Mokelumne
5. Electra to Middle Bar (Electra)
| Difficulty | II-III |
| Length | 4.8 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 24 fpm |
| Gauge | Mokelumne Below Electra Powerhouse |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 1863 cfsrunnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | May 30, 2024 |
River Description
The Electra Run is a wonderful class 2 section suitable for beginning white water boaters. It has dependable summer flows and nice scenery. The Electra Powerhouse usually runs for some portion of each day. Maximum flow from the powerhouse is about 800 cfs. Spring flows when upstream dams spill can be much higher. The river is fairly narrow with lots of swiftwater, riffles and eddies. There are only a few rapids harder than class 1, so it is popular with beginner boaters as well as floaters and swimmers. There are many turnouts and swimming areas along the run.
The recreational release flows on the Moke are a minimum; water year type and accretion from Cole Creek, the Bear River, and Tiger Creek proper can cause the flow observed on the North Fork Mokelumne to be greater than that number. Flows will be closer to the 700cfs or 900cfs release volume in dry years or particularly cold Springs. Please make sure you check recent flows before committing to a run!
Getting there: This section of the Mokelumne crosses Highway 49 between the towns of Jackson and Mokelume Hill. Driving time is about an hour and ten minutes to an hour and a half from Stockton, Sacramento or Modesto. There are a number of alternate routes from each direction so click on the directions tab and calculate the route from your zip code.
Put in: From Highway 49 drive 3 miles up Electra Powerhouse Rd. This road is paved, but narrow, old and heavily repaired. The put in area is well marked and there is a large beach for launching boats and swimming. The road continues anouther half mile to the powerhouse, but there is an old dam on the river in between.
Take out: There are two common options. At highway 49 there is a large parking area on river left, called Big Bar. This take out makes for a short shuttle. and still gets most of the whitewater rapids. The new option is to take out at Middle Bar which is two mil
...River Features
Put-in
This great beach is located just below the parking lot at the put in. There is a large pool for practicing and warming up. You can also paddle upstream quite a ways.
Boulder Bar
Fun bumpy water
Goal Post
A long moderate rapid bends to the right, then back to the left. This appears to be the site of the annual Moke river races, slalom course.
S-Turn
The river drops over a gravel bar, moves left, passes some large rocks (or holes at higher flows), then turns again to the right .
49 Bridge / Big Bar Parking
There is a large parking area on river left just below the Highway 49 bridge. There are two entrances, one on each side of 49, so you turn right no matter which way you are coming from.
On the water, float under the bridge and look for take out options on the left. There is a big beach just below a small rapid.
Looks like there are trails down to Devil's Toilet Bowl rapid from here. You could scout that rapid or even carry back to this parking area after running that rapid.
Devil's Toilet Bowl
This is the biggest rapid on the run. It's II+ or III- depending on the flow.
Middle Bar Take Out
Take out on river right about 100 yards before the bridge. A trail leads up past some picnic tables, and across the road to a parking area with two pit toilets.
At the bridge itself, there are chain link fences and no trespassing signs.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportI had high hopes, having heard this was a great training run. I thought it was boring and not particularly beautiful, and so would rather do c-g than drive here again. Tiger creek run upstream is amazing.
Beautiful, easy float. Shuttle options for solo folks isn't the easiest – I got picked up by tweakers and wouldn't recommend that. Bike shuttle is possible but lots of elevation gain.
A dead Ent on the Mokelumne Electra Bar run, past the 49 bridge and circa 300 feet below Devil's Toilet Bowl rapid. Please be aware.
Geoff and Kim rolling that big boat, and making it look so easy!
Larry paddling out into the flow.
The running of Bridge Rapid, quite well.
Geoff and Kim making a great 'peel out' move below Bridge Rapid.
Larry running unnamed rapid.
Larry trying really hard to make it down the biggest rapid on this run, Devil's Toilet, a II+. Followed by Evan and then a shot of the author himself.
Geoff and Kim running the II+, Devil's Toilet, on their way to finding more blackberries.
New take-out for Middle Bar Bridge is officially open.