| Difficulty | IV-V |
| Length | 9.3 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 46 fpm |
| Gauge | Trinity R Nr Burnt Ranch Ca |
| Flow Rate as of 17 minutes | 527 cfsmedium runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | July 28, 2026 |
Burnt Ranch (Chimariko: Tsuda'mdadji) is a beautiful and challenging run starting at Cedar Flat (Ha'dinaktcohada) and ending at Hawkins Bar (Hamai'dadji). Continuous class IV-V pool-drop rapids line this seemingly remote canyon. Though Highway 299 runs right alongside it (according to the map), BRG can feel very isolated at times.
At low flows (500-1000 cfs on the Cedar Flat gauge), this run can feel very much closer to IV+. Though as the flow increases, so does the difficulty. However, after a point, the difficulty seems to peak then more or less flatten out until the high thousands. It is generally agreed upon that 1,200 cfs is considered the most tricky flow.
Access Logistics
Put In: Several options exist for put in. The traditional put in is the Cedar Flat Picnic Area, located right off Highway 299. This pullout provides an easy walk to the river, though adds about a mile of Class II. To remove some of this flat water, some opt to put in at the Burnt Ranch Dump, parking here. While taking out some of the flatwater, one must deal with a 5 minute downhill walk to the river, some of it paved. After parking, walk down the paved Burnt Ranch Dump Road a few hundred feet and look for a power pole with a semi-obvious boater trail breaking off to the right towards the river.
Take Out: While the traditional no-hike takeout is at Hawkins Bar (free parking), those who want to remove 45 minutes of Class II opt to take out at Grays Falls (parking here, also free). While cutting out monotonous paddling, this take out adds 10 to 15 minutes of strenuous uphill hiking to the end of your lap.
Photo: Final Drop in Middle Burnt Ranch Falls (Burnt Ranch Falls 2).
...Put-in on river right at the Cedar Flat picnic area located on Highway 299 just upstream of the bridge over the Trinity River.
A long rapid leading to a final chute on the left or a narrow waterfall in the center. Also known as Burnt Ranch Falls #1. The narrow waterfall in the center is flow dependent.
Many options depending on flow and the size of your boat.
Rocky at lower flows, some paddlers portage this rapid (which can be almost as difficult as running it). Consider running only the final drop from the eddy on river left - it's a doozy. Portage river left, with difficulty. At medium flows (1,000 cfs to 1,600 cfs), a pretty sticky eddy on the last drop is known to cause its fair share of swims.
Sweet boof in the middle channel at medium flows.
From Cassady and Calhoun - California Whitewater: 'Rafts that get caught in the turbulent holes at the bottom of this rapid could be folded like Japanese paper.'
The left side opens up somwhere above 1000 cfs. Some call it class V
The New River comes into the Trinity River on the right. The New can give a significant boost to Trinity River flows in winter and spring.
The New is a remarkable river itself, with multiple sections of varying difficulty. The section that empties into the Trinity River is the most difficult and committing section of the New.
Kayakers often take out on river left after Gray's Falls and hike up a steep trail to the Gray's Falls picnic area that is along Highway 299. This cuts out the lower three miles of the run but most of the significant whitewater is upstream of here.
Take out on river left at the large river bar downstream of the Denny Road bridge over the Trinity. Look for the Hawkins Bar River Access signs on Highway 299 at the dirt road down to this river bar; it is a few hundred feet west of the Rock Slide Bar & Grill.
Jun 26, 2025
Oct 12, 2024
About a dozen folks turned out to keep the Cali Burn Fest tradition alive! Clean lines were had in several craft types - creek boats, half slice, playboat, R1 rafting and spud IK. We saw bears kingfishers eagles and returning salmon! Another dozen folks hiked into the falls to spectate. Rocco Russo filmed and his YouTube channel has excellent drone and head cam footage of each rapid.