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TUNNEL RUN (RALSTON POWERHOUSE TO GREENWOOD)

Whitewater River Run





California American River, Middle Fork

Tunnel Run (Ralston Powerhouse To Greenwood)

Class IV- TO IV

STREAMFLOW: 2,570 CFS

Runnable
88°, Slight Chance Showers Then Slight Chance T-Storms

The Tunnel Run section of the American River in California is a Class III-IV river run, with a total distance of 7.5 miles from Ralston Powerhouse to Greenwood. This section features a number of challenging rapids, including the infamous "Tunnel Chute" and "Chamberlin Falls." It is best to float this section in the spring months, when the snowmelt provides enough water flow to make the rapids more manageable. The recommended flow for this section is between 1,000 and 2,000 cfs. It is important for rafters and kayakers to be experienced and skilled in navigating Class III-IV rapids, as the Tunnel Run section can be dangerous for beginners.

Weather today, A slight chance of showers between 11am and 2pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Status Runnable
Class Level IV- to IV
Elevation 717 ft
Run Length 16.5 Mi
Gradient 23 FPM
Streamflow Discharge 2570 cfs
Gauge Height 2.8 ft
Reporting Streamgage Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca
USGS 11427000

Nearby Snowpack and Streamflow Levels

Gauge Streamflow Stage
Donner C At Hwy 89 Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10338700
497 cfs 5.1 ft
Laguna C Nr Elk Grove Ca
USGS 11336585
1 cfs 3.0 ft
Prosser C Bl Prosser C Dam Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10340500
219 cfs 2.4 ft
Pilot C Ab Stumpy Meadows Res Ca
USGS 11431800
3 cfs 4.1 ft
Cosumnes R A Michigan Bar Ca
USGS 11335000
646 cfs 4.6 ft
Truckee R Bl Martis C Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10339410
1,390 cfs 5.5 ft
Morrison C Nr Sacramento Ca
USGS 11336580
11 cfs 2.3 ft
Dry C A Vernon St Bridge A Roseville Ca
USGS 11447293
159 cfs 10.3 ft
Truckee R Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10338000
783 cfs 3.0 ft
Donner C A Donner Lk Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10338500
165 cfs 4.0 ft
Snotel Site Snowpack 24hr Change
Independence Lake
SNOTEL 541
103" -3"
Ward Creek #3
SNOTEL 848
17" -5"
Rubicon #2
SNOTEL 724
38" -3"
Squaw Valley G.C.
SNOTEL 784
36" -2"
Css Lab
SNOTEL 428
30" -4"
black springs
SNOTEL BLSC1
155.75" 35.9"

Popular Destinations

Campground Campsites Reservations Toilets Showers Elevation
Skillman Horse Camp None 4,638 ft
Shirttail 30 3,943 ft
Mineral Bar - Auburn State Rec Area 18 1,167 ft
Stumpy Meadows 40 4,465 ft
Pine Cone - Sly Park Recreation Area None 3,488 ft
Lindsey Lake 10 6,271 ft
Malakoff Diggins State Park None 3,461 ft
Grouse Ridge 9 7,410 ft
Hazel Creek - Sly Park Recreation Area None 3,548 ft
Sly Park 191 3,596 ft
Giant Gap 35 3,686 ft
Dru Barner 47 3,237 ft
Carr Lake 12 6,668 ft
Finnon Lake 14 2,427 ft
Big Reservoir 19 4,161 ft
Rucky A Chucky - Auburn State Rec Area 5 723 ft
Lake Spaulding 25 5,048 ft
Donner Summit Area - Lake Spaulding 25 5,045 ft
Ponderosa Cove 18 4,293 ft
Fuller Lake None 5,380 ft
White Cloud 46 4,377 ft
Ski Area Snowpack Air Temperature 5 Day Forecast
Boreal Mountain Resort 30" 69° 0"
Soda Springs 30" 69° 0"
Donner Ski Ranch 30" 69° 0"
Tahoe Donner 30" 69° 0"
Sugar Bowl Resort 0" 74° 0"
River Run Streamflow Length Class
Royal Gorge (Soda Springs to Tadpole Creek) 2390.0cfs 25.0 Mi V to V+
Yankee Jim Road to Ponderosa Way (Shirttail) 2570.0cfs 5.0 Mi II to III
Tunnel Run (Ralston Powerhouse to Greenwood) 2570.0cfs 16.5 Mi IV- to IV
Generation and Giant Gaps (Tadpole to Colfax-Iowa Hill Road) 2570.0cfs 26.8 Mi IV to IV+
Coloma to Greenwood - (C to G) 2570.0cfs 5.0 Mi II to III-
Chili Bar 2570.0cfs 8.0 Mi III to IV
Greenwood to Mammoth Bar 2570.0cfs 7.0 Mi II to II+

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