Mile By Mile Guide

Mile 0 Put in on the right bank at Chili Bar downstream from the Highway 193 bridge (small fee). Chili Br phone 530-642-1669. The American River Conservancy has purchased an easement guaranteeing this public access to the river. Though mis-spelled, Chili Bar was named for Chilean miners who worked here during the Gold Rush.

Miles 0.6 Meat Grinder (III+). A long, rough rock garden with big waves and a hidden boulder at the bottom. This is a rapid you do not want to swim.

Mile 1.3 Racehorse Bend (III-) A sharp left bend forces boats toward the right wall.

Mile 1.5 Maya (II-III) No problem at low water, but at high flows big, dangerous holes block the channel. Look for a sneak route on the far right.

Mile 3 Site of old miner's cabin on the right bank.

Mile 3.1 Triple Threat (III) - Three separate drops; the first two are the more difficult. Exposed rocks at low water, strong hydraulics at high flows. The third drop is after a sharp left hand bend. Great lunch site with composting restrooms.

Mile 5.1 TroubleMaker (III+) The biggest rapid on the Chili Bar stretch, a river-wide ledge strewn with boulders, is almost always run on the far left. Scout on the left, but stay close to the river and avoid walking through the private campsites.

Miles 5.2-10.6 Easy class I and II rapids.

Mile 5.7 Marshall Gold Discovery Park on the left bank

Mile 7.1 Old Scary (II-) Once, the most difficult rapid on the Coloma-Lotus section. Rearranged by the 1982 flood.

Mile 7.4 Highway 49 Bridge.

Mile 8 River Access--Henningsen-Lotus County Park.

Mile 9 River Access--Camp Lotus. Long the favorite meeting place for private boaters. Store, hot showers, toilets, camping on green grass.

Mile 10.6 Current Divider (II+) A rocky chute with a wrap rock in the center.

Mile 15.8 Fowler's Rock (III) First big rapid in the gorge. River bends left into a short pool, then back to the right where a boulder

Mile 16.9 Satan's Cesspool (III+) The biggest rapid in the gorge. At the end of a large pool the river pours over a sharp drop (Lost Hat) then bends left and right into a bigger drop against the left wall. May be scouted on the left, but most boats run the big drop and back-curling wave. Watch out for Dead Man's Drop just below the main rapid.

Mile 17.4 Scissors (III) The river turns left down a narrow rocky chute with big irregular waves.

Mile 17.6 Lower Haystack Canyon (II+) Big standing waves and short drops in a narrow section of the gorge.

Mile 18.2 Bouncing Rock (III) Big but runnable hole on far right.

Mile 18.6 Hospital Bar (III) Last big ride in the gorge, a rocky chute that bends left then right into a hole. Big side curling waves at the bottom.

Mile 18.8 Recovery Room (II+) Clean drops and big waves.

Mile 20.5 Take-Out. Salmon Falls Bridge. Take out on the right bank upstream from the bridge.