VI

Rapid Rating

13.55

River Mileage

About Ruck-a-Chucky Falls

After a long lull in the Middle Fork of the American River, you’ll arrive at two back-to-back tricky rapids. The first of these is Class IV Chunder Rapid, the second of these is Class VI Ruck-a-Chucky Falls. Don’t be caught sleeping here, as you’ll have floated through around 10 miles of Class I-II whitewater and flatwater.

Ruck-a-Chucky Falls is a mandatory scout and a highly recommended portage. Both scouting and portaging can be done on the right-hand side. The typical line is through the middle chute between two enormous boulders, seeing where you are spat out, and then threading the needle between the undercut wall on the left and a large boulder in the center of the channel.