San Lorenzo,
|
|
Boulder Creek to Felton
| Usual Difficulty |
II (may vary with level) |
| Length |
9.1 Miles |
River Description
From Boulder Creek to Ben Lomond, the run has several low-water dams. Richard Montgomery and I ran
this at 6000 cfs and had to make quick exits for several bad hydraulics. This section isn't
recommended.
Ben Lomond to Felton, however, is a much better run with no major hazards (as of last check). This
stretch is described in the Schwind Guidebook. The best place to put in is at the park just before
(south) Ben Lomond. To reach it from Santa Cruz, head up Highway 9, six miles to Felton and another
2 miles to the Ben Lomond Park.
Park a car outside of the Henry Cowell State Park entrance bridge just south of downtown Felton. Go
out on the bridge and look upstream to see if the inflatable dam is up, the only major hazard on
this stretch.
This stretch has moving water with small rapids, passing through the woods but close to houses.
It's a good place to teach someone how to kayak, with minimal woody debris.
The only hazard is the inflatable dam, but watch for strainers. The water quality for this run
improves through the season.
At high flows, watch for wood and wait until after the flows have crested if possible. At the putin
park there's a small ledge that forms an excellent wave-hole above 1000 cfs (6000 cfs was
phenomenal).
SCHWIND GUIDEBOOK
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2003-02-02 18:55:43
Editors
No guide books for this stream. If you know of a book that describes this stream please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
River Alert
User Comments
gauge would be a bare minimum and over 1200 a few of the dams get big drops with nasty
consequences. I just did the run today, 2-18-09 at 350 cfs (read at Felton gauge and the run is a
fun class II+ with no portages until just above my house near Highlands Park due to a few trees
across a flat stretch of the river. I cant imagine the run at 6000cfs though, thats nuts. I did the
Ben Lomond to Felton run the other day at close to 2000 and everything was washed out including the
ledge drop below Highlands Park and the run was boring at that flow because there were no rapids. I
prefer the Boulder Creek run and would recommend it to a class III boater.Carl
solarcruzer@yahoo.com Edit
head dams, or remains of dams. I would not recommend this run. The rapids themselves are probably
class II but because of the hazards only experts should attempt this run.It is very very brushy
there was one rapid that could have been a disaster a big bend hidden by brush all the water was
pouring right into an old concrete bridge support very ugly. I had to abort my run of that rapid
half-way down.
Stick to the Felton to Santa Cruz strech much more fun!!!!!!! zak95006@yahoo.com