Arroyo Seco

Providing some high water beta since I haven't been able to find much about it above 500 cfs.

Abel and I had a great lap starting on Santa Lucia. The gauge read between 1450 and 1390 cfs while we were in there. The water level was at 7 ft on the stick gauge at the bottom. At these flows the main gorge is continuous and it goes by quick, but it's a good time while you're in there! The pinch after Muchos Cajones forms a sticky hole. Definitely try to hit that with momentum and a good boof stroke. I'd classify the gorge as class V at these flows, but we were in slicey boats and everything went fine. It's just continuous with a few meaty holes. Not sure I'd want much more water in there.

I've run it between 800-900 cfs and that is a very fun flow. Lines are clean, boofs are glorious, there are eddies between rapids, and no mank. Probalby class IV/IV+ at those flows (I know other writeups say it's V above 600 cfs, but my experience at 850 cfs felt solidly in the IV/IV+ category). Maybe a half step up from Chamberlain, a half step down from slab creek.

Here's a video at 1400 cfs from our trip to share with other boaters looking for high flow beta: https://youtu.be/\_2tzDBA7ckQ?si=\_Iu5fDpgSoxac-Kw

Friends and I have run Arroyo twice so far this Spring, planning on going again this weekend. Always one of my favorite runs, but the road was washed out a couple of winters ago and has been closed so this has been our first opportunity in a while.

The big change is that the bridge at the put in (horse pasture bridge) collapsed. Based on what the ranger said, doesn't sound like it will be replaced, or at least not anytime soon. Not really a big deal, you can just put in right below it... not quite as nice of a little put in spot but totally fine.

The Gorge is all clear of logs/wood, etc. and the lower section is relatively brush free compared to past years. Water is beautiful, spring weather was beautiful and the gorge is as fun and beautiful as ever. Great to be back!

Nov 23, 2024

Flows peaked at 400 cfs the morning of our trip after being around 25 cfs the day before, by the time we took off the level was down around 100 cfs. This was a wonderful first time flow, friendly in nature and the runout was not a pain. The river was root beer colored with lots of foam. We portaged the Recirculator because the foam was piled up so deep below it. No memorable wood hazards, cool run. The hike was easy with packrafts, we camped at the campground where we started and finished our hike making for a no vehicle run of the river.

Holy hell this was fun! Went with mostly kayakers (Julien, Caleb, Cyril) and a yaker/packrafter in an Alpacka Valkryie (Trent) who'd done this many times, as well as local Arroyo Seco expert and riverboarder Ross and traveling nurse Dayne. This was my first time doing a steep creek Class IV run in my packraft and it was an all-timer for me. Mucho Cajones was terrifying to scout and I thought I'd never run it; Trent convinced me to do it with a low brace and I stayed afloat!

I changed the flow range from 8-9 feet to 4-6 feet according to the comment from cacreeks.com http://cacreeks.com/aro-seco.htm and after our visit at 8 feet in February 2019, where we had a raging high river (around 1500 cfs). Apparently, after the floods in 2017, the gauge changed.

Just that you don't wonder about the different information in the text and in the table.

great medium flow

This run is very fun, especially since there is no shuttle. I do however, enjoy hiking into runs. This rock is incredible and the rapids are fun. *NOTE. Muchos Cajones is easily run with speed and a strong boof. I have heard of people messing it up and flushing right away. I almost drowned here. I was getting the beatdown in my boat before I pulled, expecting to flush. Instead, I was recirced underwater for a very long time. I truly thought I might drown and I tried everything I knew to get out of there. Finally I did flush and there was a big chill pool below. My boat was stuck in an eddy upstream and would have been very difficult to get without someone still up there. Climbing back is not really an option as it is cliffed out. Have fun but be careful.
Jeremy L

Boofing the left side of the ledge at Much Cajones.

Entrance rapid to the gorge.

Boofing the ledge at Mucho Cajones.

About to get spanked in the left slot.

Looked wild at 8 ft and we portaged.

About to get spanked in the left slot.