Big Creek (Kings River Trib), CA

River Description

Big Creek is a small tributary of the Kings River. As one travels around Pine Flat Reservoir on the way to the Kings River, the road crosses bridges over two major inlets after passing Trimmer Springs. The first inlet and bridge is Sycamore Creek. The second bridge and inlet is Big Creek. Topozone map

Big Creek is small and brushy, runnable during and after decent winter rain storms. It is fairly technical but not super steep. The streambed alternates between nice bedrock drops and rocky rapids. At low and moderate flows this creek is suitable for kayakers learning technical paddling and how to boat through bushes. At high flows this creek is dangerous because of the many bushes and trees in the streambed, acting as strainers. (When this creek is too high, nearby Sycamore Creek will often be at a good level.)

A dirt road parrallels the creek, so paddlers can put in or take out at almost any point. The most common put-in is at the remains of an old gauge and dam. But sometimes people drive all the way to where a bridge crosses the creek (elevation 1480 feet) and the road leaves the creek. The common take-out is either at the Trimmer Springs Rd. bridge, or just a short ways below the bridge after a big rapid (elevation 930 feet). You can also continue boating down into the lake bottom, with the penalty of hiking farther uphill to the road afterwards.

In the summer time, Big Creek has a variety of nice swimming holes suitable for kids and families.

While at Big Creek, there are some strange old structures to explore. Just before you get to the Big Creek bridge (approaching from Trimmer) look to your left into the last two ravines before the bridge. Continue onto Big Creek road and look at the next 3 or 4 ravines as well. In each of these small gulleys, stairs lead up to large concrete basins with odd flumes and gates. They are fascinating to climb around on, but I have no definite idea what they were constructed for or when. One suggestion is that they were contstructed to collect water for use in a mining operation, or perhaps they were used in the mineral seperation process.