Yuba
1. Englebright Lake to Parks Bar (Hwy 20)
| Difficulty | I-III(IV) |
| Length | 6.4 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 15 fpm |
| Gauge | Yuba River Near Smartsville |
| Reach Info Last Updated | December 25, 2022 |
River Description
Put in access remains a problem on this reach. It's doable if you float the lake (0.34mi) but there are no trespassing signs on the north side of the reservoir. See trip report.
'We put in at the marina, paddled across the res, portaged on the right side to the bottom of the dam and got in. Expect to see salmon spawning if you do the run this [time of year].'
The old decription said: hike around the dam, or hike in from side roads (but Yuba County Water Agency considers that trespassing).
Fortunately a number of power projects owned by this agency are presently up for FERC relicensing. License #2246 on the NF Yuba expired in 2013. This may provide an opportunity to gain better boating access to this and other important reaches on the Yuba River.
CACreeks says: Guidebooks say this part of the main Yuba is 1.5 miles of class III, one class IV, then 4.5 miles of class I. Yawn. None of my friends wanted to go, until they heard the salmon and steelhead were running. The main reason nobody wants to run this section is that you start by crossing a reservoir, then carry over 1/2 mile up a hill and down switchbacks to a powerhouse below the face of the dam. Nobody wants to do that for only 1.5 miles of class III-IV.
But it's worse than that! There aren't even any class III rapids!! We had about 750 cfs, but even at higher flows I can't imagine any of the 4 class II+ rapids at the beginning would become class III. However note that in the old Charles Martin guidebook, it says that a Sierra Club trip at 2000 cfs had many swimmers.
The class IV rapid is fun, and followed by a beautiful narrow gorge. Possibly the lead-in to this rapid counts as a class III, but I would lump it together as the same rapid, even at 750 cfs.
The remaining 4.5 miles are mildly scenic, and contain many class II- rapids with mostly moving water in between. So the top third isn't as good as the
...River Features
Put In
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportMy brother and I followed the advice of Dan Menten and Carson Watts who had done this section earlier this year and said access was no longer than issue. Not sure if the signs were put up after their trip, but the north side of the lake has multiple No Trespassing signs. We were committed to the trip at that point so did a quick scurry down the hill with our packrafts (and didn't see anyone), but this remains an issue.
The run below the dam is pretty, and I'm glad we did it, but the old reports have it about right. There's only like a quarter to half mile of Class III and a drop at the bottom that has some snag potential. We skipped it because of fading light but it's totally doable, just best to set safety from river left. Beyond that it's Class I-II. We successfully found a Lyft for shuttle but we almost had to bike, and there's certainly some elevation on Highway 20 to consider if you do that.
All in all, it's probably a run only for those folks constantly seeking new sections of river to paddle like me, in a forever drought...
I was visiting family in the area and no other river had water. So I went for a solo descent. Getting dropped off at the boat ramp, I tried to hike up the stairs and scout, and was able to see my river access downstream. so I dawned my gear and paddled across the lake to the least steep part, close to the damn. I had to tie a strap to the boat and drag it up the hill as it was pretty steep. once I made it up there was a long uphill carry followed by what felt like a 3/4 of a mile downhill carry to get to a sidetrack that led to the river. putting in there were small rapids for a while until the class 2+ ones started, then after entering the narrows there's a class 4 called ground chuck. I scouted and ran everything, then after the narrows it becomes a 4 mile flatwater/class 1 paddle out to the bridge. worth running in the winter, but not my first choice.