Eel River above Middle Fork confluence

This is one of the best Class III runs on the Eel river, but it does not see much use, except from locals, due to unpredictability of flow. During winter the Eel at the confluence of Outlet Creek can be flowing one day at 300 cfs and the next day after 2 inches of rain be flowing at 20000 cfs, and then four days later back down to 1000 cfs, and finally a week after that 300 cfs again. At a few thousand CFS this run takes around 2 hours of float time and the shuttle takes about half an hour round trip. At high flows the float time can be reduced to little over an hour.

Those looking for a mini-Grand Canyon type experience can come out and play on this stretch when the river is flowing at 12000 cfs and up, usually within 12 hours of a good rain. Rafts and IKs do fine at these flows, as there is usually plenty of recovery time, while hardshells get worked pretty hard by hydraulics. Please scout the last rapid.

Some boaters put in on Outlet Creek to extend this run, but when the Eel below Outlet Creek is at moderate levels, Outlet Creek is bony, and when Outlet Creek has plenty of water, the Eel is big. There is a possible put-in on 3 or 4 miles upstream on Outlet Creek, where a railroad bridge crosses a brushy section before the final minigorge.

Nearby Runs

The Eel is also runnable upstream of Outlet Creek. The stretch from Cape Horn dam (Van Arsdale reservoir) to the confluence of Tomki Creek is seldom boated, and not recommended due to brush. The stretch from Tomki Creek to Hearst is almost always combined with Tomki Creek for a super-short vehicle shuttle.

The 17.3 mile stretch from Hearst to Outlet Creek starts out class II. At mile 1.8 appears a class III rapid caused by a large outcropping of dark rock, where a huge prow rock entirely blocks your view, causing most boaters to scout on the right. Below there, scenic class II rapids continue, with wilderness camping opportunities. At about the halfway point scenery worsens, as do the increasingly class I rapids.

A great class III run on the main Eel from Dos Rios to Alderpoint or Fort Seward is described here. A class II then IV run (with long portage) on the Middle Fork Eel is described here.

Estimating Flow

If the North Coast has not seen significant rain in the last 48 hours, then the flow can be estimated by subtracting the Middle Fork Eel flow from the main Eel flow at Fort Seward, and dividing by two.

If the ground is saturated (the normal condition in winter and spring) and there has been significant rain in the last 24 hours, then the flow can be estimated as a range by how much rainfall has occurred.

• 0.5" of rain produces 2500 - 5000 cfs
• 1.0" of rain produces 5000 - 10000 cfs
• 2.0" of rain produces 10000 - 20000 cfs

The Gauge

There is a water level gauge at the put-in bridge (mile marker 8.5). Look on the second bridge pillar. The markings are in feet (roman numerals) with ½ foot lines and ¼ foot dots.

Mile by Mile

[ Thanks to Paul Futscher for this entire writeup. ]

mile 0

Put-in under the bridge on river right at the confluence of the Eel River and Outlet Creek. A trail leads from the road down to a small beach. Gauge is painted on second bridge pillar.

Bridge gauge at 3.5' or 1500 cfs	Tunnel 1 rapid from upstream

1.2

Tunnel 1. A railroad tunnel appears above the river on the left side. The river narrows and makes a slow turn to the right with a right curling wave-train on it. A boulder appears near the bottom of the rapid in the center of the channel. The run is to the right of the boulder except at higher flows. At higher flows (4000 cfs and up), run down the middle until you lose your nerve. At 12000-20000 cfs huge standing waves grace the channel though no holes develop, just breaking waves. There is a recovery pool at the bottom of the rapid.

1.4

Tunnel 2. There is a pool after Tunnel 1 that continues until you see the horn rock on river right, which signals this rapid. Just below the horn is a nasty half-submerged rock lurking just to the right of center, and at the bottom of the rapid a large hole forms on the left. The run starts enough left-of-center to avoid the rock at the top, and pulls hard towards center to avoid the hole at the bottom on the left.

Tunnel 2 rapid from upstream	No Name rapid from upstream

2.0

As the river makes a turn to the left, a large riffle forms, which at certain flows hides a surprisingly large hole.

2.5

No Name. The river turns to the left as it drops between large boulders and ends with most of the flow hitting a massive split boulder. This rapid is clearly visible from the road and can be identified by the massive boulder that is split in four or more pieces. The run starts from the far left and aims for the massive split boulder by missing large holes on the right (upper hole) and left (lower hole). After clearing the left hole, pull hard to the left around the massive split boulder.

2.7

Rock Garden. This rapid starts with a small pour-over and then the river makes a gentle turn to the right through a rock garden, which ends in a large swirling eddy and pool.

Rock Garden rapid from upstream	Waterfall upstream on Boundary Creek

3.1

Boundary Creek, a nice lunch spot. Recommended walk up the creek to a nice pool.

3.6

Rapid 12.47. Named after highway marker. The river is split in two by a small island and boulder. Can be run starting from either side. Watch for lurking pour-overs and hidden rocks. Near the end of the rapid the river is forced between two rock walls where some nice standing waves form.

3.8

12.47 Beach, good river access though the actual parking is shortly upstream at mile marker 12.30(?).

4.2

Pinnacle Rock, AKA House Rock. Run to the right of Pinnacle Rock, which is just left of center. If the right side of Pinnacle Rock looks too bony then the left side can be run, though there is not much of a rapid there.

Pinacle Rock rapid from upstream	The Wall rapid from upstream

5.2

The Wall. The river makes a quick left turn through a boulder field and ends along a large cement retaining wall, which protects the railway. This rapid is fairly technical with numerous rocks and holes to be avoided. At low water (around 1000 cfs) the path is tight for rafts. At higher flows (4000 cfs) the holes get big. At 10000 cfs the paths open up.

5.5

Unnamed. The river swings to left through a number of boulders and standing waves, ending in a large hole or, at low flows, a rock. Break the eddy line on the bottom right to avoid the hole.

Last Rapid from upstream	A river otter lounging on the rocks

5.9

Last Rapid, scout left, right at high flows
A boulder field with a small slot on the far river left. This is the only rapid that should be scouted, as it is a little dangerous if approached blind. Run the extreme left under 3000 cfs, as six feet from the left bank there is a powerful hole that can flip rafts. At higher flows a right side run opens up and the left side flows into a tree below the drop which must be avoided. At very high flows (15000 cfs) the center can be run. This rapid can be seen from the take-out.

6.0

The take-out is on river right at the beach just below Last Rapid, about half a mile upstream of the Dos Rios Bridge.

To reach take-out from there, continue north on highway 162. If you cross the Middle Fork of the Eel, you have gone too far. About half a mile before the Middle Fork bridge, there is a small parking area and an old gated road leading down to a beach.

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