Chili Bar (Class II)

The Chili Bar put-in is on the northwest side of the bridge. This area has restrooms, picnic areas, phones, and disabled access. Also located here is Chili Bar Hole, a playspot. This is a fee area.  

Meatgrinder (Class III+, Mile 0.6)

A long and sometimes dangerous rapid with large boulders and hidden holes.

There is an excellent trail for scouting and portaging on river right.   It is an old railroad grade.

Hazard:  There have been two fatal foot entrapments in this rapid at summer flows.   It is unknown to this author, exactly which parts of the rapid are most hazardous for foot entrapments.  There has been at least one flush drowning at high spring flows. 

Racehorse Bend (Class III, Mile 1.3)

The river aims towards a rock wall which then turns the current sharply to the left.  (I was mostly upside down the first time I ran this rapid so in my mind it is still dark and gurgly. PM)

Maya (Class II+, Mile 1.5)
This is a small, wide rapid that has a wonderful surfing wave at many flows.   There are large eddies on both sides.  The river left eddy is particularly huge. 

First Threat (Class III, Mile 3.0)
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Most of the current flows to the right of a rocky and bushy island.  The drop is steep, culminating in a large wave hole that buries kayaks and gives raft riders a thrill. 

The wave/hole is a popular kayak playspot, so there will usually be a line of kayakers waiting in the river right eddy. 

BLM toilets (Class N/A, Mile 3.4)

Boaters can land on river right, just before a sharp left turn.   Two composting toilet are up a short trail.   Some groups will stop for snacks or lunch here, but there is not a lot of room to land many boats.  Rafters need to leave enough room for other groups to land and use the toilets. 

The Narrows (Class II+, Mile 3.7)

The river enters a very pretty section with rock walls.   There is mild maneuvering around rock outcroppings or boulders in the channel, but nothing too difficult.    Near the end, a large rocky island is a popular rest stop. 

Double Trouble (Class III+, Mile 5.1)

This is an alternate right side chute at Troublemaker rapid.   The chute is steep and tubulent with a high likelyhood of hitting the right wall.  This route is taken much less frequently than the normal curving left side route.  

Troublemaker (Class III+, Mile 5.1)
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This short but steep and tricky drop is at the end of the run and thus convenient for spectators, photographers and other lovers of entertaining carnage. 

The current splits around a rocky island.  The standard route is to the left side.  Several ledges and turbulent waves persuade boaters to paddle on the outside left as the channel curves sharply right.   Kayakers often tip over here.  Those still upright must paddle hard to get to either side of Gunsight rock which forms the final steep drop.  Paddle past or through some smaller ledge holes then eddy out and see what happens to the next boaters through.

The right side of the island leads to a steep, narrow and turbulent chute called, Double Trouble.   This is not real frequently run as it can easily flip rafts.   Some boaters do enjoy it.

Hazard: About 50 to 70 yards downstream of the main rapid, just right of center of the channel, is a group of boulders.  A small hump and pourover just upstream of these boulders is formed by a large underwater boulder with a crack through it.  In 2009 there was a fatal foot entrapment here when flows were 2200 cfs.   In 2008 there was a nonfatal foot entrapment with flows of 1500 cfs.  At the lower flows, rescuers were able to get onto the boulder and support the victim to keep the victim's head out of the water.   At the higher flows, rescuers were unable to reach the victim until the flows dropped.

 

If you swim in Trouble Maker, swim aggressively to stay away from this dangerous boulder. 

Hazard Rock below Troublemaker (Class III, Mile 5.1)

Hazard: About 50 to 70 yards downstream of the main rapid, just right of center of the channel, is a group of boulders.  A small hump and pourover just upstream of these boulders is formed by a large underwater boulder with a crack through it.  In 2009 there was a fatal foot entrapment here when flows were 2200 cfs.   In 2008 there was a nonfatal foot entrapment with flows of 1500 cfs.  At the lower flows, rescuers were able to get onto the boulder and support the victim to keep the victim's head out of the water.   At the higher flows, rescuers were unable to reach the victim until the flows dropped.

If you swim in Trouble Maker, swim aggressively left into the main channel to stay away from this dangerous area.  If you get swept into this area or similar areas, keep your feet up.  

Old Scary (Class II, Mile 7.2)

The river bends to the left and affords a view of motor homes and travel trailers lined up above the river on the right bank.   The river continues curving to the left as it drops downa a wide rapid.   Several large boulders at the bottom right offer targets for those without boat control or for those looking for extra fun maneuvering. 

Hwy 49 Bridge (Class I, Mile 7.4)

The bridge at State Hwy 49/Coloma Street is a potential access point but there is limited parking along the road.

Henningsen-Lotus County Park (Class N/A, Mile 8.0)

This is an easy and very popular access point.  There is a wide beach and a big area for beginners to practice in the slow current.  The boat launching area is at the furthest downstream end of this large park.   There are large playing fields, restrooms and picnic areas. Hiking trails lead upstream along the river.  There is a fee to park a car.