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California Creeks
A Whitewater and Touring Guide for Boaters
© 1997-2010 Bill Tuthill et al.
Home and Map of Rivers North to South.
Alphabetic List and River Information Table.
Carnage1, Carnage2, Carnage3, and Safety.
River flow Summaries and all Dreamflows.
Easy runs usually listed first.
Recommended Runs
Beginner Runs - Class I
- Russian below Healdsburg
- Russian from Alexander Valley to Healdsburg
- Merced thru Yosemite Valley
- Main American above Sacramento
- Trinity from Douglas City to Junction City
- Sacramento from Redding to Red Bluff
- Stanislaus below Knights Ferry
- Navarro River below Hendy Woods
Novice Runs - Class II
- Middle Fork American near Auburn
- Bear River below Colfax
- North Fork American near Auburn
- Butte Creek near Chico
- Trinity from Hawkins Bar to Willow Creek
- Trinity from Hoopa to Weitchpec
- Trinity from Hayden Flat to Cedar Flat
- Mokelumne River Electra run
- Putah Creek near Winters
- Cache Creek near Rumsey
- Rogue River from Hog Creek to Grave Creek
- South Fork Eel near Leggett
- Rancheria Creek and Upper Navarro
- East Fork Carson into Nevada
- Kern River near Kernville
- Noyo River with the Skunk Train
Intermediate Runs - Class III
- Smith River below Gasquet
- South Fork Smith River
- Kings above Pine Flat Reservoir
- Trinity River below Pigeon Point
- South Fork American near Coloma
- Eel River near Ukiah and Garberville
- Rogue River from Grave Creek to Agness
- Klamath River below Happy Camp
- Stanislaus River Camp 9 run
- Eel River Pillsbury run
- Truckee River into Nevada
- Middle Fork of the Salmon in Idaho
- Upper Trinity River above reservoir
- McCloud River above McCloud Reservoir
- Battle Creek near Redding
- Antelope Creek near Red Bluff
Advanced Runs - Class IV
- Kern River below Isabella Reservoir
- San Lorenzo River near Santa Cruz
- Mark West Creek near Santa Rosa
- North Fork Smith River
- Middle Fork Smith above Gasquet
- Redwood Creek near Orick
- North Fork American Chamberlain run
- Merced River below 140 Bridge
- Tuolumne River below Lumsden
- McCloud River above Shasta Reservoir
- Clear Creek below Whiskeytown Reservoir
- Arroyo not-so Seco and at Highwater
- South Fork Eel above Big Bend
- Mystery Run
- Kaweah River near Visalia
- North Fork Salmon River
- Middle Fork Cosumnes
- Upper Sacramento Box Canyon
- South Fork Yuba River
- North Fork Yuba Goodyear Bar
- Kyburz run South Fork American
- Coffee Creek into the Trinity
- South Fork Trinity Three Bears
- Jarbidge and Bruneau Rivers in Idaho
- Black Butte River near Covelo
Expert Runs - Class V
- Pauley and Lavezzola Creeks
- North Fork Yuba Wild Plum run
- North Fork Kaweah near Visalia
- Giant Gap North Fork American
- Salmon River into Klamath
- Scott River into Klamath
- Forks of the Kern above Fairview Dam
- Trinity Burnt Ranch Gorge
- North Fork Stanislaus near Arnold
- Wooley Creek into Cal Salmon
- Deer Creek near Chico
- Mill Creek off Mt. Lassen
- Sespe Creek near Santa Barbara
- Fordyce Creek near Donner Pass
- Middle Fork Feather Wild & Scenic
- South Fork Yuba to Bridgeport
- Rubicon River near Foresthill
- Headwaters of the Kern
- Southern California: Whitewater by Charles Foster
- SoCal Creeks: El Niño y La Niña by Gary Vallé
- California Sierras: Best of Sierra Nevada by Brett Vallé
- Oregon and Vicinity: Central Oregon Kayak by Phil Mendiguren
- Washington and Oregon: Oregon Kayaking by Jason Rackley
- Idaho and Vicinity: Vince's Idaho Whitewater Page
- Arizona and New Mexico: Photo Journal of Southwest Desert Rivers
Season by Season
In the winter, coastal rivers offer interesting flows and relatively warm air temperatures. See the left-hand column of the Relief Map for a list of recommended coastal runs.
In spring, Sierra rivers have flows that vary depending on headwater altitude, snowpack, and melt rate. See the right-hand column of the Relief Map for a list of recommended Sierra runs.
In summer and fall, you are limited to dam releases, including the following:
Beginner Runs - Class I
- American above Sacramento
- Trinity from Douglas City to Junction City
- Middle Fork American near Auburn
- Sacramento from Redding to Red Bluff
- Stanislaus below Knights Ferry
Novice Runs - Class II
- Trinity from Hawkins Bar to Willow Creek
- Trinity from Hoopa to Weitchpec
- Trinity from Hayden Flat to Cedar Flat
- Mokelumne River Electra run
- Cache Creek near Rumsey
Intermediate Runs - Class III
- Trinity River below Pigeon Point
- South Fork American near Coloma
- Rogue River from Grave Creek to Agness
- Klamath River below Happy Camp
- Eel River Pillsbury run
Advanced Runs - Class IV
- Kern River below Isabella Reservoir
- Tuolumne River below Lumsden
- McCloud River above Shasta Reservoir
- Clear Creek below Whiskeytown Reservoir
- Klamath River above Copco Reservoir
Expert Runs - Class V
- North Fork Stanislaus near Arnold
- Trinity Burnt Ranch Gorge
- Cherry Creek into the Tuolumne
- North Fork Feather River
- Fordyce Creek near Donner Pass
- Russian below Healdsburg
