Cosumnes

Highway 49 to Highway 16

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Ran 49 to Latrobe, and what a wonderful section of river. Fun and continuous solid class IV (at 1300 CFS) followed by a really pretty portage. Yes, there's a bit of a flatwater paddle out and the rapid intensity does taper as the run goes on, but the class IV at the beginning certainly makes it worth it.

As far as logistics go, we put in on the north fork of the Cosumnes, about 1/2 mile north of the confluence of the north and middle fork Cosumnes, just north of the trailer park. There's a pullout with a sign for 'Nashville' on the northbound side of 49 that was not signed. From here it's a short walk to the north fork, which is brushy class I-II. We then floated down to the confluence where the IV starts. For takeout, we parked a car past the no parking signs on the northbound side of Latrobe, south of the bridge. One person retrieved the vehicle then drove it to the north side of the Latrobe bridge, where there was a wide shoulder to load and stage. Slight pain of logistics, but what a beautiful and fun run.

Hello, we are the new owners of the property on the South side of the Hwy 49 bridge. It has always been privately owned, but public access and parking was tolerated by the previous owners.

Note: the turnout up at the bridge level is a no parking tow-away zone and will be strictly enforced going forward. The land on both sides is private property; please be respectful.

We are planning a small private day use parking area for the near future, so that families can access the water and enjoy sanitation facilities and other amenities to come later. We do ask visitors to stay on established trails,  as we are creating gardens and orchards. Thanks for your patience and look for signs later this spring when we open. There will be a small parking fee.

Did Latrobe Rd down. Not a run I'd do again despite the scenery, at least at these flows, but glad I finally got to see in there. Have heard this is a great birding area. The paddling was mostly Class II with a Class V portage, but we skipped all the crazy stuff at the top of course.

Dave Steindorf
Dave Steindorf

Sep 8, 2015


AW is working to get this illegal fence removed so that boaters can access the Cosumnes RIver

Ryan Enright
Ryan Enright

Jan 1, 1900


The two class IVs a short distance below the Lower Falls, after a class III+ and class II+ rapid. In the distance of the photo is Stumpy and the foreground the lead-in into Right Corner Pocket, so named because boaters can be thrown into RCP’s recirculating eddy, right side after the drop. To boot, the eddy ABOVE and lead-in to Stumpy recirculates, so if you enter it you must commit to exiting the eddy and running Stumpy or get rescued by throwrope onto rock outcroppings.

Ryan Enright
Ryan Enright

Jan 1, 1900


River right channel of Van Vleck Dam

Ryan Enright
Ryan Enright

Jan 1, 1900


River left channel of Van Vleck Dam

Ryan Enright
Ryan Enright

Jan 1, 1900


Class IV lead-in rapid to Lower Falls to avoid unless you are committed to running the class V+ falls.