NFAR1: Royal Gorge
Cedars Bridge to Sailor Flat Trail: Heath Falls on the North Fork American River, lying just above awesome, rugged and nearly inaccessible Royal Gorge, is estimated to be near 45 feet high. The falls, rock face and pool are picture book. Below the falls, the Congressionally designated Wild and Scenic River begins and runs downriver to the Tahoe National Forest boundary approximately 23 miles downriver. Within the gorge, there are several falls over 30’, and 20’ plunges are common. Access is strictly by trails, and non-motorized uses such as kayaks. In summary, the river is wild and Wild — even Congress says so.
...the river is wild and Wild — even Congress says so.
Only a handful of extreme- sport, experts’ experts have made the whitewater run...
DESCRIPTION:
Class V and by some accounts with some V+ and for the less experienced VI, 186 fpm, including several vertical VIs, several portages unless you are an expert and use kayaks capable of "steepcreeking" of the extreme class; recommended flow 700-1100 cfs; float 14 miles; shuttle 45.. We can not recommend the put-in off the county road and bridge just past The Cedars as the first three miles go through their lands entirely and trespassing is actively stopped. Parking is not permitted along the road.
Only a handful of extreme-sport, experts’ experts have made the whitewater run referred to as Royal Gorge. All of the adjacent lands to the river in the headwaters of the North Fork American are privately owned. Heath Falls lay on the last parcel of "The Cedars" a group of private landowners that began acquiring much of the headwaters of the river in the last few years of the 1800s. They now own about 10,000 acres upriver of the falls and have lovingly protected the nearly wild nature of their area. The lands are often patrolled, and trespassers are often arrested. I can’t advise attempting to run this section of river given the debatable legality of crossing their private land. Certainly, if you are injured or for any reason have to climb out of the river and cross private lands, you can be arrested.
Still, some kayakers chose to put-in at the Cedars Bridge and run the river over Heath Falls and Heath Falls#2 through the private lands. In about three miles, the river enters the strip of congressionally designated Wild River that tops out against the parcel of private land including the base of the falls. There are no limitations beyond there except the rugged river and nearly inaccessible canyon.
To the western, lower end of Royal Gorge, the 14-mile run is detailed by eddyflower.com with an average gradient of 186 fpm. He classes the difficulty as V but other kayakers bump it up to Class V+. Jared Seiler of Team Pyranna described his adventure: "There are multiple marginal waterfalls and continuous pool drop class 5+ rapids littered throughout the gorge. Most all of them have been run, however, some are just insane. The Royal Gorge is the most beautiful place I have ever been kayaking and contains some of the biggest drops I had ever seen. Truly an awesome run." Their images of the Gorge are both beautiful and overwhelming. Given long in-and-out access, plus falls and rapids that almost universally beg for scouting, the run is considered a 3-day adventure.
Here’s another great set of images by Nikki Kelley.
Once it enters the designated Wild River corridor, access to the this upper stretch of the river is strictly by hiking or horse but requiring at least a 14-mile roundtrip including dropping – and then climbing, climbing the nearly 1900 elevation change from trailhead to river. Much of the trail gradient is steep also. Motorized vehicle access to the Wild River is prohibited. To top it off, the upper trailhead requires driving a marginally-suitable dirt road but only after the snow melts at the 6800 elevations. Not to mention, the unmentionables – the resident mosquitoes outnumber the trees and some hikers claim they are bigger. Yet, Heath Falls is one of the most scenic here in the Central Sierras. For more trail details see Palisade Creek Trail.
Below Palisades Creek, majestic Royal Gorge begins with dramatic Rattlesnake Falls. Not only can you see it up close and intimately, I’ve stood behind the river-wide curtain of 40’ high, vertical free falling falls -- my kind of intimacy with Ma Nature. Few have seen the bottom of the gorge below here, but in low water you can scramble along the water’s edge as long as you don’t minding getting a bit wet, rock-hopping or clamoring up over sheer rock bluffs. Other than that handful of kayakers, very, very few have traveled from the top to bottom of the gorge. Check out description and slides by the Mother Lode Sierra Club’s Gorge Scramble Trip Descriptions. Did I say, this country is wild? Congress got it right, for once.
Additional Directions continued from below:
The county road is the only public right-of-way. So launching kayaks at the bridge plus hiking Painted Rock Trail are best done by arranging for someone to drop users off. Or you can leave vehicles by continuing 1.0 mile southwest past the trailhead to where Road #51 intersects from the south. Parking there is okay.
The county road continues west and joins the Foresthill Divide Road east of Robinsons Flat Campground. High clearance vehicles are recommended if you want to continue over the section before joining the Foresthill Divide Road. The rougher segment does make a nice Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) style drive and will continue by blacktopped road into Foresthill. Or above Foresthill you can cut north to the Sugar Pine Lake and follow the signs to Iowa Hill and continue onto Colfax and I-80. The Foresthill Divide road is the scenic route, but not the fastest shuttle.
The quickest shuttle requires returning to I-80. Turn left (west) towards Sacramento. Exit right to Colfax. Cross I-80 to the south side and follow road signs to Iowa Hill. The public-use boat take-out point is within Mineral Bar Campground on the River.
Via Palisade Creek Trail: The unrestricted public access utilizes the 7.0 miles Palisade Creek Trail. Pretty. But a pretty long way to drag a kayak.
DIRECTIONS:
To NFAR1: Royal Gorge
To the North Fork River Bridge south of The Cedars: From I-80 take Soda Springs / Norden exit and drive east for 0.8 mile on Old Highway 40 (Donner Pass Road). Turn right (south) on Soda Springs Road continuing past Ice Lakes and the great lodge. After pavement ends, continue on somewhat-rough, unpaved road until you’ve crossed Onion Creek and continue south through The Cedars and to the NFAR Bridge. From Donner Pass Road it is about 8.7 miles south to the North Fork American River Bridge. Also, after passing The Cedars (North Fork Association of property owners) complex of cabins, continue south for a little over a half mile.
You cannot park here or anywhere on lands owned by the North Fork Association within “The Cedars” and the surrounding lands owned by the Association... Continued in Description:
ACTIVITIES:
Fishing (Rating: Good)
But ease of access is poor, very demanding, very!
The deep pools of cold, clean water are arguably more numerous than any other segment of river in the Central Sierras. The trout are there. Lots. Rainbows, browns and in the upper reaches, brookies. I’ve never heard from an angler that made it out of there to give us a creel census, but I have seen a photo of a catch of a rainbow easily over 18 inches.
Getting there and scrambling around the gorge by far are the biggest deterrents to fishing. From the Palisades Creek Trail there are several holes that can be scrambled to with a fair amount or rock hopping. From the Sailor Flat Trail below where the river spurts out of the gorge, anglers can scramble up the river for a short distance. I could mention the historic miners’ trail that plunges down to the river below Wabena Falls, but I can’t imagine sane anglers wanting to access the river for fishing. But, add in the adventure of seeing the falls, and carrying the fishing pole along, I can support that.
Down river there are saner, but totally back-country access points with demanding hikes including long, steep climbs back out of the canyon options. Personally, I’d rather camp alongside the river and eat fresh trout for breakfast and supper, than carry the extra pounds up the long trails.
The entire river from Palisades Creek downriver to the Iowa Hill bridge are managed as a wild trout fishery. Still another “wild” to add to the list for the North Fork American.
Whitewater Thrills (Rating: Good)
"Good" but a handfull of experts, skilled enough for the adventure, have rated it exceptional.
Steep, steep, overly steep for all but crazy or skilled fanatics – or better yet, split personalities with both. The take-out shortly below the gorge either is dragging boats up miles of steep trails with climbs of 1700’ or higher, or continue down the 12-mile Class V Generation Gap and then 15-mile Class V Giant Gap runs. The Iowa Hill Road bridge offers the nearest chance to rejoin vehicles.
Check out the images I’ve linked above in the description. These awesome photos will be the closest many of us will get to the heart of the gorge. Thanx for sharing guys and gals.
NEARBY LOCATIONS:
Campgrounds
- Forbes Creek Group Campground:
- Giant Gap Campground
- Robinsons Flat Campground
- Shirttail Creek Campground
