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 | Runnable |
| Class Level | V to V+ |
| Elevation | 5,493 ft |
| Run Length | 25.0 Mi |
| Streamflow Discharge | 432 cfs |
| Gage Height | 6.4 ft |
| Air Temperature | 79° |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Truckee R At Reno
USGS 10348000 |
317 cfs | 4.2 ft |
|
Galena C At Galena C State Park
USGS 10348850 |
8 cfs | 11.0 ft |
|
Trout C Nr Tahoe Valley Ca
USGS 10336780 |
26 cfs | 5.5 ft |
|
Logan House Ck Nr Glenbrook
USGS 10336740 |
0 cfs | 4.1 ft |
|
Upper Truckee R At Hwy 50 Above Meyers Ca
USGS 103366092 |
46 cfs | 5.1 ft |
|
Clear Creek Near Carson City
USGS 10310500 |
2 cfs | 1.1 ft |
|
Franktown C Nr Carson City
USGS 10348460 |
2 cfs | 3.9 ft |
|
Spanish C Ab Blackhawk C At Keddie Ca
USGS 11402000 |
29 cfs | 1.1 ft |
|
E F Carson R Bl Markleeville C Nr Markleevilleca
USGS 10308200 |
146 cfs | 3.1 ft |
|
Upper Truckee R At S Upper Truckee Rd Nr Meyers Ca
USGS 10336580 |
4 cfs | 5.1 ft |
| Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
|---|---|---|
|
black springs
SNOTEL BLSC1 |
0.19" | 0.04" |
|
bloods creek
SNOTEL BLCC1 |
0.8" | -0.37" |
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence Lake | 20 | 6,957 ft | |||
| Wentworth Springs | 8 | 6,153 ft | |||
| French Meadows | 75 | 5,330 ft | |||
| Northshore | 15 | 6,411 ft | |||
| Goose Meadow | 24 | 5,970 ft | |||
| Ahart | 12 | 5,341 ft | |||
| Upper Little Truckee | 26 | 6,187 ft | |||
| Airport Flat | 16 | 5,383 ft | |||
| Sterling Lake | 8 | 7,023 ft | |||
| Pleasant Dispersed | 10 | 6,413 ft | |||
| Donner Memorial State Park | 54 | 5,951 ft | |||
| Lewis | 40 | 5,280 ft | |||
| Lower Little Truckee | 15 | 6,141 ft | |||
| Gerle Creek | 50 | 5,272 ft | |||
| Hell Hole | 10 | 5,167 ft | |||
| Sterling lake- dispersed | None | 7,036 ft | |||
| Hampshire Rocks | 30 | 5,921 ft |
| Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Granlibakken Ski Resort | 27" | 67° | 0" |
| Kirkwood | 15" | 66° | 0" |
| Sugar Bowl Resort | 4" | 75° | 0" |
| Alpine Meadows Ski Area | 27" | 67° | 0" |
| Sierra at Tahoe | 30" | 66° | 0" |
| Tahoe Donner | 24" | 70° | 0" |
| Boreal Mountain Resort | 24" | 70° | 0" |
| Squaw Valley | 33" | 67° | 0" |
| Northstar | 4" | 75° | 0" |
| Donner Ski Ranch | 24" | 70° | 0" |
| Homewood Mountain Resort | 27" | 67° | 0" |
| Soda Springs | 24" | 70° | 0" |
| River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tahoe City to River Ranch | 323.0cfs | None Mi | I |
| Generation and Giant Gaps (Tadpole to Colfax-Iowa Hill Road) | 1390.0cfs | 26.8 Mi | IV to IV+ |
| Royal Gorge (Soda Springs to Tadpole Creek) | 817.0cfs | 25.0 Mi | V to V+ |