Yankee Jim Road to Ponderosa Way (Shirttail)
California – US
- Class
- II to III
- Length
- 5 Mile(s)
- Gradient
- 21 FPM
- Put-in elevation
- 920 Feet
- Take-out elevation
- 788 Feet
- Typical season
- April to July
Current Flow
87 CFS
Gauge height: 0.46 FT
Reading from Jul 10, 2026 9:15 PM
▼ -0.38/hr (12h) ▼ -0.19/hr (24h)
Don't bother
- Primary gauge
- NF AMERICAN R A NORTH FORK DAM CA Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 500 |
| Average | 1,500 |
| Maximum | 5,000 |
Recommended use
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Canoeing
- SUP
- Packrafting
- Fishing
Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.
Flow history — last 6 days
No gauge history recorded in the last 6 days.
Photos
No photos added for this run yet.
Description
A good beginner to intermediate run. If flows are higher this run becomes solid intermediate.
Rapids
| # | Rapid | Class | Recommended flow | Description | Scout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Rapid | II to III | 500–5,000 | Jusst below the putin bridge. Rocky at low flows and waves at higher flows. Most direct rout weaving down the center where most of the water goes is the generally the best route. |
Scout from putin. |
| 2 | Rapid 2 | II to II+ | 500–5,000 | A short drop as the river drops over a gravel bar. |
Read and run |
| 3 | Rapid 3 1/2 | II+ to III | 500–5,000 | River splits into 2 channels. Left is more "interesting", right is easier. At low flows the right channel doesn't have enough water usually. |
Read and run |
| 4 | Bend and Brake Rapids | III- to III | 500–5,000 | For the next 1/2 mile starting at the end of the horshoe bend is a series of rapids. The river makes several turns and generally there is a rapid on each turn. The final rapid has a hole at higher water and at lower water things can get a little technical with rocks. |
Read and run |
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put-In | Yankee Jim Road Bridge | 920 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | Take exit 131 on I-80 and head south and immediately turn left (northish) onto canyon way road. Follow canyon way road for 2.2 miles and then turn right on yankee jims road. After about a half mile stay on the right fork of the road. And then follow the road down to the river where the bridge crosses the river. |
| Take-Out | Ponderosa Way | 788 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | take exit 131 on I-80 and head south and immediately turn right on canyon way which turns into ponderosa way. Stay on ponderosa way for about 6 miles until you reach the river. Take-out is just past the bridge on river right when on the river. |
Camps
No river camps added yet.
Permit
No permit is required, or permit info hasn't been added yet.
Fishing
No fish species have been associated with this run yet.
External Links & Resources
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Community Run Notes
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