Antelope Creek

Trip Report From Lisa Williams April, 2011

We ran Antelope Creek near Red Bluff as a 2-day run. This was my first time running it and it was really my first run of the season and in a brand-new boat. So, I was a little nervous. I would call Antelope Creek a Class II-III with about 4 Class IVs. A couple of the class IVs are pain-in-the-behind portages. There are 2 mandatory portages around trees anyway - one of which is a river-wide strainer at the bottom of the Powerline Rapid. At my best I would call myself a competent Class IV boater and these Class IVs were definitely manageable. We had about 500cfs on both days. Antelope is small and creeky, so the few named rapids would be akin to a small NF American Chamberlain Falls run or the lower McCloud overnight run. But, the rapids are smaller, shorter, and less cfs. We also portaged the last dam - lots of rocks at the bottom to catch and hold you in the backwash to the dam. Easy portage on the left.

We put on the river at 2pm on the first day and found 2 good camps right after Powerline Rapid. Camp Here!! There are no good camps for miles afterwards! We put on the river at 12 noon the next day and were at the take out by 4:30pm. The shuttle from the take-out to the put-in is 4 hours! So be sure and grab some great Mexican Food next to the fairgrounds before you go...I think it is Don Fernandos on the right side of the road as you do into Red Bluff.

The roads are good enough although slower going in a low-clearance vehicle (Toyota Tercel). Use Hogsback road on the way to the put-in instead of taking the shortcut that is steeper, and rockier. The difference is only 2 miles and about 5 minutes, but Hogsback is much less wear and tear on your car.

You  can put in at the Thorton Lee Fischer Campground. We put in 1/2 mile downstream where Ishi Rd crosses the creek and has great access and you miss one Class IV caused by a landslide.