Yuba South Fork Washington to Edwards

Despite a portage, this long scenic tour is the easiest run on the South Yuba, though it has several tricky class IV rapids, one potentially dangerous. In most years kayakers have sufficient flows for several months or more, although for rafters the flow window can be short or sporadic.

The run starts off with class II-III rapids thru hydraulic mining debris, with several powerful ledge drops interspersed. Just before mile 11 you encounter a >4 meter waterfalls, probably unrunnable due to sieves and rock debris (2010). There is a moderately difficult portage on the left, and an easier but risky low-water portage on the right. Below the waterfalls is a class IV-V rapid with recirculating eddy that claimed the life of kayaker Art Capacite in 1996 at 1200 cfs. In 2003 at a flow of 2050 cfs, kayaker David Edrington also died somewhere on this run.

mile 0

Put in at the campground in the small town of Washington. Parking fee $10 a day (2010). Easy rapids begin immediately. Upstream is an excellent class IV run.

1.1

Poorman Creek enters on the right.

Boulder drop amid mining debris	One of the best bedrock ledge drops

5

Cabin on the left bank. Good campsites on the right above and below.

Mild bedrock drops in a staircase	You might want to scout this one

6.5

Missouri Creek enters on the right. Faint trails approach the river.

Boulders below a long rock slalom	End of tricky class IV boulder maze

8.5 A well-used backpacking camp on the right bank, just above a ledge drop.

10

Humbug Creek enters on the right. Rapids are more difficult downstream.

10.3

A long boulder slalom obscured by large rocks and willows, class IV.

11

Waterfall, class V+, portage left.

Innocent-looking class II above Waterfall	Still looks OK from start of portage

Waterfall is full of entrapment hazards	Pool below the Waterfall portage

11.2

Capacite Falls, class IV-V, possibly scout right. Start far left, or cut from center to left, then paddle decisively down the middle to avoid bad eddies on either side, especially left.

Capacite Falls is long and turbulent	This does not show the bad side eddies

11.5

Trail appears on right bank, bringing many hikers from the nearby road.

One of many good drops below	Big hydraulics not far from take-out

14

Take out on the left above the bridge, and climb a trail to the road, where you find an outhouse and many parking spots.

Shuttle Directions

To reach take-out, turn north onto highway 49 from highway 20 past Nevada City. In only .3 mile, turn right onto North Bloomfield road. After another .6 mile, turn right at a T intersection and drive downhill on a paved road to Edwards Crossing. Parking is available uphill south of the bridge.

To reach put-in from there, return to Nevada City, and turn west on highway 20, drive about 13 miles, turn north at the sign for Washington, and descend to this small friendly town on the river. The campground put-in is just before the historic district.

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