American, South Fork
6. Route 193 to Coloma(Chili Bar)
| Difficulty | III |
| Length | 6 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 23 fpm |
| Gauge | American River at Chili Bar |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 1395 cfsmedium runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | June 9, 2025 |
River Description
The Chili Bar run is one of California's most popular whitewater stretches, attracting boaters from across the region and offering thrilling guided raft trips. From the Chili Bar put-in, the river flows through a remote canyon with high-quality whitewater, classic rapids, excellent play spots, and scenic views. Thanks to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) hydropower operations, the river has dependable flows through much of the year, with releases from the Chili Bar Powerhouse providing boating flows from 9 a.m. to noon most days during spring and summer, and on most weekends for the rest of the year. While the river can get crowded on summer weekends, early mornings and later afternoons, particularly on weekdays, offer a quieter experience.
At standard release levels, the river runs class II/III with two class III+ rapids: Meatgrinder and Troublemaker. Meatgrinder appears early in the run, notable for its length, shallowness, and the challenges it presents. While inconvenient to portage, it's easy to scout. Troublemaker, sometimes called 'S-Turn,' has a tricky hole and offset chute and is the most challenging rapid on this section; it offers an easy scout and portage option. Other rapids include Racehorse, a turbulent 'C-Turn' rapid, Maya, a prime play spot with accessible eddy service, and First Threat, another fun surf spot with a small but manageable eddy reachable by walking along the shore.
At higher flows (3,500-7,000 cfs), the difficulty rises to class II+-III+, with two to three class IV- rapids and one class IV. This increase in flow makes the stretch from Meatgrinder through Maya more intense, requiring paddlers to dodge larger holes, with less downtime between rapids. The 'pool' between Meatgrinder and Second Helping becomes more dynamic, and the right side of Second Helping tends to be rougher at these flows. Although the first three rapids maintain their general shape, they take on a big-water feel with more chaotic waves.
...River Features
Chili Bar River Park - Put-in
The Chili Bar put-in is on the northwest side of the bridge (downstream river right). This area has restrooms, picnic areas, phones, and barrier-free access. This is a fee area.
Chili Bar Hole
Chili Bar hole provides excellent play at release and medium flows. Eddy service on river left.
Bed and Breakfast
Fun rapid with a boof rock toward center left.
Meatgrinder
A long and sometimes dangerous rapid with large boulders and hidden holes generally run down the right side. An excellent trail for scouting and portaging is available on river right along an old railroad grade.
Hazard: Two fatal foot entrapments have occurred in this rapid at summer flows and a flush drowning has occurred at high spring flows.
Racehorse Bend
The river aims towards a rock wall along river right as the current flows sharply to the left.
Maya
This is a small, wide rapid that has a wonderful surfing wave at many flows. There are large eddies on both sides. The river left eddy is particularly huge.
Rock Garden
The Rock Garden is an easy rapid with several small boulders.
African Queen
A fun rapid interspersed with vegetation-covered rock outcrops that is generally run center right.
First Threat
Most of the current flows to the right of a rocky and bushy island. The drop is steep, culminating in a large wave hole that buries kayaks and gives raft riders a thrill. The wave/hole is a popular kayak playspot, so there will usually be a line of kayakers waiting in the river right eddy.
Second Threat
Immediately below First Threat the river drops into Second Threat, a relatively straightforward rapid to read and run. Boaters can land on river right, just below this rapid and before a sharp left turn at a site where some groups stop for snacks or lunch. Two composting toilets maintained by BLM are up a short trail here. Space for landing is limited and large groups or those with rafts need to leave enough room for other groups to land and use the toilets.
Third Threat
Relatively easy line down the middle with holes to either side.
The Narrows
The river enters a very pretty section with rock walls. The rapid requires mild maneuvering around rock outcroppings or boulders in the channel, but nothing too difficult. Near the end, a large rocky island is a popular rest stop.
Mini Gorge
This rapid has some fun seams as you pass through rock outcrops in the channel.
Swimmer's Rapid
An easy rapid.
Troublemaker (Main Left Line)
This short but steep and tricky drop is at the end of the run and thus convenient for spectators, photographers, and other lovers of entertaining carnage. The current splits around a rocky island. The standard route is to the left side. Several ledges and turbulent waves persuade boaters to paddle on the outside left as the channel curves sharply right. Kayakers often tip over here. Those still upright must paddle hard to get to either side of Gunsight rock which forms the final steep drop. Paddle past or through some smaller ledge holes then eddy out and see what happens to the next boaters through.
Trouble Maker (Double Trouble Line)
This is an alternate right side chute at Troublemaker rapid available as an option at higher flows. The chute is steep and tubulent with a high likelyhood of hitting the right wall. This route is taken much less frequently than the normal curving left side route.
Hazard Rock below Troublemaker
**Hazard:**About 50 to 70 yards downstream of the main rapid, just right of center of the channel, is a group of boulders. A small hump and pourover just upstream of these boulders is formed by a large underwater boulder with a crack through it. In 2009 a fatal foot entrapment occurred here when flows were 2200 cfs. In 2008 a nonfatal foot entrapment occurred with flows of 1500 cfs. At the lower flows, rescuers were able to get onto the boulder and support the victim to keep the victim's head out of the water. At the higher flows, rescuers were unable to reach the victim until the flows dropped. If you swim in Trouble Maker, swim aggressively left into the main channel to stay away from this dangerous area. If you get swept into this area or similar areas, keep your feet up.
Marshall Gold State Park
This is the primary take-out access at Marshall Gold State Park. The site requires a fee to park a vehicle in the state park. Alternative access points are available a short distance downstream on the C to G run that follows Chili Bar. The park is a shuttle stop for the Coloma Shuttle that will transport you to the put-in.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportA beautiful day for an autumn trip on the South Fork American.
The community gathered to celebrate the life of Chris Tulley on the South Fork American. The day began with a light rain before the sun came out and we all had a chance to remember Chris with a beautfiul day on the water.
Chart of Minimum Recreational Flow for South Fork American River below Chili Bar Dam by Water Year Type, Duration, and Flow in cfs
In 2008 there was a non fatal foot entrapment here. In 2009 a raft passenger drowned at the same location. About 75 yards below Troublemaker, the main current goes to the left of a midstream island. Some current goes to the right between the island and a high boulder further right. Several submerged boulders form hydraulics in between. One of those boulders has a crack that can trap a foot. Photos give an overview of the location and close up views. Active swimming or floating with feet at the surface would seem to eliminate the danger of entrapment at this spot. However, a confused or tired swimmer could easily let their feet drop down into a danger zone. The small hole just upstream could also cause a floaters legs to drop down if they do not tuck up.
Mostly photos of rafts on Sunday and Monday.
A small pod of kayakers wait their turn in 1st Threat hole. There would be many, many more boaters during the summer time.
In the summer this launching area is packed with cars, people, rafts and kayaks. Early on a cool November morning it seems deserted. More groups showed up as the morning progressed. There is as fee to launch here.
Larry was concerned about this rapid and took awhile to scout. Then he proceeded to paddle with finesse and aplomb. Unlike the photographer who spent considerable time upside down.
Evan demonstrates short boat techniques, while Jeremy looks on from shore.
Maya is a small rapid famous for its wonderful surfing wave. This group of boaters enjoy some early morning fun, before the main crowds arrive.
Jeremy leads the pack through Meatgrinder, the longest and 2nd hardest rapid in the Chili Bar section. He is in the steepest part of the rapid. The end is just below, out of this picture.
This is the first half of Meatgrinder. There are numerous small holes in here and lots of maneuvering required. You can't tell from this picture, but halfway down the rapid, it suddenly drops more steeply.
The old railroad grade is visible up on the right bank. The level path makes a convenient portage trail for boaters not ready to tackle this long and difficult of a rapid.
This impressively large log is just across the river and downstream of Chili Bar.
Jeff enjoying an early morning surf at Maya, before the crowds arrive.
Looking upstream at Troublemaker from river right. There is a nice rock slab here. It is a popular spot to lay about and watch the excitement as boaters come through the rapid.
Looking upstream at Troublemaker run out from river left.
Looking from river left just downstream of Troublemaker rapid. A swimmer experienced a foot entrapment in this area, in August of 2008. The entrapment was reported to be on barely submerged rocks midstream river right. The spot may be in this picture or further to the right. The victim was successfully rescued by the teamwork of a variety of boaters who were in the vicinity.
A first person account is at: http://forums.boof.com/showthread.php?t=5215
Sean's first run of this Class III+/IV, and perfectly done too.