NF American (Giant Gap, IV-V)

Giant Gap is class IV+ with three classV run of North fork of American river. This year, I went there for three times, but had to give up doing it due to high flow over 2,000 cfs. I did it on June 19 at 1,000 cfs and realized that this is really great run despite long run (14.5 miles) plus two mile-hiking. More info is available at American River North Fork Giant Gap.

Two mile-hiking to put in. It is downhill, not so hard. Be carefull of poisoned oak.


American river runs in the V-shape gorge with lots of great sceanic views.
Paddler is David. We thank his wife Paula for her shuttle that needs over an hour for round trip.


Nice class IV+ rapid.


Nutcracker, classV,
David is coming down. I felt like six feet-wave coming over me in this rapid.


Locomotive falls, classIV-V depending on the flow.
Larry is taking a line of far right. Left side of the line is sticky hole. My friend told me that a paddler who I know had been got in this hole at ~ 1,000 cfs. His body sunk down under tha water and came up, which were repeated for a while. For my friend, it was the worst swimming that he had ever seen. Very fortunately, the paddler did not get hurt seriously and is enjoying paddling with us.


This view is from downstream of the Locomotive falls.


Dominator, classV,


Eric is taking right line. Middle and left looked so ugly.


There are many good classIV~ IV+ rapids in this run.

Lavezolla Creek (IV)

This is a great class IV run. I have done it in Apr, May and June. Although many people put in at the first bridge near the Third Devide, we had put in at the second bridge. The regular put in at the first bridge is almost middle of the entire run. I like the upper half as well. Here, the third and fifth picture were taken on a different day. More info is available at Lavezolla Creek.















Deep Crack. There is a killer rock at the bottom of this drop.


We portaged on the right bank. However, rock surface was very slippy and it was very tough to carry heavy boat. I had dropped my boat and let it down the drop. My boat was circulated in the bottom pool. According to people who portaged on the left, left bank is easier to portage.

Pauley Creek (IV+)

Lower Pauley creek is one of my favorite run. This is class IV+ run. I did this run in April, May and June of 2005. More info is available at
UpperPauley and LowerPauley. Many people do both Lower Pauley creek and Lavezolla creek in a day. We also did so, but in a day we did the last one mile section of Upper Pauley and entire run of Lower Pauley. The extra one mile was a little harder than Lower Pauley run. Gradients are 170 fpm in the last one mile Upper run and 100 fpm in the lower run. Pictures were taken when flows were 170, 240 and 310 cfs.


The first two pictures are of the last one mile of Uppler Pauley.


Left side of the line looked sticky and ugly.



This is upstream view from the put in for the Lower Pauley.



A first big drop (15 feet) in the lower run. When I did this run first time, I flop in the bottom and my boat was pushed on the riverbank before rolling up. Because of the water pressure in the upstream side and the riverbank in the downstream side, I could not roll up. I was rescued in the next pool.


A second big drop. My friend, Jim, is taking right channel.


A third big drop. Paddler was Larry.


Last and the biggest waterfall, Pauley creek falls. It is 25 feet high.


Chris, is taking the best line.