American, South Fork
5. Slab Creek Dam to Rock Creek Powerhouse(Slab Creek)
| Difficulty | IV-V |
| Length | 5.5 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 89 fpm |
| Gauge | Slab Creek |
| Flow Rate as of 2 hours | 312 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | March 25, 2026 |
River Description
Make sure to check out this article for the latest access situation Slab Creek 2026 Put-in / Take-Out Beta
The Slab Creek Run begins with several Class IV+ rapids that are within sight of the put-in. The river has a very continuous nature for the next four miles. Many of the rapids are long and require good Class IV skills. Mosquito Road Bridge at river mile 3.25 provides alternate access options. The most significant rapid on the run, Motherlode Falls (Class V), is not far downstream of the bridge.
The gradient eases after this point and the run becomes Class II/III in nature. There also is more vegetation, primarily alders, in the river channel in the lower section. Rock Creek enters on river right at river mile 5.5. The Rock Creek Powerhouse is the official take-out and is required to provide daily dawn-to-dusk public access; however, the powerhouse owner keeps the gate on the access road locked except during scheduled Slab Creek Run recreation releases.
The Rock Creek Powerhouse could provide a potential put-in providing access to the class II/III section of Slab Creek when SMUD completes a future downstream take-out. This section is class II/III with one rapid that is potentially class III+. Sometimes in winter and spring, the combined flows of Rock Creek and Rock Creek Powerhouse can add enough water into the river to provide boatable flows. Generally though, the additional water will be less than 100 cfs.
Gage: SMUD is required by a FERC-license stipulation to provide a gage below Slab Creek Dam. The below website has proven to be somewhat more reliable than their dreamflows/CDEC pipeline and can serve as a backup if other gage displays are not reading.
...River Features
West Slab Creek Reservoir Put-In
From Highway 50 in Placerville, take the Schnell School Road exit and go north to Carson Road until N. Canyon Road. Follow N. Canyon Road to Slab Creek Reservoir road and follow that to a junction near the Slab Creek dam. Two gated roads head downhill. One road leads to the right and to the dam. The other leads to the river a short ways below the dam. Unless we can arrange otherwise, parking will be in the turnouts along the road above the USFS gates. The area by the gates must be kept clear as a turn around. Carry boats 3/10s of a mile down to the river. This will be the site of the future improved put-in.
Mosquito Road Bridge
Mosquito Road Bridge is an alternate take out allows boating the steepest few miles while avoiding the hardest section of the river. Below the bridge several rapids get harder, culminating in Motherlode Falls (class V). Unfortunately there only 3 to 5 parking spaces at this bridge. Make sure the bridge stays clear. There are some parking options further away.
Rock Creek Powerhouse Take-Out
The Rock Creek Powerhouse take-out is located on river right at the confluence of Rock Creek. From Highway 193 in Placerville go east 6 miles on Rock Creek Road. The entrance to the powerhouse will be the second road on the right after you cross over Rock Creek. The gate will be open during scheduled recreational releases by SMUD and limited parking is available by the powerhouse. The gate is required to be open daily dawn-to-dusk but the powerhouse owner, Hydroland LLC, ignores this requirement and keeps the access road gate locked at all times other than during scheduled releases. Walk-in access is always allowed but please do not block the gate.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportThank you AW and SMUD for the releases this year - at 1000 cfs, this section of river is an absolute classic. Consistent gradient, fun rapids, and challening moves. I agree with most assessments of this river - a Chamberlain type IV boater might feel a bit overwhelmed in here (as I was last year), but any IV+ to V comfortable boater will have a blast.
Additional words here:
https://forestkan.substack.com/p/capturing-the-magic-routing-v
We ran the short section from Rock Creek to the skinny little pg&e trail river right. Just after the start there was a larger wave train rapid that was class 3 and then it was calmer for a while but with continuous easy fun rapids. Near the end of the section there was a more difficult longer rapid, with two channels. The left channel was a big fluffy mess, with lots of waves and holes and on the right it was much easier, with less water going through it and at the end where there is a drop. However, if you don’t want to do either, you can scrape up the bottom of your boat on the left side of drop. Overall, this section was really fun and I would have enjoyed it more if I didn’t have to hike out on a really long, steep trail (please open the other road).
This run rarly runs,only in big water years,like this one!
Under the bridge this rapid is big!
This part of the river has some great play on it.
Slab Creek Dam spilling at 600 cfs on the first day of the flow study.
Southeastern boys Dave, Jerry & Earl (running right line on rocks in background) visit the majestic Sierra, here on the Slab Creek section. We were kinda lost on the way here, and stopped to ask directions. Guy looked at us and our boats, said: 'yew boyz class 5 kayakers?' then looking down and laughing, 'it's a frothy white pit.' Indeed it was! During shuttle, another guy comes up on a 4-wheeler, sawed-off shotgun on his lap. Inquiring as to the need for the weapon, he said 'mountain lions.' We wondered if it was to guard his nocturnal horticultural efforts.