Tunnel Run (Ralston Powerhouse To Greenwood)
For those without the skill or equipment to run this on their own, this could be one of the best commercial trips in CA. This area is not nearly as crowded as the South Fork but still offers year round boating due to dam controlled flows coming out of the Oxbow reservoir.
Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the American River, Middle Fork are between a bare minimum of 700cfs and a high of 3,000cfs.
River conditions sourced from USGS 11427000, the Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca
Remember only watercraft are permitted
at Tunnel Run (Ralston Powerhouse to Greenwood).
Run Stats
| Status | Too Low |
| Class Level | IV- to IV |
| Elevation | 717 ft |
| Run Length | 16.5 Mi |
| Gradient | 23 FPM |
| Streamflow Discharge | 560 cfs |
| Gage Height | 1.1 ft |
| Air Temperature | 76° |
| River | American River, Middle Fork |
| Reporting Streamgage |
Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca
USGS 11427000 |
|
Panic Alley Rapid
Class III |
|
Last Chance Rapid
Class III |
|
Tunnel Chute
Class IV+ |
|
Kanaka Falls (Cartwheel Rapid)
Class IV |
|
Upper Ruck-A-Chucky (Chunder) Rapid
Class IV- to IV |
|
Ruck-A-Chucky
Class V+ to VI |
|
Lower Ruck-A-Chucky
Class III+ to IV |
|
Driver's Ed Rapid
Class III to IV |
|
Catapult Rapid
Class III to IV- |
|
Shareen's Dream Rapid
Class III+ |
| Gauge | Streamflow | Stage |
|---|---|---|
|
Donner C At Hwy 89 Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10338700 |
34 cfs | 3.0 ft |
|
Deer C Nr Smartville Ca
USGS 11418500 |
7 cfs | 1.4 ft |
|
Truckee R Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10338000 |
564 cfs | 2.7 ft |
|
Sagehen C Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10343500 |
7 cfs | 1.8 ft |
|
Unnamed Trib Bl Gavin Mandry Dr Nr Marysville Ca
USGS 11424546 |
8 cfs | 0.0 ft |
|
Cosumnes R A Michigan Bar Ca
USGS 11335000 |
199 cfs | 3.4 ft |
|
Pilot C Ab Stumpy Meadows Res Ca
USGS 11431800 |
3 cfs | 4.1 ft |
|
Pilot C Bl Mutton Canyon Nr Georgetown Ca
USGS 11433040 |
2 cfs | 3.0 ft |
|
Unnamed Trib Ab Gavin Mandry Dr Nr Marysville Ca
USGS 11424548 |
0 cfs | 0.7 ft |
|
Laguna C Nr Elk Grove Ca
USGS 11336585 |
1 cfs | 2.8 ft |
| Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
|---|---|---|
|
alpha
SNOTEL ALPHA_MADIS |
162.28" | 0.19" |
|
Independence Creek
SNOTEL 540 |
1" | 0" |
|
Rubicon #2
SNOTEL 724 |
25" | -1" |
|
Css Lab
SNOTEL 428 |
27" | -1" |
|
black springs
SNOTEL BLSC1 |
41.03" | 1.49" |
|
Truckee #2
SNOTEL 834 |
5" | -1" |
|
Independence Camp
SNOTEL 539 |
5" | -2" |
|
blue canyon alert
SNOTEL BLUC1 |
0.28" | 0" |
|
Independence Lake
SNOTEL 541 |
60" | -3" |
|
Squaw Valley G.C.
SNOTEL 784 |
38" | 0" |
|
soda springs 1.5 ssw, ca
SNOTEL CA-PC-1 |
23.72" | -2.83" |
|
Ward Creek #3
SNOTEL 848 |
37" | -1" |
|
alpine meadows-base
SNOTEL AMBC1 |
47.65" | 0.47" |
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giant Gap | 35 | 3,686 ft | |||
| Ponderosa Cove | 18 | 4,293 ft | |||
| Finnon Lake | 14 | 2,427 ft | |||
| Shirttail | 30 | 3,943 ft | |||
| Dru Barner | 47 | 3,237 ft | |||
| Big Reservoir | 19 | 4,161 ft |
| Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
|---|
| River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tunnel Run (Ralston Powerhouse to Greenwood) | 642.0cfs | 16.5 Mi | IV- to IV |
| Yankee Jim Road to Ponderosa Way (Shirttail) | 642.0cfs | 5.0 Mi | II to III |
| Coloma to Greenwood - (C to G) | 560.0cfs | 5.0 Mi | II to III- |
| Chili Bar | 560.0cfs | 8.0 Mi | III to IV |
| Generation and Giant Gaps (Tadpole to Colfax-Iowa Hill Road) | 560.0cfs | 26.8 Mi | IV to IV+ |
| Greenwood to Mammoth Bar | 560.0cfs | 7.0 Mi | II to II+ |