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).

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Whitewater Rapids

Obstacles on the river run
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+

Area Hydrology

Gauge Streamflow Stage
Prosser C Bl Prosser C Dam Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10340500 		18 cfs 1.3 ft
Unnamed Trib Ab Gavin Mandry Dr Nr Marysville Ca
USGS 11424548 		0 cfs 0.7 ft
Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca
USGS 11427000 		26 cfs 0.3 ft
General C Nr Meeks Bay Ca
USGS 10336645 		1 cfs 0.7 ft
American R A Fair Oaks Ca
USGS 11446500 		624 cfs 6.5 ft
Donner C A Donner Lk Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10338500 		55 cfs 3.5 ft
Truckee R Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10338000 		24 cfs 1.2 ft
Laguna C Nr Elk Grove Ca
USGS 11336585 		1 cfs 2.8 ft
Unnamed Trib Bl Gavin Mandry Dr Nr Marysville Ca
USGS 11424546 		8 cfs 0.0 ft
Independence C Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10343000 		4 cfs 2.3 ft
Snotel Site Snowpack 24hr Change
Tahoe City Cross
SNOTEL 809 		1" 0"
Squaw Valley G.C.
SNOTEL 784 		1" 1"

Outdoor Recreation

Campground Campsites Reservations Toilets Showers Elevation
Giant Gap 35 3,686 ft
Dru Barner 47 3,237 ft
Ponderosa Cove 18 4,293 ft
Shirttail 30 3,943 ft
Finnon Lake 14 2,427 ft
Big Reservoir 19 4,161 ft
Ski Area Snowpack Air Temperature 5 Day Forecast
River Run Streamflow Length Class
Generation and Giant Gaps (Tadpole to Colfax-Iowa Hill Road) 26.0cfs 26.8 Mi IV to IV+
Coloma to Greenwood - (C to G) 26.0cfs 5.0 Mi II to III-
Tunnel Run (Ralston Powerhouse to Greenwood) 26.0cfs 16.5 Mi IV- to IV
Greenwood to Mammoth Bar 26.0cfs 7.0 Mi II to II+
Chili Bar 26.0cfs 8.0 Mi III to IV
Yankee Jim Road to Ponderosa Way (Shirttail) 26.0cfs 5.0 Mi II to III