | 5.5 ft |
| Air Temperature | 80° |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
General C Nr Meeks Bay Ca
USGS 10336645 |
1 cfs | 0.7 ft |
|
Truckee River Nr Mogul
USGS 10347460 |
35 cfs | 4.5 ft |
|
Ash Canyon Ck Nr Carson City
USGS 10311200 |
1 cfs | 4.0 ft |
|
Little Truckee R Ab Boca Res Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10344400 |
28 cfs | 0.6 ft |
|
Little Truckee R Bl Boca Dam Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10344500 |
8 cfs | 0.6 ft |
|
Spanish C Ab Blackhawk C At Keddie Ca
USGS 11402000 |
12 cfs | 0.6 ft |
|
Truckee R At Reno
USGS 10348000 |
55 cfs | 2.9 ft |
|
Logan House Ck Nr Glenbrook
USGS 10336740 |
0 cfs | 4.1 ft |
|
Steamboat Ck At Short Ln At Reno
USGS 10349849 |
5 cfs | 0.1 ft |
|
Little Truckee R Bl Div Dam Nr Sierraville Ca
USGS 10341950 |
3 cfs | 1.0 ft |
| Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
|---|---|---|
|
Tahoe City Cross
SNOTEL 809 |
1" | 0" |
|
Squaw Valley G.C.
SNOTEL 784 |
1" | 1" |
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donner Memorial State Park | 54 | 5,951 ft | |||
| Hampshire Rocks | 30 | 5,921 ft | |||
| Airport Flat | 16 | 5,383 ft | |||
| Hell Hole | 10 | 5,167 ft | |||
| Sterling Lake | 8 | 7,023 ft | |||
| Gerle Creek | 50 | 5,272 ft | |||
| Wentworth Springs | 8 | 6,153 ft | |||
| Lewis | 40 | 5,280 ft | |||
| Ahart | 12 | 5,341 ft | |||
| Lower Little Truckee | 15 | 6,141 ft | |||
| Northshore | 15 | 6,411 ft | |||
| Pleasant Dispersed | 10 | 6,413 ft | |||
| Upper Little Truckee | 26 | 6,187 ft | |||
| Goose Meadow | 24 | 5,970 ft | |||
| Sterling lake- dispersed | None | 7,036 ft | |||
| Independence Lake | 20 | 6,957 ft | |||
| French Meadows | 75 | 5,330 ft |
| Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soda Springs | 0" | 70° | 0" |
| Kirkwood | 0" | 65° | 0" |
| Tahoe Donner | 0" | 70° | 0" |
| Sugar Bowl Resort | -1" | 76° | 0" |
| Northstar | -1" | 76° | 0" |
| Granlibakken Ski Resort | -4" | 69° | 0" |
| Homewood Mountain Resort | -4" | 69° | 0" |
| Sierra at Tahoe | 0" | 67° | 0" |
| Boreal Mountain Resort | 0" | 70° | 0" |
| Squaw Valley | 1" | 69° | 0" |
| Donner Ski Ranch | 0" | 70° | 0" |
| Alpine Meadows Ski Area | -4" | 69° | 0" |
| River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation and Giant Gaps (Tadpole to Colfax-Iowa Hill Road) | 26.0cfs | 26.8 Mi | IV to IV+ |
| Royal Gorge (Soda Springs to Tadpole Creek) | 105.0cfs | 25.0 Mi | V to V+ |
| Tahoe City to River Ranch | 24.1cfs | None Mi | I |