http://www.kaweahriver.org

yaker image courtesy of Tony Loro

The Kaweah River is located in the foothills of the southern Sierra Nevada Range of California along Highway 198 at the southern entrance to Sequoia National Park. The river passes through the small town of Three Rivers and ends up in Lake Kaweah (Terminus Reservoir). It's one of the shortest drainages in the US from its headwaters at 12000 feet to Lake Kaweah. The Kaweah River, like its neighbors the Kings, Tule and Kern, never sees the Pacific Ocean. Instead, it splits into many channels upon entering the San Joaquin Valley below Lake Kaweah and is mostly consumed by irrigation. What's left, if any, ends up in Tulare Lake.

Brian Rouch in Bumper

Current Flow Information

Dreamflows.com

  • Post-A-Gauge Also available as http://postagauge.kaweahriver.org User posted gauge data for the North Fork, South Fork, Dinely Br., and Park Boundary
  • Kaweah 4 day Flow Graph or Kaweah 1 Month Flow Graph from dreamflows.com
  • Commencing May 5th The Kaweah Rivergauge at Pumpkin Hollow Also available as http://rivergauge.kaweahriver.org is again reporting river level and water temperature data and plots
  • COE's 10day flow graph (Large file: 538KB)
  • Current Flow at Three Rivers from COE (gauge above Lower Slicky) Chart , or Table , or Graph
  • HOURLY Lake Inflow Chart , or Graph from Calif Snow Surveys Better Graph with 6 hour averaging function built in
  • DAILY Lake Inflow Chart or Graph from Calif Snow Surveys
  • Graphs of the latest and last 30 days River Conditions

    Current Weather Information

    Local Weatherstation in Three Rivers. Also available as http://weather.kaweahriver.org

    Message of the Day

    Message of the Day has been added on Oct 25, 2005 to allow the webmaster to post this message remotely from any computer with internet access. The message is displayed as a gif image in keeping with the fact that the KRP is a static web page, i.e. it is not genreated on the fly. The message image is updated every 15 minutes.

    Boater and Kaweah News

    Updated Mon. 05-05-08
  • 05-05-08 The Picture of The Day Archive has been caught up with several shots from the 2008 season
  • 05-05-08 The May 1st snowpack report is nearly complete. Kaweah snowpack has dwindled to 71% of May 1st average with 4 of 5 stations reported. Peak flow is now predicted for May 28th at 2520cfs average.
  • 04-25-08 Brian Rouch is the first 'Picture of the Day' this spring 2008. You remember Brian, you see him every time you load this page in the banner at the top of the page. Only the boat looks any different from the Brian you are used to seeing. The photo was taken on the evening run in the main drop above the Gateway on the Boundary Run. The flow was 5.2 ft on the boundary gauge.
  • 04-23-08 The first runoff forecast of the 2008 season is posted. Peaks flows are predicted for the first and second week of May at 2200cfs average.
  • 03-07-08 Steve Larson at the Bakersfield BLM office has confirmed that the North Fork Closure is still in effect for the 2008 boating season. The closure technically includes using BLM land for river access. Again, Yucca Flat is not subject to the closure so the Upper North Fork hike in run is still open. There is more bad news too. The BLM is not likely to make any changes in the the North Fork Closure for the next 3 years. A new management plan is scheduled for that time frame. Also, BLM resurveyed the Paradise site in June of 2007 and found that the Paradise Beach site is on private land that is part of the Elliot Ranch. The parking lot gate at Paradise Beach is on BLM land but land upstream of the gate including the parking area is private land. BLM land extends downstream of the gate for about a quarter mile and is subject to the closure order. BLM is planning a public meeting in Three Rivers sometime in April where this closure will be among the topics. The meeting will be announced in the Kaweah Commonwealth when the scheduled date is known.
  • 02-28-08 It appears that the North Fork Kaweah BLM sites of Paradise Beach, Advance Site, and Cherry Falls remain closed and gated for the 2008 boating season. The North Fork Kaweah BLM Closure Notice posted May 8, 2007 on the Bakersfield BLM website appears to be still in effect for 2008. The closure notice page was last updated Jan 18, 2008. I have a call in to the Bakersfield BLM office requesting an official update on the closure status for the 2008 boating season. I will post an update here as soon as I know more. The Yucca Flat parking area at the confluence of Yucca Creek is exempt from this closure notice. So before you go boating on the North Fork and get fined $1000 and/or get 12 months in prison better read the closure notice and don't leave your car in any unathorized areas. The last time I was up the North Fork the entire road was posted No Parking from Bailey Bridge all the way up.
  • 02-28-08 The March Snowpack Report from the Department of Water Resources will be updating during the next week. Reload the report often to see the latest snowpack numbers. A significant winter storm added to the snowpack during the 3rd week of February.
  • 01-25-08 Watch for the February Snowpack Report from the Department of Water Resources that will be coming out soon. This will be the first snowpack report of this season with Kaweah River snowpack data. I am expecting a good start to the snowpack for 2008.
  • 01-20-08 An update appeared in The Kaweah Commonwealth Newspaper Friday, Jan. 18, 2008 edition after your webmaster emailed the editor at the Kaweah Commonwealth. Boaters in the previous weeks article were named as well as some good press for this webpage.
  • 01-06-08 The group of Jeff Gymer, Evan Lloyd, Sean Sangree, and yours truly the webmaster ran the falling but still muddy river in cold conditions at 0.1 feet on the Dinely Gauge, about 700 cfs on the Gateway section. A picture of our run made the front page of The Kaweah Commonwealth Newspaper Friday, Jan. 11, 2008 edition. (Link opens PDF of the front page)
  • 01-05-08 Heavy rains of 10+ inches in the Sierras up to 7000 ft caused the river to rise from 100 cfs to at 6PM to 7000 cfs at 1AM the next morning. Continuous updates were being posted to the Pumpkin hollow Weatherstation Page monitoring the very fast rise.
  • Previously posted news is moved to the News Archive

    The Kaweah River Webcam "Kaweahcam"

    The Kaweah River Webcam operates year round during daylight hours, currently 6AM to 7PM PDT.

  • More about the Kaweahcam including the image archive. Also available as http://kaweahcam.kaweahriver.org
  • The other "Kaweah Kam" is hosted by The Kaweah Commonwealth newspaper in Three Rivers
  • The Sequoia Park Webcam looks SW into the Kaweah River Drainage from the ridge at Giant Forest
  • The Latest Mineral King Webcam Image or the Mineral King Webcam Main page
  • Middle Fork Upstream View and Downstream View at Portage No. 11 on the Park Boundary section from the Buckeye Tree Lodge.

    The Kaweah River Picture of the Day

  • Kaweah River Picture of the Day Dave McDermott in The Chute. (link launches in new browser window)
  • Picture of the Day Archive for 2000 through 2006

    The Kaweah River Picture Page

  • The Kaweah River Picture Page Also available as http://pictures.kaweahriver.org All the pictures from the 2000 through 2006 seasons. The Picture Page is served by a separate server with always on connection (128kb/sec) and infinite file space so all of this season's photos are available online all season and beyond. If you saw me taking your picture somewhere on the river it is likely to be found here. The Kaweah River Chat Page is also located here for real time Kaweah boater chat.

    The Kaweah Rivergauge Project

  • Realtime Web Based Rivergauge Project Page This was a 2 year home project that became operational in May 2003.
  • The Kaweah Rivergauge Page Also available as http://rivergauge.kaweahriver.org has the level and water temperature data and plots reported from the rivergauge. The riverguage will be in real-time operation again in early May 2007.

    Other Kaweah River Links worth checking out

  • Preston Holmes' Upper North Fork Page
  • Preston Holmes' Hospital Rock Page
  • Martin Eskes ran the Hospital Rock Section of the Kaweah as just one stop on his 2001 world Adventure tour
  • Gary Valle's Yucca Creek pictures (Steep Creek Tributary of the North Fork)
  • Brett Valle's Best of Sierra Nevada Whitewater
  • First Descent of CHERRY FALLS on the North Fork Kaweah with NEW Quicktime Videos
  • 1997 saw several First Descents of Kaweah tributaries
  • Coming attraction: First Descent of Roaring River Falls in Kings Canyon National Park. Stay tuned.

    More Weather Information

    Temperature, Rainfall and Snowpack Graphs for current conditions in Sequoia National Park. This is one of the webmaster's favorite links.

  • Weather Forecasts from: The Weather Channel-Three Rivers, The Weather Channel-Visalia, The Weather Channel-Sequoia Park, USA Today, Fresno KSEE Channel 24, , Fresno Intellicast Weather

    Spring Runoff Information


    Graph updated weekly on Wednesdays during the runoff season. All readings in 1000 acre-ft. To convert 5 day acre-ft reading to average CFS multiply readings in the graph by 102.

    More spring runoff infomation is moved Here.

    Flow Graphs and Gauge Data

    Flow, Gauge and Flow history is moved Here

    Kaweah River Descriptions by Section

  • The Headwaters of the Kaweah (Expedition Boating) from Cliff Creek to Hospital Rock has been run in the spring of 2004
  • The Buckeye Flat Section (Class 5+) from above Buckeye Flat Campground to Hospital Rock adds a mile of difficult water to the Hospital Rock Run
  • Hospital Rock Section (Class 5+) Hospital Rock to Marble Fork Confluence
  • The Marble Fork (Class 5+) from 2 miles above the confluence with the Middle Fork has been reported to have been run
  • Ash Mountain Section (Class 5+) Marble Fork Confluence to Park Boundary
  • Extended Park Boundary Run (Class 4+/5) The Gorge below Ash Mountain Park Headquarters to Park Boundary adds 3/4 mile of more difficult water to the Park Boundary Run
  • Park Boundary Run (Class 4+) Park Boundary to East Fork Confluence
  • Gateway Run (Class 4) East Fork Confluence to Dinely Bridge
  • Dinely Run (Class 3) Dinely Bridge to Town of Three Rivers
  • Lake Run (Class 2+)(4) Three Rivers to the Lake
  • Below the Dam (Class 2+) Dry Creek Road to Woodlake Airport
  • Dry Creek above the confluence with the Kaweah is unrun
  • The St. Johns River below McKays point (Class 2+) and across the Valley has been run
  • The Kaweah River (Irrigation Canal Boating) below McKays Point is yet unrun
  • Lower Lower North Fork (Class 3+T/4) from Bailey Bridge to Middle Fork Confluence
  • Lower North Fork (Class 3+T/4) from Paradise to Bailey Bridge
  • North Fork (Class4+/5) from Yucca Creek to Paradise Beach
  • Yucca Creek (Expedition Boating) has been run from 2 miles above the confluence with the North Fork
  • Upper North Fork (Class 5) from 5 miles above Yucca Creek
  • The Headwaters of the North Fork (Expedition Boating) beyond 5 miles above Yucca Creek is yet unrun
  • South Fork (Class 3T/5+) from Park Boundary to Middle Fork
  • East Fork (Class 5+/6) from Oak Grove Bridge to Middle Fork
  • Upper East Fork (Expedition Boating) from Atwell Mill Trail to Oak Grove Bridge
  • The Headwaters of The East Fork (Expedition Boating) from Mineral King Valley is yet unrun

    Pictures

  • The Kaweah River Picture Page All the pictures from the 2000 through 2006 seasons
  • Picture of the Day Archive for the 2000 through 2006 boating seasons.
  • 1998 Kaweah River Boating Vacation Pictures
  • Preston Holmes runnning Cherry Falls at 2.7 ft
  • Blain Harmon running Cherry Falls at 1.9 ft
  • Sunset over Case Mtn. or Sunset to the West
  • The Girls Cliff Jumping into the Gorge below Ash Mountain.
  • The Gardenfork of the Kaweah ;)
  • Kaweah Post Office up North Fork Drive
  • Very Serious "KAWEAH" Boater!
  • Gas Station at Pumpkin Hollow in the old days
  • Commercial raft having a normal day at Powerhouse pre 2002 Janet Reno Rock location and very pre the current Al Gored Rock

    Other Related Links

  • Kaweah Links Page many miscillaneous links for the surrounding area
  • The Three Rivers Hideaway, Formerly The Three Rivers Motel and RV Park is under new ownership and management. Located a quarter mile west of Dinely Bridge on Hwy 198 it offers accodations and camping. This facility is boater friendly and recommended by the KRP as THE boater camping spot! Dave Hammond has done an incredible job of really improving this facility over what existed with the former owners. Just across the street from the We Three Bakery where you can get the best boater breakfast in Three Rivers.
  • The Kaweah Commonwealth Local Three Rivers Newspaper
  • Sage Root's "Our Trip Video Productions" California Kayaking Video Clips
  • Get AvantGo get current Kaweah River Flow and other graphs loaded to your Palm or other PDA every time you sync
  • Flow Plots for the rest of California
  • The flood of January 1997
  • Lake Kaweah Page (US Army Corp of Engineers)
  • Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks site has been down since Dec. 2001 due to litigation involving Indian trust lands
  • North Fork BLM Recreation Sites
  • The Mineral King Valley lies 25 miles up the East Fork
  • The Three Rivers Historical Society
  • California Department of Water Resources
  • California Snow Surveys
  • Calif Data Exchange Center
  • California Nevada River Forcast Center
  • US Geolological Survey
  • Historic Flow Data for all Gauges in Tulare County, Calif.
  • Friends of the River
  • Sierra South's Homepage
  • A reprint of the trailworks.com article about the Kaweah as it appreared in December of 1999 on the trailworks.com website has been located. You can find it on the Kaweah River Pictures Page.
  • Army Corp of Engineers Feasibility Report and EIS Report on the Terminus Dam Raising
  • The Kaweah had HIGH WATER, in November of 1996
  • Swimming Holes of the Sequoias (for post runoff recreation)
  • Sequoia Bed and Breakfast Home Page
  • Sequoia Cabins on the East Fork Kaweah A really cool place to stay just 5.8 miles up the Mineral King Road. Includes East Fork access and swimming hole! There are more pictures of the Cabins and Trail to the river on the Kaweah Picture Page linked above
  • Mountain Lodge and Forest Retreat, Kaweah Han, on the Upper East Fork is for sale for $2,500,000
  • Trinity Ranch on the North Fork Kaweah is under new ownership and is open for business as a place to stay. Nice accodations if you were planning a boating vacation while the North Fork is running. Email to the Trinity Ranch for more info
  • This is what creekin.net says about the Kaweah River

    Commercial Rafting Companies on the Kaweah

  • Copy of the Flyer sent to local residents concerning commercial operation in 2000 (pdf 150KB)

    Kaweah Whitewater Aventures

  • Kaweah White Water Adventures Locally owned, operated, and Recommended by the Kaweah River Page! KWA offers the highest commercial put in on the river allowing guests to experience 4 more of the best class 4 rapids including Gateway, The Chute, Headwall and Osterizer. Phone 1-800-229-8658 (Toll free) or 559-561-1000 (Local in Three Rivers, Ca)
  • Whitewater Voyages
  • All-Outdoors
  • Whitewater Connection
  • Adventure Connection
  • Wilderness Adventures
  • American River Recreation
  • Tributary WhitewaterTours
  • Beyond Limits Adventures Not licensed on the Kaweah in 2004
  • ABLE Adventure Tours. Not licensed on the Kaweah in 2004

    River Access Problems

    The Kaweah is difficut to access because all the land adjoining the river is privately owned. The traditional put-in at the river left upstream side of Pumpkin Hollow Bridge at the East Fork confulence was fenced off by the land owner in the spring of 1994 in cooperation with Cal Trans, the California State Highway Dept. The only reasonable access point for private boaters is 0.6 miles downstream of Pumpkin Hollow Bridge at the retaining wall where the highway comes immediately adjacent to the river. There is some parking downstream along the road. Dinely Bridge, has not been contested as an access point. The land on the right bank upstream of the bridge is owned by a public water district. Parking in Three Rivers is available at the School on the south side of Hwy 198 across from the Chevron Service Station. Click here for more on the Pumpkin Hollow Bridge Access situation or Click here for comprehesive general information on the politics of the ongoing Kaweah River Access issue.

  • Letter from Mr. William Sanders, Tulare County Supervisor in regards to future Kaweah River access

    Disclaimer: River running is inherently dangerous. Know and understand the AWA Safety Code before you attempt any whitewater activities. The author makes no warranties as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. ....Bla, bla, bla....

    Find out more About the Author
    or The History of the Kaweah River Page
    or Send Email to the author/webmaster at
    or Our Home on the Kaweah River

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    The Kaweah River Page, http://c2.com/kaweah/ Copyright © 1996 through 2008 by Bill Pooley. All rights reserved. The Kaweah River Page is a non profit web site. The links to commercial operations have been freely donated. This web page is Y2K compliant and tediously edited by hand. It contains no browser corrupting, site slowing Java or Java script, cookies, annoying popup windows or banner ads. The main page is designed to work with a dialup connection. Only a simple html editor, Aranaea, is used to highlight the html syntax during editing. Spelling and errors in grammar are par for the course, I'm an engineer for Heaven sakes, not an English teacher. This website is best viewed on a monitor with at least 768x1024 display size and 16 Million colors.

    Last modified: 05.05.08