Pit, CA

Padders at Pit Falls

Padders at Pit Falls
Photo by Dave Steindorf @ 10

Gauge Information

River Description

This river section is unique to California in that the terrain is more like eastern Oregon desert with a basalt riverbed.

Above the Powerhouse
The Pit 1 reach is a great class IV- run that thanks to American Whitewater has summer releases. Flows are normally diverted around this section for hydropower but during scheduled weekends through the summer flows are restored to the river providing a great recreational resource for the community (check the weekend forecast at the link above for projected flows).

If you put in at Fall River Mills you will have about 3 miles of flatwater down to where the whitewater begins. This section provides a very nice flatwater paddling opportunity full of wildlife and great scenery. If you wish to avoid the flatwater you can put-in at Big Eddy Estates. The road to this put-in crosses a private easement, if you choose to put-in at this location please tell your friends to be on their best behavior.

Just below Big Eddy are a series of ledges that merge into more normal pool & drop rapids for a few miles. When the river begins to widen and approach a large right hand bend, exit the river on the right, climbing a short steep bank to an old roadbed. You'll have a great view of the falls for scouting or you can portage along the roadbed to the old steel bridge. Here, you can re-enter the river and enjoy a series of drops called "the lefts" all on left hand bends with the normal routes to the left as well.

Below Powerhouse
Because flows are returned to the river at the powerhouse you can boat this lower section at times other than a release weekend. If you are continuing down on a trip that started up above the powerhouse you will find that the gradient eases but in the final few miles to the take-out, the observant paddler can find several nice surfing waves. You can choose to take out at the campground or continue downstream to the 299 bridge. You can also put-in at the campground if you are looking for a nice class II run. Both of these runs offer whitewater boating fun for the whole family and a wide range of skill levels waves and play holes.

Logistics: Shortly after crossing the bridge, there is a access road on the left (downstream on river right of the bridge). Continue east on 299E past the turn off for the Pit #1 powerhouse, or you can turn right here if you with to take out at the campground and not paddle the class II section or put-in here if you only wish to paddle the class II section. Climb the grade toward Fall River Mills, being sure to stop at the scenic overlook to eyeball the falls, and hang a right in the middle of Fall River Mills (This is a small community and finding the river isn't rocket science). Follow the road across the bridge and you've found the put-in. There is an alternate put-in at "Big Eddy Estates". PG&E and American Whitewater will be constructing a new river access as a condition of the new hydropower license.

Other Information Sources: 

Jefferson State Creeking

CaCreeks.com

Pit River Alliance

BLM Pit River Recreation Area