Hazard Warning: Hazard information may be user-submitted and unverified. Conditions change frequently. Always scout rapids and obstacles yourself.
Rapid CA

Redinger Dam

San Joaquin - 3. Horseshoe Bend (Redinger Dam to Kerckhoff Reservoir) (CA)

Monitor this Rapid
Gauge Conditions
SAN JOAQUIN River Above WILLOW Creek Near AUBERRY CA Upstream Primary
Runnable: ? – ? CFS

Approximate - nearest available gauge. Use as general reference only.

Data from American Whitewater & USGS
CDEC Flow Data California
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER NFW Primary
Elevation: 5,200 ft
Data from California Data Exchange Center (CDEC)
Photo
Redinger Dam
Photo courtesy of American Whitewater
Description

Redinger Dam diverts 3,600 cfs to the Big Creek #4 Powerhouse and controls flows into Horseshoe Bend. During spill events, the gates rotate upwards slightly to create a gap underneath to release water.  The gap under the gate is usually 10 or 15 feet below the surface of the reservoir, so the water released is cold.  One gate open is typical. Two gates open means really big water and only the hard core will want to challenge themselves.

Some people do or have launched just downstream of the dam, but getting to the river requires descending steep and very exposed slabs that are very wet and very slimy.  A better but still very steep put in route is to descend a trail from the access road gate to the gauging station,

Location
Type
Rapid
Difficulty
Class N/A
Mile Marker
0.0 mi
Directions
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View Full Run
3. Horseshoe Bend (Redinger Dam to Kerckhoff Reservoir)
San Joaquin
III-IV(V) 7.0 mi
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater