Cache Creek

Has anyone here ever run a kayak in Cache Creek between hwy 20 and 16? I. Was contemplating dropping in at 20 and camping in the cow Mtn BLM land for some pig hunting and maybe some fishing if the area holds trout. I have heard it can be rough in high water. Any thoughts tips... Looking for some winter spring backcountry escapes and this sounded like fun.

Cheers,
Phil

I run Cache Creek a lot in the summer in an inflatable white water kayak, but have never considered it in the winter. The flow is very slow right now - 88cfs at Rumsey Bridge, which is just below the usual take-out at Camp Haswell (The stone house). I like a summer flow of about 750cfs. I don't think it would be good for a ww run now, but if you wanted to kayak your gear to camping/hunting spots, I suppose it would be Ok. I'd use an inflatable for carrying gear. You might have to haul it over rocks in some places. I really wouldn't recommend it if you've never run it in the summer and are not familiar with it. Landslides are common there in the winter due to wildfires every summer. There was a tree blocking the Wilderness run earlier this year - don't know how that is now. Should be clear from the confluence of Bear Creek just above the Colusa County line all the way to Rumsey. That's all I can think of...

Not really looking for a whitewater run just a nice river paddle and the chance to get a different perspective on hunting Cache Creek. I have no whitewater experience so that was a concern for me and I thought the low flow might help that.

I am new to watching river flows but It seems odd to me that the flow is lower in the winter after the recent rains then it is in the summer. Is this due to water releases from the lakes/reservoirs?

I've hunted it a lot never really thought about taking the kayak down. I've always hiked in to Wilson valley from 20. My main concern right now would be debris floating. Be carefull.


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Not really looking for a whitewater run just a nice river paddle and the chance to get a different perspective on hunting Cache Creek. I have no whitewater experience so that was a concern for me and I thought the low flow might help that.

I am new to watching river flows but It seems odd to me that the flow is lower in the winter after the recent rains then it is in the summer. Is this due to water releases from the lakes/reservoirs?

It's a very rocky river, so I think you might get a kayak stuck a lot going down with the water this low. You can see most of the river below Bear Creek from the road, though, and can get a good idea about it before you go. I don't know why it's so low right now - that surprised me, too. It's fed from Clear Lake and Indian Valley Reservoir, and I don't know why they'd want to hold water in those lakes this time of year. You can't see any of the North Fork (or wilderness run) from the road, though, and if you get stuck back in there, it could be a long hike out.

I would strongly recommend you go with someone experienced with the river, or at least check it out in the summer before attempting it in the off-season. It's an easy class I/II (maybe some class III) run in a good inflatable, and a lot of people do it in inner tubes. I used to do the Bear Creek to Rumsey run in an inner tube several times a year before I got into WW kayaking. It's a warm water river, so an inner tube in shorts and a t-shirt work well in the summer.

If you can wait that long, you're welcome to join my friends and me when we go down next year. We usually have room on at least one inflatable double for an extra person. We'll be going as soon as the weather and flow level permit in the spring.

I went rafting there about 3 years ago.  It was more of a class 1 and 2.  There was a concrete bridge that was just above the flowing river.  We had to carry the raft over it.  It could be dangerous if the raft went under the bridge.

I don't remember where we put in and came out.  It was fun. 

Clear Lake and Indian Valley are releasing very little water right now due to Yolo County not needing it.  The lakes need to fill up again over the winter before Yolo needs more farming water.