Kaweah

Park Boundary/ Gateway to Dinley Bridge(Gateway)

Reach banner
DifficultyIV-V
Length3.6 mi
Avg Gradientn/a
GaugeKaweah River at Three Rivers
Flow Rate as of 2 hours
493 cfsbelow recommended
Reach Info Last UpdatedMay 24, 2022

River Description

The Park Boundary/Gateway section of the Kaweah is a wonderfully busy river.

The rapids are long, steep, steady and bouldery. Boaters stepping up into class 5 rivers will find no better learning ground than the Kaweah River.

Put in:

Gateway Bridge was the traditional put-in, but because of concerns by the downstream land owner, the limited parking along the road has been posted for no parking. Creative kayakers still find ways of launching here at times, but there are other options a short ways downstream.

You can also drive upstream to Southern CA Edison Road, or into the National Park, but the rapids upstream of Gateway are a bit more difficult and may require one portage.

Take out:

Dinely Bridge

Here is a video of the Park Boundary section as well as two rapids in the Gateway section (The Chute and Powerhouse).

The video gives each rapid in order from top to bottom.  The missing rapids are class II-III in nature.

Click To Play

The following video features sections of the Park Boundary, Gateway, Dinley, and Lake run of the Kaweah.  It was shot and edited by Daniel Lundburg.

Click To Play

Other Information Sources:

See Bill Pooley's Kaweah River Page for a huge assortment of resources and information about the Kaweah River.

Cacreeks.com

The Chute: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQKy1lo4RJU

Bumper: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skFjDekP8AU


River Features

Put In

Distance: 0 mi

Take Out

Distance: 3 mi
Take Out

MU
Matthew Urdan

May 27, 2001


Winding our way, like a pinball, through the bumpers of Lithium. 100 points per bump, 1000 when lit. Hey, if this rapid were suddenly frozen, would we have Freestyle Skiiing moguls?
Winding our way like a pinball through the bumpers of Lithium, 100 points per bump--1000 when lit. Hey, if this rapid were suddenly frozen, would we have Freestyle Skiing Moguls?