Yuba North Fork near Goodyear Bar

For information about boating this river segment with a commercial outfitter, see California Whitewater Rafting.

The Holbek/Stanley book says the stretch below Goodyear Bar makes a good intermediate run, but I think those 9 miles are too tough for that (the Kern below Borel Powerhouse is a better class III-IV transitional run). Besides class V- Maytag, boaters must contend with two solid class IV rapids, Two Pair and Son of Maytag. It seems better just to call this an advanced run and combine it with Rossasco Ravine upstream. Although nearby highway 49 degrades the scenery somewhat, it does provide a convenient escape route if the river proves too much for you.

At high flows, boaters sometimes swim for a long distance in cold water. In 1995 one commercial rafting passenger died after such a swim at 4000 cfs. I personally know one woman who would have perished if an alert camper had not plucked her from the water above the highway 49 bridge. Upstream in Rossasco Ravine, a high-water 1995 commercial rafting death is listed in the AWA accidents database, but my memory is that more deaths have occurred on that section of the North Yuba.

An inflatable kayak run at lower flows is attractive for two reasons: first, there is less chance of flush drowning, and second, the weather is much warmer in late spring or early summer, when flows recede. Although the Holbek book lists 700 cfs as the minimum flow, this is because of wide and shallow boulder bars that are pin hazards, so inflatable kayaks work at 600 cfs or perhaps lower.

The North Yuba at low water in October

The North Yuba area makes a fine destination, with plenty of good camping and fine dining in Downieville, a mountain biking mecca. Reservations are recommended for motels in Downieville; see websites for the Downieville Inn and the Riverside Inn. There are also plenty of USFS campgrounds in the area. After Memorial Day, campsites are hard to get on Friday evening.

mile
0

Put in on the right bank below the first bridge undercrossing.

.8

Rossasco Ravine begins, and continues for over a mile. This section becomes more difficult and dangerous as flows increase.

Big Dummy, the first class V rapid, is a chute into a tremendously large hole that gets sticky at high flows. Portaging is possible on the left (AKA Cathy's Carry).

The next rapid, class V- Flake, involves a narrow chute between large flakes of a huge boulder. Some small boaters choose to run it, but there is an easy portage just to the left, which becomes a runnable chute at higher flows.

Next comes Little Dummy, a smaller version of its upstream namesake. Be careful at high flows because of the rapid below.

Just downstream is class V- Parallel Parking (AKA Giant Slalom), a complex boulder slalom. This can be portaged on the right, perhaps with aid of the road.

2

Rapids taper off to merely class II.

3.5

River access on river right near the town of Goodyear Bar. Plenty of parking and a good trail down to the river, reachable on highway 49 about 1/4 mile past the Goodyear Bar turnoff.

4.2

Rock Creek enters on the right. Some class III boulder bars appear.

5.7

Ramshorn, class IV-, possibly island scout
The river splits around islands. The center channel, eventually feeding to the right, has (in the past) had the most water, but is still bony at low flows. This rapid is rated class IV because strainers can wash into and get caught in the center channel.

8.9

Two Pair, class IVe, scout right, maybe left
A class III rapid leads to the brink of a bedrock outcropping that creates a tricky rapid at most flows. On the right, the first drop is slanted and uneven, causing a tough entrance into a calmer channel above the second drop, which is more straightforward. Oddly enough, you might want to go sideways over the first drop to reduce your tilt. The left side would appear to offer a sneak route, although a rafter was pinned and died there in April 1999. In June 2000 a kayaker was pinned and died on the right side. Two Pair's class 4E rating means class IV difficulty with class V danger.

10.1

Humbug Creek enters on the left at a large rock outcropping.

10.2

Maytag, AKA Mixmaster, class V-, scout left or right
A steep foamy chute pours into a large hole, backed up by a rock just downstream; the left wall juts out just below that. Enter left of center, because there is a bad undercut on the right side. If not immediately followed by a class IV, Maytag might be less feared. Photo sequence © 1998 by raft guide Nick Aghazarian (www.AceProgrammer.com), appearing with permission.

Raft enters on left side of the tongue	Nick lines up perfectly into the first reversal
Nick sets up a backferry away from the hole	The paddler in yellow is leaning out too far
Paddler in yellow disappears underwater	Alert bow paddler pulls raft out of the hole!
Safety raft ready to rescue paddler in yellow	Son of Maytag is visible in the distance

10.4

Son of Maytag, class IV, scout while scouting Maytag
Just below a curling wave that flips many rafts whose crews got overconfident after Maytag, the current bends left. Swift class II-III water continues for a distance, exacerbating the risk of long swims.

12

Fiddle Creek Campground, possible take-out.

12.2

Carlton Campground, last possible easy take-out.

13

Highway 49 bridge, with plenty of free parking but steep banks. Downstream, class IV rapids continue for 6 miles to the slack water of New Bullard's Bar reservoir. Whitewater Voyages offers commercial rafting trips on this stretch, with houseboat partying while you wait to motor 12 miles to vehicle access.

To reach put-in from there, continue upriver until reaching the town of Downieville. Park in the public square on the right. A beach and river bridge are nearby.

 Creeks Navigation

 Sponsored Links