New River Gorge

The New River in northern California is one of the best class 4-5 runs in the state. It starts out with several miles of mellow, scenic paddling before dropping into a committing gorge, chock full of fun and stout rapids. Once you have entered the main gorge the only exit is out the bottom, at the confluence with the Trinity River  in Burnt Ranch Gorge. This run sees very little attention, which is surprising given the quality whitewater that lies within its walls.  

The view from Highway 299 of the last part of the gorge, just downstream out of the picture is the confluence with the Trinity.

Orion and Crisler scouting the first rapid of the gorge.

Matt Porter running the first drop.

Damon Goodman runs the second gorge rapid. This is the entrance move in a larger rapid.

Chris Shehab running the second part of the previous drop. 

Looking back upstream from the top of the third rapid.

Orion Meredith runs a nice boof to start out the third drop.

Paul Fritze coming in hot at the bottom of the same drop.

O-face on a nice in-between boogie rapid.

Martin Belden running the bottom drop of the portage. This angle does not do the drop justice. It starts off up around the corner with a 7-8 foot sloper into a tight boxed-in hole. This bottom drop has to be run just left of center to avoid a nasty kicker flake on the right, but not too far left because of the bottom hole which feeds into an undercut.

Crisler buried in the same drop. 

Blind Faith. This drop lies just below the portage and gets its name from the fact that it would be very difficult, bordering on impossible to scout or portage. Run left and enjoy.

The crew below Blind Faith, deep in the goods.

Tombstone rapid. Crisler is just visible in the center of the photo probing the undercut. Yeehaw.

Matt Porter going for a mystery move in Tombstone.

Paul Fritze also enjoying the upstream view of the rapid. There was a nasty little f-u rock somewhere on the right side of the drop that was giving people a free back-paddling clinic.

Martin Belden dropping in to the top part of Tombstone.

The Russian (Peter) with a sick flake boof. Unfortunately it landed on rock, but looked steezy anyways.

O-dizzle, Tombstone.

Final Falls money boof. Orion Meredith.

Crisler cashing in some sky miles on the New.

Chris Shehab. Boofin away.

Damon Goodman styling Final Falls.

The final drop to the confluence with the Trinity consists of a semi-continuous section of class 4+ drops that is too much fun to even describe.

To reach the New River, follow Hwy. 299 to Hawkins Bar, just east of Willow Creek. Turn North on the Denny road and follow it for around 16 miles until there is a small dirt road that branches off on the right, and drops down a steep hill. At the bottom of the road there is an old campsite. Follow the trail from the parking area downhill to the river, and enjoy the ride.

We had flows of around 800-1000 cfs, which was perfect. This drainage is prone to rising very rapidly during and after heavy rainfall, and would become scary as hell with too much water. Avoid putting on during heavy rains or when the river looks like chocolate milk, and have fun.