Ziemer's Falls

Leaving the pool below Monastery, there are a few good rocky outcroppings and boulderbed rock-dodge rapids before the river returns to flatwater again. The next exciting drop is Ziemer's Falls, class II+ or III depending on flows (you may see it marked as Gilmer Falls on some maps). The river will turn left, then right, down a small sloping ledge. Many families swim in this area, bodily sliding down the first falls, or taking a 'hydro-massage' in its base. You may wish to get out in the huge river-left eddy to scout, though confident boaters can eddy-hop and boat-scout their way (don't hit any kids!). At good release levels, this initial ledge/hole is fine for surfs and spins, though it can get steep and 'squirrely'. A short pool leads to the right and spills across shallow bedrock. A few minor wave/holes may exist here. The flow then necks-down between walls of rock, and heads straight toward a large hump of rock which divides the bottom of the drop, providing two routes to finish this drop. Boaters may catch an eddy on river left, then paddle into the current and follow the flow down a jumbled chute river-left. Or, you can ferry across current and hit the flow of water on river-right. At low levels rocks may be an issue -- stay as close to the right wall as possible.