Below the boulder bar drop, the current funnels against bedrock into a large hole. Stay away from the right wall, which could bruise your elbow, and which in the olden days caused the demise of many a fiberglass kayak. 1.7 Widowmaker, class III Two large rocks diagonally guard the right. The most fun route is between the rocks, behind the first and in front of the second. A rockier but more straightforward route is available on far left, except at very low flows.
Many kayaks flip here.
2.1 Rose Creek enters on the left, in the midst of an extended and enjoyable class II slalom among big rocks. Good lunch stop and side hike, although in the old days, crowds here were so huge that everybody agreed to lunch elsewhere. Good rapids continue immediately below. 2.5 Wool Hollow creek enters on the right. The limestone peak upstream is one of the most scenic along the Stanislaus.