Troublemaker Rapids

USA / California / Placerville /
 river rapid / white water  Add category
S-Turn, AKA Troublemaker (class 3+), scout left.
The river enters a boulder garden, followed by a falls, with an S channel on the far left. The rapid's name describes your route well. At lower flows, the true path is narrow indeed. If you shade right, a large diagonal wave tends to flip kayaks. If you go far left, you end up in an eddy that is hard to exit. Precise placement into the gut of the hole surfs you next to a big rock on the left below, then thru a steep channel along Gunsight rock, where rafts often end up wrapped.
Advanced boaters might want to eddy left, then ferry across the hole, exiting to the right of Gunsight rock.
In any case, the swim isn't too bad, but keep your feet up.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_River
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   38°47'58"N   120°53'0"W

Comments

  • This is the place they take your picture when you're in trouble. haha
This article was last modified 8 years ago