San Joaquin, Middle Fork, California, US

Devils Postpile Nat'l Monument to Mammoth Pool Reservoir

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Photo of Taylor Robertson by Darin McQuoid

Gauge Information

River Description

The Middle Fork of the San Joaquin is now getting boated by one to several groups a year in most years.   It seems likely this incredible canyon will become steadily more popular.

More and more of the drops are being run, but many portages are still necessary. The famous Crucible section is often paddled now, so that big portage has been eliminated by some groups.

Season:  This reach must be boated as flows drop near the very end of the run off season.  Often this will be in July.  In wet years, the best boating levels could be in August. 

Put-in elevation: 7,545 feet (2300 meters)
Take-out elevation: 3,330 feet (1,015 meters)+- (varies with elevation of Mammoth Pool)

Google Earth has excellent hi resolution aerial images of much of this section.

Put in:  
It is not legal to paddle within Devils Postpile itself, so hike boats downstream on the trail to the monument boundary before launching.

Other Information Sources:
Devil's Postpile Headquarters: 760-934-2289
<7 rivers
Triple Crown story
Wikipedia - Devil's Postpile
Devil's Postpile

Jefferson State Creeking Blog by Darin Mquoid
Devil's Postpile V-V+ (P) [Middle Fork San Joaquin] -Day One-
Devil's Postpile V-V+ (P) [Middle Fork San Joaquin] -Day Two-
Devil's Postpile V-V+ (P) [Middle Fork San Joaquin] -Day Three-

A GUIDE TO THE BEST WHITEWATER IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, HOLBEK & STANLEY, 1988

Class: V-VI