Dry Meadow Creek

One of the most picturesque river reaches on earth.

Here's a report by Rocky Contos:

DRY MEADOW CREEK (Kern River): ~60 cfs May 17, 1997

Last Saturday I and four others did Dry Meadow Creek in the Kern drainage, led by Robert Dilman who had done it four other times this year. To get to the put-in, drive toward the Forks trailhead, but turn down the CAMP 4 dirt road after passing the creek on the paved road. At some times of the year this is locked by a gate and you have to hike down the dirt road about a mile. Put in just above the confluence of two sizeable streams. Last weekend each of these had maybe 30 cfs.

The entire run is only about 2 miles. In the upper stretch there were a lot of small rapids and some tree branches to scrape over, but it could all be done with one portage. One spot with a tree across the creek caused three of us to step out of our boats. After about a mile there is a sizeable drop of 6-8 ft at a left hand turn. Further on (maybe another half mile or so) there are two more sizable rapids. One is a series of 2-8 ft falls, the one in the middle has a right narrow channel that is ugly, and a wide left channel with a big rock halfway down. One in our group broached on this rock, and two others slammed into it on our left sides. Just below here is an unrunnable 2 ft wide slot with a 15 ft falls. A seal launch on the left at the falls is fun. Below this rapid there is another tight spot known as the 'Bermuda Triangle' consisting of two technical drops, the first of which must be taken onthe left (the right channel is not possible). A little below the Bermuda Triange is the 'Seven Teacups'. This is the whole reason for the run. Seven clean falls of 6-20 ft separated by calm round short pools. It is an impressive place. After the first fall, which is a broken drop, all the water flows under the granite at a 'natural bridge' so to speak. One must stabilize their kayak in the flowing water and get up onto the bridge to walk

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