The difficulty level gradually increases as one eddy hops down the gorge. Soon the river bed becomes somewhat choked by truck-sized conglomerate boulders. Depending on the flow this section contains fun Class IV rapids, or, at lower water, technical rock bashing and some portages. Just downstream more Class IV leads to a big waterfall freefalling eighty feet into the river. You can paddle behind it, into a small cave carved into the cliff face.
Sulphurous fumes fill the air further down the gorge.
Warm water seeps down the canyon wall on river left from a hot spring high above. The gorge opens up as Piru Creek cuts through softer rock. Another probable portage lies in this section, around a tree-filled Class IV rapid. A short conglomerate gorge comes next, and contains a few tricky drops. As always, trees are a hazard.