Dinkey Creek,

3. Ross Creek Trail to confluence of NF Kings (Waterfalls)

Photo#15339

Photo by Taylor Robertson taken July 11, 2005

River Description

This section is now boated each year by expert boaters and is considered to be an outstanding run. "The Dinkey Creek waterfalls run is, without a doubt, the finest run in the Sierras under 3000 feet." Tdub. That is a single point of view, but Dinkey has become a favorite for some boaters. Canyoneers will find this section fun and plenty challenging at low flows in the late summer.

The defining character is big pools seperated by large waterfalls and slides.

Two rapids are still considered mandatory portages while all other drops are regularly run. When you do portage and if you portage more drops, you must be creative. You may need to lower boats and rappel, provide pendulum belays or just toss the boats and jump after.



The main difficulties are early in the run, dealing with huge drops and several difficult portages. After the first 1.5 miles the walls open up and rapids ease off a bit. However, past Bear Meadow Creek but just before the creek turns south is a second serious, though smaller and shorter gorge. Big drops and difficult portages await. The last several miles are much easier, and all or most rapids have been run. Any portages are easy compared to the upstream problems.


Put-in: Tricky! And a lot of work. Find your way to Ross Crossing either from below along Big Creek Road or from above past Shaver Lake (depending on your shuttle) Drive past Ross Crossing about 1 mile on the east side of Dinkey. You will have to find a tiny overgrown trail that goes to the confluence of Dinkey and Ross Creek. It may be part of the remains of the trail shown on some older topos. The 'trail' was marginal in 1989 and has gotten worse. Prepare for major bushwacking. In 2008 the trail appeared to be in excellent condition as someone did major pruning and trail work.
Googlemap of trailhead area This trail or route follows a ridge down, then traverses south across one or two small drainages before mostly fading out. Once it reaches areas of oak trees, the underbrush is less thick. Once it reaches Ross Creek, you can walk on open granite slabs. Follow open areas down along Ross Creek to the confluence with Dinkey.

If you desire an early spring run of this section, call the Sierra Forest, Prather office at 559-855-5355 to see if roads are open to Ross Crossing from Pine Flat reservoir. In recent years this route has been closed through the winter into late spring preventing access while flows are low enough to do the run.

Take-out: Balch Camp is a small PG&E residential area at the confluence of Dinkey Creek and the NF Kings. From Fresno take Freeway 180 till it ends then jog south to Belmont. Follow Belmont east. It becomes Trimmmer Springs road and goes around Pine Flat Reservoir to the Kings River. Follow signs to Balch Camp. Figure 1.5 hours from Fresno driving time.

Other Information Sources:
Dunbar Hardy
CanoeKayak
7RiversExp.
7RiversExp
EGcreekin

Video by Taylor Cavin, June 2008

Heros on the Waterfalls of Dinkey June 14, 2008

Doubler on the Dinkler July 1, 2008 - Photos

Though few have talked to me directly, the consensus seems to be that the recommended flow range is about right, that the run is a spectacular section, and that the run will beat you up. It seems that almost all rapids are now being run, though two difficult portages are still unavoidable. Several parties have had sufficiently serious injuries that a member was helicoptered out. Be careful and conservative down there, even if it is not careful and conservative to go in there.

Escape on foot from this canyon would be miserable as the hillsides are thick with thorn bushes and poison oak. Easiest travel will be at stream level, even on foot. Soon after you exit the first gorge look on the river left for bed springs and similar trash. It marks the bottom of a road/trail that leads out to the south (river left). This road is on some maps and is clearly visible in google earth aerial photos. In 2008 I hiked up this road after a canyoneering trip from Ross Crossing. The trail was in fairly decent shape and easy to follow. There were a few trees fallen across and spots of thick overgrowth. Overall it was okay hiking. It is about 3 miles and gains maybe 2,000 feet of elevation. It took us 4 hours after a long tiring day of low water canyoneering in 2008.

If you do paddle this section, please post comments and pictures back to this river page.

Dinkey Cascades:
A short ways down from the put in trailhead, there is a wonderful view of the Dinkey cascades. The newly maintained trail (2008) veers to the left and misses this overlook. To find this spot head approximately straight down from the trailhead and try to find the older trail. The overlook is not very far from the trailhead and is worth a side hike. In these cascades Dinkey drops 1200 feet through a narrow chasm below Ross Crossing. Unboatable, I am afraid, but worth rappelling and downclimbing in the late summer. Which is, in fact, how I first explored this canyon on August 20 & 21, 1988 with Barry Chambers. I had naive high hopes that there would be huge clean slides below Ross Crossing. There weren't any viewpoints, so it was impossible to know without going in. Once committed, 150 foot rappell and numerous other features made it obvious that kayaking was not feasible. My notes state, "Very dangerous and difficult hike. Many jumps but too many were choked and unjumpable and had dangerous downclimbs. We placed 3 bolts but might place many more on a return. Many siphons, some caves, long rappels and rappels through waterfalls." We camped upstream of Ross Creek on a huge ledge that Kings River Conservation District hoped would be the site of a powerhouse. We hiked and swam from there out to Balch camp the next day.

In 1989, I got access to stereo aerial photos and saw the put in trail. My memory had faded sufficiently to make my dream of boating this section once again seem realistic. I was able to talk Phil Martin, Bill Vogler and Steve Harris into coming along. Bill and Steve wisely backed out at the last second. I was sure it would only take a day, so we went in with no bivy gear and minimal food. We spent a cold tired night while our friends worried and waited in Balch Camp. Our bivy site underneath a big boulder was, I think, only a rapid or two below the spot now commonly used as a campsite.

Paul Martzen Fresno, CA