MFAR4: "Lower MFAR" Ruck-a-Chucky - Mammoth Bar
The seven river miles of the Middle Fork American River from Ruck-a-Chucky to popular Murderer’s Bar take-out area are a mostly gentle Class II whitewater run. As the put-in and take-out are only minutes above Auburn the family-level runs are more popular. The take-out lies shortly above razor sharp rocks and a hooked turn at Class V Murderers Bar Rapids that can be murder both as an EXPERT run or even a boulder scaling portage. Instead, get out at Mammoth Bar. Good parking, paved road.
...mostly gentle Class II whitewater run.
Runs are safe only when the spring snowmelt runoff has ended and waters have warmed...
DESCRIPTION:
Morning releases at Oxbow arrive in this segment of the Lower Middle American in late afternoon and families will take the fun run down to Mammoth. Much of the flow is gravel-bar rapids with a couple of fun rapids at least worthy of their own names. Experienced leaders should decide positioning and where to enter individual rapids. Runs are safe only when the spring snowmelt runoff has ended and waters have warmed—usually by 4th of July weekend. Life vests are a must
With the removal of the construction materials at the Auburn Dam site the river below there is recognized as a rafting opportunity and being developed in 2008 by the Auburn Recreation Area. Stay tuned.
DIRECTIONS:
To MFAR4: "Lower MFAR" Ruck-a-Chucky - Mammoth Bar
See Ruck-a-Chucky Campground and Mammoth Bar OHV Area.
ACTIVITIES:
Fishing (Rating: Good)
Ok, good-minus on the thought that there is no bad day fishing. Below the Ruck-a-Chucky Rapids the river is not very productive for game fish. The lower down river, more common is a decent population of small mouth bass. Non-game fish are more abundant too.
Whitewater Thrills (Rating: Good)
Comparatively gentle run that can be suitable for fun family runs that have proper gear and adult supervision. But important to wait until the spring, snowmelt runoff decreases and the water temperature have warmed. Late afternoon runs are best.
