Summary: This is great wilderness run with a good mix of boulder gardens and bedrock rapids. Class IV+ to V- in difficulty. The first three miles of run are mostly high quality IV+ / V-. Then gradient mellows and the next 4 to 5 miles slide away quickly with some occasional class IV to keep you on your toes. Next, you cash out on the gradient bank with the last ½ mile being the steepest of the run. The inconsistent gradient/difficulty keeps this run from being a classic. Most similar comparisons would be to Canyon creek (SF Yuba trib), SF Tuolumne, and Lavezzola Creek. Predictable ideal flows (even simple gauge readings) would yield paddlers here on a regular basis.
Flow: Currently the crux of End of the World Run is finding the right flow. American Whitewater hosted a whitewater boating flow study in 2010 and secured access to Placer County Water Agency gages which are now
provided on its website. February 2023 update: American Whitewater is working add this gage to this river page.
_Note:_ Based on the algae growth in the riverbed, it appears this run has boatable flows much more often than common wisdom in paddling circles would suggest.
- Minimum = ~300 cfs at put-in, ~400 cfs by takeout
- Medium = 500-600 cfs at take-out
- High = ???
One tributary (Mosquito Creek) joins the run approximately 2.5 to 3 miles in. In May of a big water year, this added about 30 cfs.
Put-in: Interbay Dam (sometimes referred to as End of the World Powerhouse) at about 2440’ elevation. Paved roads all the way. From the take-out drive up Mosquito Ridge Road, then turn right on the road leading to Interbay Dam and Middle Fork Powerplant. Access the river a short ways below the dam.
Take-out: Picnic area just above Oxbow Reservoir at about 1160’ elevation on river right just above brigde. Paved roads all the way.
Portages: Two or three recommended but not mandatory.
1. (Low water only) shallow rapid where the river bends to the left in the first Quarter mile. Potential portage to avoid shallow boulder jumble
2. ~1/2 mile above take-out. Double drop of ~10’ into a stout hole w/ undercut on the left + sieve on the right.
3. ~1/2 mile above take-out. Ledge hole of ~8’, highest drop viewable from take-out road. Note this has a must make eddy on the river left that is challenging. Many choose to walk this rapid instead of chance making this eddy. You can keep walking from the prior portage on the left so that you portage both rapids in one effort. It is a tough (5-10 min) portage with some poison oak but most conservative V boaters agree it is worth it to just keep portaging.
A solid crew of class V boaters should budget about five hours for this run.
Other Information Sources:
Middle Fork American River Project Relicensing
Existing Resources Overview pdf
Placer County Water Agency
Upper American River Foundation
UCDavis Hydra Center, flow study news release