The class 5 Squaw Leap section of the San Joaquin River will have boatableflows for six weeks starting Monday Nov. 6, when PG&E begins maintanenceoperations on their Kerchoff #2 powerhouse. During these six weeks andpossibly starting on Saturday Nov 4, PG&E will run water through their oldKerchoff #1 powerhouse. This powerhouse releases water into the 1.5 mileSquaw Leap Gorge. Releases tend to be in the 1,800 cfs range and tend tooccurr in the afternoon and evening.
The beautiful Squaw Leap Gorge drops 90 feet in its 1.5 mile distance.There are two class 5 rapids, five class 4 to 4+ rapids and a few easierrapids. The rapids are formed by boulders seperated by long deep pools.In spots the granite walls rise 50 to 100 feet, directly out of the water.It is a spectacular but potentially fordiding location. One of the class 5rapids, upper Squaw Leap, is commonly portaged on river left. The otherclass 5 rapid, Lower Squaw Leap, is quite difficult to portage, though it isoccasionally done on river right.
The shuttle road parrallels the river though high on a bluff, so boatersmust walk down a gated road to the put-in and back up a road or trail at thetake-out. Squaw Leap is a Bureau of Land Managment recreation area and haspit toilets and primitive camping. There are hiking and equestrian trailsat Squaw Leap and it is popular for mountain biking. Restaraunts andstores are available in the nearby towns of Auberry and Prather.
Squaw Leap lies at the end of Smalley Road just north of the town ofAuberry, which in turn is just off of highway 168.
For further information contact Paul Martzen: pmartzen@lightspeed.net.