Truckee

1. Alpine Meadows Road to Floriston (Floriston Run)

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September 5, 2022

Tahoe City to Floriston contains 6 distinct sections class I to IV

ReporterMatt Kuckuk
Gauge Reading700 cfs at TRUCKEE R A FARAD CA
FlowMedium Flow

From Tahoe City to Floriston the Truckee is best considered as 6 sections, with many variations possible:

Tahoe City to River Ranch: Class 1 with many raft tourists in the summer. (Use Tahoe City gauge)

River Ranch to about Bridge 4: Nice short class III- run. (Tahoe City gauge)

Bridge 4 to above town of Truckee: Class I-II, starting out II+. (Truckee gauge)

'Town Run' through Truckee down to Glenshire: Class III (Truckee gauge)

Glenshire to Boca: Class II+ (Truckee gauge)

Boca to Floriston: starts out class II, then to III- as you enter Floriston Gorge, then Jaws and Bronco at Class IV.   Many people call Jaws & Bronco only Class III, but this stretch is very familiar to the local boating community and is run frequently.  Viewed without this familiarity effect, I agree with Bruce's comment earlier, and the Holbeck / Stanley book with their IV rating.  (Use Boca gauge.)

Then downstream of Floriston, the run down to Farad has nice gradient starting out Class III with the blown-out dam rapids.

Tahoe City to Floriston contains 6 distinct sections class I to IV – Floriston Run | American Whitewater