Big Creek

This section features Big Creek in it's entirety. You can also see Big Creek-Middle Gorge from Chowchilla Mt. Road. Many people will hike in, just to run the middle gorge section. Even class 3 boaters may enjoy this section at low flows.

Please note: There are many more rapids on this creek than are what listed here. We documented the creek as best we could, but this description is not all inclusive. If you plan to run this entire section, from Fish Camp into Yosemite Park, be sure to give your self plenty of time. It will take you all day, and it is a long day at that. That said, you should really enjoy this creek. It is very beautiful and full of great white water.

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Dan Hogg wrote on May 21, 20006:

I won't go into too much detail now, since I'm thoroughly wore out! What a Day! When flows get (lower), this would probably be awesome without being too pushy-fast. As it was today, I'd still call it awesome. Absolutely beautiful scenery as well as rapids.

Only three log portages at this flow. One log-limbo with an 'Evan tree shuffle' afterwards. We scouted many horizon lines only to find most drops very runnable. One drop (after scouting wrong river-side, then hiking up creek to cross to correct scout side) left us deciding to portage. It had possible undercut with reversal near bottom of the drop. At lower flows it could be less menacing. Below that drop (along possible old stagecoach trail from Oakhurst-Wawona and above very old bridge pillars, still standing) we did a long seal launch into creek to run last two drops in that sequence of three.

Other mentionables include a long rapid -- didn't notice/find any catchable eddies and a blind horizon line on both sides of and island/slide rock in the middle. My best option was to paddle

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