Conditions:North Fork Kaweah River (Lower)-20241105065616

Latest:	1 Sep 2024 (9 mos ago)

Reported by:	Brdn.gonzales (44 reports)
Quality:	Ok
Waterflow:	Moderate Low
Wetsuit:	Thin wetsuit
Water temperature:
Difficulty:	Special challenges
Time:

Team: 3 people with experience level Intermediate to Advanced

Trip report URL:

Comments: Gotta say, this canyon did not win me over. We paired it with Upper Kaweah and Stony Creek for a multi-day trip of epic proportions, but I’d have happily skipped this one. After a fun start, we had to pass on the best part of the canyon because the beta was iffy. So, we bypassed the main event, sticking DCL, setting knot chocks the whole way down. Had we ventured into the watercourse, we’d have been staring down a waterfall at a bed of jagged rocks with zero anchor to rappel from.

By the time we rejoined the water, partly due to mild heat stroke, things went from bad to worse—a member of our group slipped hard, slamming face-first into a granite slab. With a split lip and several broken teeth, we had to call in a helicopter, worried about infection, pain, and his ability to get any calories down for the brutal canyon exit. The rescue was quick—two hours—but SAR left us with all his gear, so we had to split and carry it out ourselves.

What followed was pure misery: an extra night, crawling through manzanita, poison oak, and foxtails, with eight miles of hiking under the blistering sun. Final pack weight? A hefty 57 lbs by the time we made it out. I’ll give it three stars because the scenery was still gorgeous, but trust me, this was a solid two-star experience. Bottom line: skip this canyon until someone sorts out the anchor situation in the watercourse.

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
1 Sep 2024	Ok	Moderate Low	Thin wetsuit	Special challenges		3 people Intermediate to Advanced	Brdn.gonzales (44 reports)
Comment: Gotta say, this canyon did not win me over. We paired it with Upper Kaweah and Stony Creek for a multi-day trip of epic proportions, but I’d have happily skipped this one. After a fun start, we had to pass on the best part of the canyon because the beta was iffy. So, we bypassed the main event, sticking DCL, setting knot chocks the whole way down. Had we ventured into the watercourse, we’d have been staring down a waterfall at a bed of jagged rocks with zero anchor to rappel from. By the time we rejoined the water, partly due to mild heat stroke, things went from bad to worse—a member of our group slipped hard, slamming face-first into a granite slab. With a split lip and several broken teeth, we had to call in a helicopter, worried about infection, pain, and his ability to get any calories down for the brutal canyon exit. The rescue was quick—two hours—but SAR left us with all his gear, so we had to split and carry it out ourselves. What followed was pure misery: an extra night, crawling through manzanita, poison oak, and foxtails, with eight miles of hiking under the blistering sun. Final pack weight? A hefty 57 lbs by the time we made it out. I’ll give it three stars because the scenery was still gorgeous, but trust me, this was a solid two-star experience. Bottom line: skip this canyon until someone sorts out the anchor situation in the watercourse.
12 Jul 2020	Great	High	Full wetsuit	Special challenges	10 hours	6 people Intermediate to Expert	Rickinlo (17 reports),Johnbcaves (160 reports),Danielson (93 reports),Randy88fj62 (13 reports)
Comment: Bolts missing at technical section. Rick able to slide / jump the sections giving the rest of the party confidence to follow. I would never attempt that lead as an intermediate canyoneer. Last rappel, slick at bottom, I slipped and sustained an inch and a half gash above my right eyebrow. Lucky to have an EMT (Alex) on the trip and I had steri strips to keep the wound together. No stitches required after seeing urgent care. Hike out hot, long, and exhausting. Heavy packs for the overnight in Upper make this a physically demanding trip. I highly recommend this canyon for people who enjoy Type II fun. RI: Flow estimate 9-10 cfs. JB: In similar temps, I'd consider timing the trip such that I reached the Lower exit hike closer to dusk, even if that put the trip to 2.5 days (perhaps starting Stony Creek in the afternoon?).
31 May 2015	Great	Extreme	Full wetsuit	Extreme	8 hours	2 people Expert	Rickinlo (17 reports)
Comment: Too high. We bypassed a significant part of the technical section.