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
Little Truckee R Bl Div Dam Nr Sierraville Ca
USGS 10341950 		3 cfs 1.0 ft
Cosumnes R A Michigan Bar Ca
USGS 11335000 		44 cfs 2.7 ft
Truckee R Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10338000 		338 cfs 2.4 ft
General C Nr Meeks Bay Ca
USGS 10336645 		4 cfs 1.0 ft
Donner C A Donner Lk Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10338500 		5 cfs 3.0 ft
Donner C At Hwy 89 Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10338700 		20 cfs 2.7 ft
N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca
USGS 11413000 		227 cfs 2.3 ft
Dry C A Vernon St Bridge A Roseville Ca
USGS 11447293 		159 cfs 10.3 ft
Pilot C Ab Stumpy Meadows Res Ca
USGS 11431800 		3 cfs 4.1 ft
Truckee R Bl Martis C Nr Truckee Ca
USGS 10339410 		368 cfs 4.4 ft
Snotel Site Snowpack 24hr Change
black springs
SNOTEL BLSC1 		0.47" 0.46"

Outdoor Recreation

Campground Campsites Reservations Toilets Showers Elevation
Big Reservoir 19 4,161 ft
Ponderosa Cove 18 4,293 ft
Dru Barner 47 3,237 ft
Finnon Lake 14 2,427 ft
Giant Gap 35 3,686 ft
Shirttail 30 3,943 ft
Ski Area Snowpack Air Temperature 5 Day Forecast
River Run Streamflow Length Class
Tunnel Run (Ralston Powerhouse to Greenwood) 1390.0cfs 16.5 Mi IV- to IV
Yankee Jim Road to Ponderosa Way (Shirttail) 1390.0cfs 5.0 Mi II to III
Generation and Giant Gaps (Tadpole to Colfax-Iowa Hill Road) 1390.0cfs 26.8 Mi IV to IV+
Greenwood to Mammoth Bar 1390.0cfs 7.0 Mi II to II+
Chili Bar 1390.0cfs 8.0 Mi III to IV
Coloma to Greenwood - (C to G) 1390.0cfs 5.0 Mi II to III-