American, Middle Fork

Summary: This is great wilderness run with a good mix of boulder gardens and bedrock rapids. Class IV+ to V- in difficulty. The first three miles of run are mostly high quality IV+ / V-. Then gradient mellows and the next 4 to 5 miles slide away quickly with some occasional class IV to keep you on your toes. Next, you cash out on the gradient bank with the last ½ mile being the steepest of the run. The inconsistent gradient/difficulty keeps this run from being a classic. Most similar comparisons would be to Canyon creek (SF Yuba trib), SF Tuolumne, and Lavezzola Creek. Predictable ideal flows (even simple gauge readings) would yield paddlers here on a regular basis.

Flow:  Currently the crux of End of the World Run is finding the right flow. American Whitewater hosted a whitewater boating flow study in 2010 and secured access to Placer County Water Agency gages which are now provided on its website. February 2023 update: American Whitewater is working add this gage to this river page.

Note: Based on the algae growth in the riverbed, it appears this run has boatable flows much more often than common wisdom in paddling circles would suggest.

• Minimum = ~300 cfs at put-in, ~400 cfs by takeout
• Medium = 500-600 cfs at take-out
• High = ???

One tributary (Mosquito Creek) joins the run approximately 2.5 to 3 miles in. In May of a big water year, this added about 30 cfs.

Put-in:  Interbay Dam (sometimes referred to as End of the World Powerhouse)  at about 2440’ elevation. Paved roads all the way. From the take-out drive up Mosquito Ridge Road, then turn right on the road leading to Interbay Dam and Middle Fork Powerplant. Access the river a short ways below the dam.

Take-out: Picnic area just above Oxbow Reservoir at about 1160’ elevation on river right just above brigde. Paved roads all the way.

Portages: Two or three recommended but not mand

...