American, Middle Fork
Oxbow Bend / Ralston Afterbay to Drivers Flat Road(Tunnel Run)
July 13, 2024
Good fun, long flatwater
| Reporter | Forest Kan |
| Gauge Reading | 1100 cfs at MIDDLE FK AMERICAN R NR OXBOW PH |
| Flow | Medium Flow |
I got a group together to run this in kayaks this past Saturday at the normal 1100 cfs releases. With the gracious help of my wife, we were able to set shuttle to eliminate the normally 2 hour roundtrip at the end of the day to retrieve vehicles.
This was most of the group's first time boating this run. I would classify most of us as Class IV/IV- boaters, with a V leader. We scouted Tunnel on river right, and Kanaka on river left. Tunnel was relatively straightforward with all of us staying upright and punching the last wave hole. Kanaka went more or less ok, with some of us boofing the big hole center, and some going left of the hole.
The 9 miles or so of flatwater in the middle of the run was somewhat pleasant, though really flat near the end. We put on at 11am and were off the river by 4pm.
Overall, there were about 5-7 good memorable rapids with lots of scenic flatwater in the middle. If you were to make a day of it (pack a lunch, stop to hang out etc), it's about a once a year run for me, when nothing else is flowing.