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🌊 South Fork American River · Class IIIIs South Fork American (Chili Bar) running?
Reading from Nov 4, 2:00 PM MT. Site data as of Nov 4, 2026, 4:04 PM MT.
Off season (commercial)
Last 7 days (cfs), Mountain time. Low 215 cfs, high 1,664 cfs.
| Status | Low Off season (commercial) |
|---|---|
| River | South Fork American River |
| Section | Chili Bar to Coloma |
| Class | III |
| Nearest town | Coloma / Lotus, California |
| Runnable range | 800 cfs to 8,000 cfs Low 800 cfs · medium from 1,000 cfs · high from 3,500 cfs · max 8,000 cfs Source: American Whitewater, on the same gauge shown here. Checked 2026-11-04. |
| Commercial season | Apr–Oct (typical outfitter season) Off season (commercial) |
| Gauge | CBR (California CDEC CBR) |
| Dam release | Yes, flow is set by dam releases. Release schedule → |
| Permits | El Dorado County river permit for outfitters. |
| Note | Flow is set by Chili Bar Dam releases. Gauge is California CDEC station CBR. |
| More info | American Whitewater river page |
Flows are informational, not a safety call. Gauge readings can be delayed, provisional, or wrong, and a gauge may be miles from the run. Rivers change fast. Check with a local outfitter or the managing agency (BLM, USFS, NPS, dam operator) before you go.
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🛶 Raft guide jobs near here
- River Guide · All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting, Walnut Creek / CA rivers CA
- Whitewater River Guide (New & Experienced) · OARS, Angels Camp HQ + multiple western rivers CA
🌊 Raft guide jobs in California · All guide jobs · Pair a winter + summer season
More rafting runs in California
- California Salmon (Nordheimer) · Low · 172 cfs
- Kaweah (Three Rivers) · Low · 99 cfs
- Klamath (Happy Camp) · Running · 1,270 cfs
- Main Tuolumne · No current reading
- Merced River · No current reading
- South Fork American (The Gorge) · Low · 527 cfs
- Upper Kern (Powerhouse / Lickety Split) · Low · 227 cfs
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