Yuba, N. Fork - A) Wild Plum Campground to Downieville


Yuba, N. Fork, California, US

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A) Wild Plum Campground to Downieville (Sierra City Run)

Usual Difficulty IV-V (for normal flows)
Length 13 Miles
Avg. Gradient 108 fpm
Max Gradient 120 fpm

Loves Falls first drop


Loves Falls first drop
Photo of Pete Giordano by Gabe Flock taken 05/15/03

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
N YUBA R BL GOODYEARS BAR CA
usgs-11413000 250 - 2500 cfs IV-V 00h43m 267 cfs (rc= 0.0 )


River Description

The uppermost North Fork Yuba River's steepest section, the Wild Plum Run.
AKA: the Sierra City run.
This run can be notched up considerably by adding the Love Falls section above the Pacific Crest Trail bridge.
Late winter and early spring rain and snow events frequently bump this run up quickly.
This run offers clear cold water, beautiful and challenging rapids in steep gradient.
Also reference: "California Whitewater, Third Edition" Jim Cassady & Fryar Calhoun



StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2006-03-30 19:43:14

Editors



Loves Falls above Wild Plum

Detail Trip Report  Loves Falls above Wild Plum  North Fork Yuba, CA(363.04KB .jpeg)

Loves Falls first drop

Detail Trip Report  Loves Falls first drop  North Fork Yuba, CA(92.73KB .jpeg)


Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

This gauge is visual.
* Note: The suggested minimum and maximum flows for this run are based upon the gauge at Goodyears Bar. The actual flows at Wild Plum put-in will be approximately 60% of the Goodyears Bar gauge because the Goodyears Bar gauge includes contribution from major drainages below the Wild Plum run.

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
N YUBA R BL GOODYEARS BAR CA
usgs-11413000 250 - 2500 cfs IV-V 00h43m 267 cfs (rc= 0.0 )

RangeWater LevelDifficultyComment
250 -2500 cfs barely runnable-high runnable IV-V

Report - Reports of Yuba, N. Fork A) Wild Plum Campground to Downieville and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
North Fork Yuba [CA] Loves Falls above Wild Plum low Craig Irwin
8y274d14h28m North Fork Yuba [CA] Loves Falls first drop n/a Craig Irwin

WXPort

News





User Comments
2004-10-17 18:18:32 (2673 days ago)
Craig IrwinDetails
Wild Plum to Downieville has a high alpine start, drops swiftly into tight rapids, blind sweeping
class IV/V with a lead into the green moss covered rocky canyon reaches above Moss Canyon. Once
into the steep and fast Moss Canyon you will meet up with Boss Moss, Floss Moss and Lower Moss
Rapids, when they conclude you might wash up in Downieville.<br>
This run is frequently underestimated at high water, where its a screaming run.<br>
Rosassco Canyon lies below the confluence of the North Fork Yuba and the Downie River in
Downieville.
Users can submit comments.

Rapid Summary

Mile Rapid Name Class Features (Legend)
0.0Loves Falls5.0Putin Waterfall Photo
0.0Put-InPutin
2.4WhorehouseIVWaterfall
2.9Gillespie DamIVPortage Hazard
5.1Highway RapidIVAccess
6.5Ladies Canyon Rapid5.0Waterfall
7.0Union Flat CampgroundIIIAccess
9.1Moss Canyon5.0Waterfall
9.2Boss Moss5.0Waterfall
9.3Floss MossIVWaterfall
10.5Shangri-LaIIIAccess
12.9Downie CreekIIITakeout

Rapid Descriptions

Loves Falls (Class 5.0)

Loves Falls above Wild Plum

Loves Falls above Wild Plum
Photo of Loves Falls North Fork Yuba River by Craig Irwin taken April 2000 @ low

Loves Falls are a series of pool-drop cascades that vary considerably with volume. This area is just below Salmon Creek coming down from the Sierra Buttes.

Put-In
Travel HWY 49 North East from Downieville for 12 miles to Sierra City. Continue uphill through Sierra City and turn right following signs to Wild Plum Campground. Put-in is available at first bridge crossing 1/2 mile from HWY 49.

Whorehouse (Class IV, Mile 2.4)
This rapid begins with a quick shelf that slides river right up against an undercut wall. Different levels can make this rapid a portage for some boaters.

Gillespie Dam (Class IV, Mile 2.9)
this dam should be scouted the hole can get retentive and the dam debris downstream is a hazard

Highway Rapid (Class IV, Mile 5.1)
the first view of HWY49 from the creek

Ladies Canyon Rapid (Class 5.0, Mile 6.5)
Scout this rapid from the road on the way up. Or, scout river left. Caution: higher flows cause Ladies Canyon hole to be riverwide. This is a hole that you want to be upright after hitting because you are headed directly into action.

Union Flat Campground (Class III, Mile 7.0)
This campground is typically used by rafters running commercial trips.

Moss Canyon (Class 5.0, Mile 9.1)
Moss Canyon is away from the road and becomes a section of this run not to forget at high water. This beautiful, tight canyon packs rapids with big holes behind big rocks. Lots of twisting rapids with momentum-stopper holes.

Boss Moss (Class 5.0, Mile 9.2)
The big daddy hole in Moss Canyon

Floss Moss (Class IV, Mile 9.3)
One of several good rapids with constrictions and stomper holes that finish off the Moss Canyon.

Shangri-La (Class III, Mile 10.5)
The river bends from right to left, Jim Crow Creek enters river left, the Shangri-La resort has stone walls at the river and a bridge crossing the North Fork Yuba.

Downie Creek (Class III, Mile 12.9)
When you see Downie Creek enter river right, you are in Downieville. Cross under the first bridge and takeout river right.


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 A) Wild Plum Campground to Downieville, Yuba, N. Fork California, US (mobile)