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Yankee Jim's Run slide show - Class 2    Iowa Hill Run slide show - Class 4

The North Fork American

Catch this gem while while it's flowing - April to May

Raft along the North Fork       This is one of the few rivers left with no dams on it's upper reaches. Because of this fact it must be rafted during the spring runoff. Best times are May to early June. In summer it can get too low even for tubing. As the water level drops it gets warmer and warmer and offers the most inviting swimming holes in the area. It flows into Lake Clementine which is perfect for flat water paddling. This reservoir was built to contain the tailings from the hydraulic mining era. Since it is not used for power generation or water supply, it stays full all the time, giving it a very natural look. The river forms a waterfall over the dam.
    There is a trip on this river for every ability level from class 5 to flat water.

  1. From Ponderosa Way crossing: Easy class 1-2, 5 mile run. Ponderosa Way can be reached from Hwy 80, Weimar area or from the Forresthill Rd. Take out is at Upper Lake Clementine (opens mid May to early June), accessed from the Forresthill Rd. or if you want to do this run before June you could paddle to the Lower Clementine access; another 4.5 miles on the lake. Just very basic maneuvering skills are needed for this section.

  2. From Yankee Jim's crossing: Class 2-3 depending on flows. This road comes down from the Colfax/Weimar area and then goes up to Forresthill so you can access it from either side. At higher flows the first half mile of this run can be quite feisty so it's a good idea to have some experience under your belt. The run is about 4.5 miles to Ponderosa way or you can continue to Upper Lake Clementine if open. Click here for Yankee Jim's Run slide show.

  3. From Iowa Hill Rd from Colfax: Class 4. This run is for experts only. Narrow canyon with lot's of boulders rocks and drops. Lot's of scouting is required on a first time run as you can't see what you're getting into in many places. Requires helmets & wetsuits. Best run at 1200 to 3000 cfs. Warning: Experienced rafters have messed up baddly on this one! Click here for Iowa Hill Run slide show.