I think is the location of the trailhead to the SF Road.  (It has been awhile since I have personally hiked it.)   The SF Road does go down this drainage and then out onto the east facing ridge above the South Fork Tuolumne.   The route is marked as a trail on the topo map, and it is also visible for much of the distance in aerial photos.

Rafts in Rock Garden rapid

Rafts in Rock Garden rapid

Photo by Paul Martzen

At low summer flows around 1300 cfs, many raft guides consider this the hardest rapid on the river because the river is wide and there are rocks everywhere.  Typically rafts enter on river right, then about the middle of the rapid work their way through boulders to the river left side.    Lots of rafts hang up in the middle of this rapid and all the other rafts at the top have to wait till the stuck raft gets clear. 

Kayakers can work their way down through any part of the rapid without a lot of difficulty.   Just eddy hop and pick your way.

Evan below Nemesis

Evan below Nemesis

Photo of by Daniel Lundberg taken 04/28/07 @ 900 cfs

This is a very long complicated rapid with a number of distinct levels.   At low flows both rafts and kayaks have to maneuver their way past numerous rocks and drop offs.  

It is a really tricky rapid that tends to wrap rafts or at least get them very stuck. It is characterized by a long, easy entrance and current that drives into some rocks called "the Jacks." At low water, the classic run is down the right side and then entereing a tricky chute down the middle. Most wraps occur when rafts eddy out on the right just above the tricky chute. The eddy is very tough to leave and they end up wrapped above the chute. At higher water(about 3,000 cfs and above), the middle becomes much more exciting with holes and big waves. At these flows, there is a nice cheat line on the far right. The kayaking lines are pretty much the same and there are probably 5 or 6 fun lines for competent, adventurous kayakers.

Hey! Let's party in the bottom hole!

Hey! Let's party in the bottom hole!

Photo by Paul Martzen

The river makes a sharp turn to the right, then picks up speed as it flows in a fairly straight line against the right side wall.   The top half of the rapid is fairly open with numerous rocks forming eddies.  At low summer flows, boaters can eddy hop down a ways till the river drops down a steep narrow chute.    Several big holes wait at the bottom of the chute, occupying the center and right.    The typical route is down the center of the chute then power left before the bottom. 

This rapid is named for Dick Sunderland, an early California river running pioneer.

A busy rapid with a large rock in the center of the river near the bottom that creates a large hole at high flows. 

This rapid is named for Bob Hackamack, who is still active in protecting the wild and scenic Tuolumne river. 

Below Ram's Head

Below Ram's Head

Photo by Daniel Lundberg taken 04/28/07 @ 900 cfs

Another very long rapid that narrows as it goes.  A big rock occupies the center waves near the bottom of the rapid.   At high flows this rock forms a big hole which requires a lot of work to avoid. 

Who put that house in my river?

Who put that house in my river?

Photo of Class IV Stern Rapid by Matt Urdan taken 05/28/01 @ 1250 cfs

Large boulders block much of the river, especially at low flows.  A narrow channel remains between the left cliff wall and a very large boulder.   It is a cliff formed hallway.  Kayakers have to stay straight, but it is really tight for rafts.  Oarboats have to make sure their oars do not hang up on the walls. 

A center route is good at higher flows, but is shallow and tricky at low summer flows. 

Class V Clavey Falls

Class V Clavey Falls

Photo of This 10 foot drop is the highlight of the Main Tuolumne by Matt Urdan taken 05/28/01 @ 1250 cfs

The first of two drops in this staircase rapid are the biggest. An 8-foot sem-verticald rop on the right, called "The Falls" takes boats into a foaming current that pushes them toward the left wall. The second drop is guarded by a boat-crunching hole across the left half of the river. There is a left-side run that avoids the Falls but also leads to the big hole. Portage on the right, Set safety downstream. The most dangerous part of this rapid is "Dinosaur Rock" at the bottom of the rapid. Few people rarely walk down to scout it and many boats hit it. It is fairly easy to wrap or flip on this rock at flows above 2,000 cfs. Even if you miss the rock to the left, there is a steep eddy line that will flip a raft or throw a few paddlers out. Kayakers that float over this line may end up in a tricky eddy behind the rock. There have been two deaths on this rapid, both above 8,000 cfs and both kayakers. Kayaks that paddle over the top of Dinosaur end up getting caught in a part of the rock that split off on the back side. This would be horrible place to swim, but it's worse in a kayak, because a kayak can easily pin here.

Boat-Crunching Clavey Hole

Boat-Crunching Clavey Hole

Photo of Clavey Hole by Matt Urdan taken 05/28/01 @ 1250 cfs

The picture was taken at a low flow of 1250 cfs. The hole is just downstream of Clavey Falls and virtually unavoidable -- a boat-cruncher. After the high water year of 2005, some rocks shifted below the hole, which changed it's character. At low water, this used to be a steep 2-3 foot drop into a sticky hole. Now, that feature is pretty much gone and instead it's a tricky manuever between boulders and the potential to wrap a boat has increased. The hole is most fierce at higher flows when it's steep and surges unpredictably. It's possible to avoid the hole completely, but then you're set up to run right into Dinosaur Rock, so most people hit the edge of the hole. At high water, Clavey Hole is still as fierce as ever.

This rapid is probably the most fun on the Tuolumne. It's about half a mile long full of rocks, holes, and waves. At lower water(below 1500 cfs), it's a zigzag between rocks and over drops. At about 2500 cfs, a big hole appears at the entrance on the right. You can skirt this hole by running a technical left route. At flows above 4000 cfs, this hole can easily flip rafts which would lead to a long swim.

Thread the Needle rapid

Thread the Needle rapid

Photo by Paul Martzen

There is an easy route on river left at all flows.  A more exciting center route goes between the two huge boulders, but can not be recommended. The center boulder appears to be undercut and the current pushes directly into it. 

On my first trip down the T, I and another novice kayaker followed one of our leaders through the narrow slot and vertical drop on the far river right.   At the bottom he turned, saw us behind him and cried out, "My god, you were not supposed to follow me through there!"   It always seemed like the way to go ever since.   Pmartzen

A large boulder bar / boulder field on the left pushes the channel over against the right wall.  The river has cut two channels across the top of the boulder field, but the main channel is the furthest right.  The rapid drops steeply to the right, then curves steadily back to the left. 

This is a fun and very exciting rapid.  At normal flows, it's a technical line through huge boulders right down the middle. At the higher flows (above 5,000 cfs) you'll want to start looking for lines down the left side to avoid the huge powerful waves in the center.