River runs

California river runs

Live streamflow, whitewater class, and length for every paddleable section in California with a named USGS gauge. Built for kayakers, rafters, and canoeists.

Runs in California
362
Class range
I–V
Across the U.S.
331
Updated
Jul 1
Open the California paddle layer on the map Whitewater + paddle runs filtered to California.
Open the map →
July
1
2026
River runs
California is a whitewater enthusiast's paradise, with a variety of rivers offering thrilling runs for kayakers and rafters of all skill levels. One popular destination is the South Fork American River, known for its exciting Class III rapids and stunning scenery. The best time to visit is in the spring when snowmelt creates higher streamflow levels, providing an adrenaline-pumping experience. Another must-visit spot is the Kaweah River in Sequoia National Park, offering challenging Class IV rapids and breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is recommended to check streamflow levels before embarking on your adventure to ensure optimal conditions for a safe and enjoyable trip.

For those seeking a more laid-back experience, the Russian River in Sonoma County is a great option with its gentle Class II rapids and opportunities for swimming and picnicking along the way. Safety is paramount when engaging in whitewater activities, so it is important to always wear a helmet and life jacket, and to be aware of potential hazards such as rocks and strong currents. Additionally, it is advisable to go with a experienced guide or group, especially on more challenging runs. Overall, California offers a diverse range of whitewater experiences that are sure to satisfy any outdoor enthusiast's craving for adventure and excitement.
Full directory

California river runs

Every paddleable section in California keyed to a named USGS gauge. Sortable, quickly filterable. Tap any one for current discharge and the gauge it reports off.

362 entries
River run Streamflow Class
Soda Springs Footbridge In Devils Postpile National Monument To Rainbow Falls 82 cfs III-IV
Outlet Of Martha Lake (Boundary Extend 0.25 Mile On Each Side Of River) To Northwestern Boundary Of Kings Canyon National Park 8 cfs III-IV
Wilderness Boundary (Boundary Extend 0.25 Mile On Each Side Of River) To Boundary Of Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park 8 cfs III-IV
9,000 Ft Contour Line (Boundary Extend 0.25 Mile On Each Side Of River) To 8,000 Ft Contour Line 8 cfs III-IV
Sounthern Boundary Of Redwood National And State Parks To Northern Boundary Of Redwood National And State Parks 10 cfs IV-III
Headwaters Near The Tuolumne And Mariposa County Lines To Western Boundary Of Yosemite National Park 211 cfs III-IV
Lake 10,559 (Boundary Extend 0.25 Mile On Each Side Of River) To Wilderness Boundary Just Below Tokopah Falls 8 cfs III-IV
8,000 Ft Contour Line (Boundary Extend 0.25 Mile On Each Side Of River) To The Atwell Mill Trail Bridge At ~ 5,800 Ft 8 cfs III-IV
Wilderness Boundary Just Below Tokopah Falls (Boundary Extend 0.25 Mile On Each Side Of River) To Confluence With The Middle Fork Kaweah River 8 cfs III-IV
Atwell Mill Trail Bridge At ~5,800 Ft (Boundary Extends 0.25 Mile On Each Side Of The River.) To Boundary Of Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park 8 cfs III
Confluence Of Lone Pine And Hamilton (Deer) Creeks (Boundary Extend 0.25 Mile On Each Side Of River) To Wildernes Boundary 8 cfs ·
Outlet Of Green Meadows North Of The Windy Gap And Windy Ridges (Boundary Extend 0.25 Mile On Each Side Of River) To Bridge Above South Fork Campground 8 cfs III-III+
Headwaters To Ends One Quarter Mile South Of Bear Valley Road Bridge Segment 1: Ends 1/4 Mile South Of Bear Valley Road Bridge Segment 2: Caltrans Corporation Yard At Point Reyes Staton. 8 cfs ·
Headwaters To Mouth 2 cfs III-V
One Half Mile Downstream From Hole In The Ground To Sec Line Between 29/20 T28n, R3e, Below Big Bend 119 cfs ·
Sec Line Between 29/20, T28n, R3e To Sec Line Between 14/23, T27n, R2e, Just East Of Black Rock 119 cfs ·
Sec Line Between 14/23, T27n, R2e To One Mile Downstream From Black Rock 119 cfs ·
Elam Creek Campground To Deer Creek Highway 32 Junction 119 cfs ·
Deer Creek Highway 32 Junction To Sec 26, T27n, R3e, West Of Deer Creek Crossing 119 cfs III-IV
Headwaters To Chicago Ravine 25 cfs II-IV
North Fork From Nf Boundary At Section Line Between 17/18, T28n, R1e. To Mcclure Place 167 cfs ·
Mcclure Place (North Fork) To Nf Boundary At Payne Place (Dept. Of Fish And Game Land) 167 cfs III-IV
South Fork From Antelope Campground To One Quarter Mile Above North Fork Antelope Creek 167 cfs III-IV
Sally's Camp To Confluence With Willow Creek 1 cfs III-IV
Wilcox Spring To Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge Boundary 1 cfs III-V
Headwaters In Sec 27, T26n, R10w To Confluence With Middle Fork Eel River 7 cfs III
Headwaters In Sec 27, T26n, R10w To One Mile North Of Fern Point, At Boundary Of Designated Eel River 7 cfs III-IV
Road 24n01 Crossing At The "Slab" To Nf Boundary 12 cfs III-IV
Headwaters In Sec 28, T18n, R8w To One Third Mile Beyond Snow Mt. Wilderness Boundary At Private Property Boundary Near Paradise Creek 28 cfs III-IV
Deer Creek Crossing To Just Below Confluence With Beaver Creek 119 cfs III-IV
Just Below Confluence With Beaver Creek To Sec 35, T26n, R2e, Ishi Wilderness 119 cfs IV-V
Headwaters To Middle Fork Feather Wsr 25 cfs IV-V
Confluence Of Morrow Creek And Third Water Creek To Confluence With Middle Fork Feather River 25 cfs III-IV
Chicago Ravine To Confluence With Middle Fork Feather Wsr 25 cfs ·
Headwaters To Bear Gulch 187 cfs III-IV
East Branch Nelson Creek Headwaters To Confluence With Nelson Creek 25 cfs ·
West Branch Nelson Creek Headwaters To Confluence With Nelson Creek 25 cfs II-IV
National Monument Boundary To Soda Springs Footbridge In Devils Postpile National Monument 82 cfs ·
Olema Ranch Campground To Caltrans Corporation Yard At Point Reyes Station 1 cfs II-III
Rainbow Falls To National Monument Boundary 82 cfs III-IV
Nf Boundary To Camp Wishon 11 cfs V-V+
Camp Wishon To Confluence With Middle Fork Tule River 11 cfs IV
Nf Boundary With Sequoia Np To Nf Boundary 11 cfs III-IV
Confluence With Rancheria Creek To Forest Road 46n24x 1,330 cfs III-IV
Headwaters In Marble Mtn. Wilderness To Wilderness Boundary 57 cfs III-IV
Headwaters In Siskiyou Wilderness To Confluence With Ten Mile Creek 119 cfs IV-III+
Confluence With Ten Mile Creek To Confluence With Daggett Creek 119 cfs III
West Fork Clear Creek Headwaters To Confluence With Clear Creek 119 cfs III-V
Ten Mile Creek Headwaters To Confluence With Clear Creek 119 cfs ·
Agnew Meadows To Soda Springs Footbridge 82 cfs III-IV
Headwaters To Convict Lake 56 cfs III-IV
Nf Boundary To Table Meadows Creek 11 cfs IV-V
Table Meadow Creek To Kern River 11 cfs IV-V
Hell Hole Dam To Ellicotts Bridge 2 cfs IV-V
Confluence With North Fork San Joaquin River To Hells Half Acre 82 cfs ·
Northwest Boundary Of Nf/Kings Canyon Np To Hot Springs Area 56 cfs ·
Hot Springs Area To West End Of Blarney River 82 cfs III
Blarney Meadows To South End Of Florence Lake 82 cfs II
Nw 1/4 Sec 23, T14n, R4e To Near Center Of Sec 3, T12n, R3e 3,660 cfs ·
Headwaters In Marble Mountains Wilderness To Pre 1984 Wilderness Boundary 57 cfs III
State Park To Confluence With Middle Fork Feather Wsr 25 cfs III-V
Headwaters To Confluence With Nelson Creek 25 cfs III
Confluence With East And West Branches Of Nelson Creek To Confluence With Middle Fork Feather Wsr 25 cfs III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With Kern River 8 cfs II-IV
Headwaters Tributaries To Research Natural Area Boundary 80 cfs III-V
Saddlebag Lake Rna Boundary To State Highway 120 27 cfs III-IV
Sce Powerhouse To La Dept. Of Water And Power Diversion 27 cfs III-IV
Headwaters To Wilderness Boundary 27 cfs III-V
Wilderness Boundary To Private Property 27 cfs ·
Headwaters In Siskiyou Wilderness To Unnamed Trib In Sec 32, T14n, R6e 373 cfs IV-V
Unnamed Trib In Sec 32 To Confluence With Klamath River 373 cfs II-IV
North Fork Dillon Creek Headwaters To Confluence With Dillon Creek 373 cfs III-IV
Elk Creek Headwaters In Marble Mtn. Wilderness To Confluence With Bear Creek 119 cfs III-IV
Confluence With Bear Creek To Bridge In Sec 19, T15n, R8e 119 cfs ·
Cora Creek To Confluence With San Joaquin River 82 cfs IV-V
Headwaters At Thousand Island Lake To Agnew Meadows 82 cfs III-IV+
Rainbow Falls To Confluence With North Fork San Joaquin River 82 cfs IV-V
Gold Lake Dam To Falls 220 cfs III-V
Little Jamison Creek Headwaters To State Park 220 cfs III
Headwaters To State Park 220 cfs II-IV
Headwaters In Russian Wilderness To Wilderness Boundary 47 cfs IV-V
Scott District Boundary To Confluence With Sixmile Creek 47 cfs III-IV
Confluence With Sixmile Creek To Confluence With South Fork Salmon River 47 cfs IV-V
Isabella Lake Dam To 7 Miles Downstream 37 cfs III-IV
Headwaters In Sec 8, T3s, R25 E To Hemlock Crossing 82 cfs III-IV
Hemlock Crossing To Confluence With Cora Creek 82 cfs III-IV
Bridge In Sec 19 To Bridge In Sec 25, T16n, R7e 119 cfs ·
Bridge In Sec 25 To Confluence With Klamath River 119 cfs ·
Headwaters To Walker Lake 82 cfs IV-V
Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Mill Creek 27 cfs III-IV
Fish Hatchery To Nf Boundary 56 cfs III-IV
Granite Creek Headwaters To Confluence With Elk Creek 57 cfs IV
Burney Valley Creek Headwaters To Confluence With Granite Creek 57 cfs IV-V
Tom's Valley Creek Headwaters To Confluence With Elk Creek 57 cfs ·
Rainey Valley Creek Headwaters To Confluence With Elk Creek 57 cfs IV-V
From Toe Of Dam On West End Of Ukonom Lake To Confluence With Klamath River 119 cfs III-IV
Caribou Reservoir To Beldon 44 cfs IV-V
Rock Creek Dam To Cresta Reservoir 187 cfs ·
Poe Dam To Highway 70 Crossing 187 cfs III
Headwaters To Bucks Lake 25 cfs III-V
20.2 Miles Downstream Of Isabella Dam To Western Nf Boundary 9 cfs III-II
7 Miles From Isabella Dam To 20.2 Miles From Isabella Dam 37 cfs III-III+
Headwaters In Marble Mtn. Wilderness To Confluence With Fish Creek 57 cfs III-IV
Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Feather River 44 cfs III
Nf Boundary To Confluence With Yellow Creek 44 cfs III
Wilderness Boundary To La Dept. Of Water And Power Property 56 cfs III-IV
Nw 1/4 Sec 26, T26n, R12w To Confluence With North Fork Eel River 7 cfs ·
Confluence With Fish Creek To Confluence With Rancheria Creek 1,330 cfs III-V
Big Meadows To Filaree Flat 25 cfs IV-V
Filaree Flat To Confluence With Bear Creek 25 cfs III-IV
Big Bear Dam To Private Land In Sec 19, T1n, R1w 25 cfs III-IV
Middle Fork Commanche Campsite To Middle Fork Trailhead 6 cfs IV-V
Below 2w01 Crossing To Mojave Reservoir 4 cfs III-V
South Fork Wilderness Boundary/Sfdiversion Dam To Confluence With Mainstream 1 cfs ·
Southern Boundary Of Wsr To Nf Boundary 37 cfs III-IV
Snow Lake To Hoover Wilderness Boundary 80 cfs IV-V
Confluence With Middle Fork Tuolumne River To Confluence With Tuolumne River 169 cfs IV-V
Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Middle Fork Stanislaus 220 cfs III-IV
Chorro Grande Canyon To Section Line Dividing Sec 1, T5n, R23w And Sec 6, T5n, T22w 1 cfs V
Nelsons Crossing To Confluence With Middle Fork Feather Wsr 220 cfs ·
Slate Reservoir To North Yuba River 220 cfs V-IV
Headwaters To Slate Reservoir 220 cfs III
Headwaters Kennedy Creek To Confluence With Middle Fork Stanislaus 220 cfs IV-III
Relief Reservoir Outlet To Confluence With Clark Fork 220 cfs III-V
Tributary Headwaters To Wilderness Boundary 8 cfs IV-V
Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary 11 cfs III-IV
Confluence Of Spanish Creek And Indian Creek To Confluence With North Fork Feather River 44 cfs III-IV
Confluence With Squaw Queen Creek To Confluence With Red Clover Creek 44 cfs III-IV
Sec 17, T25n, R14e To Confluence With Last Chance Creek 44 cfs III
Pond In Sec 35, T26n, R9e To Confluence With Spanish Creek 44 cfs III-IV
Headwaters, Upper Piru Creek To Wildernes Boundary 1 cfs III-IV
Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Gold Hill Creek 16 cfs III
Confluence With Gold Hill Creek To Castaic 16 cfs III-IV
Castaic To Pyramid Reservoir 16 cfs III-IV
Lower Piru Creek (Oulet At Pyramid Reservoir) To Piru Reservoir 20 cfs III-IV
Headwaters To Sportsman's Club 24 cfs ·
Silver Lake To Meadow Valley 25 cfs III-IV
Confluence With Highland Creek To One Quarter Mile Upstream Forest Road 5no2 Bridge Crossing 7 cfs III-IV
Headwaters Se 1/4 Of Sec 10, T18, R15e To Stampede Reservoir 7 cfs ·
Headwaters At West Branch Canyon Creek (Sec 26, T22n, R10e) To Confluence With Canyon Creek 220 cfs ·
Headwaters Of North Fork Canyon Creek (Sec 6, T21n, R11e) To Confluence With East Fork Canyon Creek 220 cfs III-IV
0.15 Mile Downstream From Road 4n26b To Confluence With Lilly Creek 7 cfs III-IV
Headwaters Of East Fork Canyon Creek (Sec 13, T21n, R10e) To Confluence With South Fork Canyon Creek 220 cfs IV-V
Confluence With South Fork Canyon Creek To Confluence With North Yuba River 220 cfs IV+-V
Headwaters Of North Yuba River (Sec 10, T20n, R13 E) To One Eighth Mile Downstream Of Confluence With Cherokee Creek 220 cfs III
One Eighth Mile Downstream From Confluence With Cherokee Creek To One Quarter Mile Upstream From Confluence With Slate Creek 220 cfs III-IV
Ventana Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary 24 cfs III-IV
Lassen Np Boundary To Just Below Highway 36 Crossing 134 cfs III-IV
Just Below Highway 36 Crossing To One Half Mile Downstream From Hole In The Ground 134 cfs III-IV
Wilderness Boundary To Tom's Place 56 cfs III-IV
Clavey River From Cottonwood Road To Confluence With Tuolumne 0 cfs IV-V
One Quarter Mile Upstream From Confluence With Slate Creek To Bullards Bar Reservoir Spillway (Elevation 1902 Feet) 220 cfs ·
Langs Crossing Bridge To One Half Mile West Of Confluence With Fall Creek (Boundary Of Nf And Private Land) 6 cfs III-IV
Tom's Place To Nf Boundary 56 cfs III-IV
Headwaters To Inlet At South Lake 8 cfs IV-V
Headwaters To Forest Road 16s02 11 cfs IV-V
Forest Road 16so2 To La Dept. Of Water And Power Property 11 cfs III-IV
Ladwp Property To Wilderness Boundary 37 cfs II-III
Wilderness Boundary To Intake 37 cfs III-IV
Clavey River At Confluence Of Bell And Lily Creeks To 3n01 7 cfs IV-V
Headwaters To Forest Road 94 220 cfs IV+
Forest Road 94 To Confluence With Middle Fork Feather Wsr 220 cfs IV-V
Clavey River From 3n01 To Cottonwood Road 68 cfs IV-V
One Half Mile West Of Confluence With Fall Creek To Confluence With Jefferson Creek 5 cfs ·
Confluence With Jefferson Creek To Confluence With Kentucky Creek 5 cfs III-IV
Dam Outlet At South Lake To Habeggers Rv Park 56 cfs III-IV
Source Sec 24, T6n, R21e To Centerville Flat 0 cfs III
From Its Headwaters In Sec. 7, T4s, R1e, Hm To To Junction With N. Fork In Sec. 32, T3s, R1e, Hm 27 cfs III-IV
Southeast 1/4 Sec.32 T3s, R1e, Hm To To Its Junction With The East Fork Honeydew Creek 27 cfs ·
Green Valley At The Nf Boundary To Site Of St Francis Dam Disaster 16 cfs III-IV
West Fork Headwaters (Se 1/4, Ne 1/4, Sec 14, T2n, R12w) To Cogswell Reservoir (Ne 1/4, Sw 1/4, Sec 24, T2n, R9w 2 cfs ·
Falls To Gold Lake Highway 220 cfs III
Gold Lake Highway To Nf Boundary 220 cfs III-V
Headwaters In Sec. 27., T2s, R2w, Hm To To Its Junction With The Mattole River 50 cfs III-IV
From Its Headwaters In Sec. 18, T3s, R1w, Hm To To The Pacific Ocean 50 cfs III-IV
From Its Headwaters In Sec. 19, T3s, R1w, Hm To To The Pacific Ocean 50 cfs III-IV
North Fork Confluence Of Soldier And Coldbrook Creeks (Se1/4,Sw1/4, Sec) 5, T2n,,R9w To Conflluence With West Fork Of San Gabriel (Sw 1/4,Sw1/4, Sec 17, T2n, R8w) 21 cfs ·
East Fork Confluence Of Vincent Gulch And Prairie Fork (Nw 1/4, Sw 1/4 Sec 16 ) To Laurel Gulch (Nw 1/4, Sw 1/4, Sec 17, T2n, R8w) 21 cfs ·
Laurel Gulch To Confluence With Mineo Canyon (Se 1/4, Sw 1/4, Sec 17, T2n, R8w) 21 cfs ·
Gaging Station Below Spillway Of Cogswell Dam (Ne 1/4, Se 1/4, Sec 19, T2n, R10w) To Confluence With Nf San Gabriel River (Sw 1/4.Sw 1/4, Sec 15, T2n, R9w) · ·
Bluff Lake To Confluence With Bear Creek 25 cfs III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With East Carsonriver 220 cfs IV-V
Begins Immediately Southwest Of Fall River Mills, Ca To It Flows Into Shasta Lake And The Sacramento River. 1,440 cfs III-IV
From Private Land Boundary Between Sec. 8 And 17, T2s, R2w, Hm To To The Pacific Ocean 50 cfs IV-V
From The Reserve Boundary Just Downstream Of The Elk River Trailhead In Sec. 35 T4n, R1w, Humboldt Meridian (H.M.) To To The Old Town Site At Falk In Sec. 36, T4n, R1w, H.M. 329 cfs III-IV
Bear Gulch To Confluence With Middle Fork Feather Wsr 187 cfs III-IV
Private Property To Lundy Lake 27 cfs III
Northeast 1/4 Of Sec. 29 And Northwest 1/4 Of Sec. 21, T4s, R1e, Hm To To Its Junction With The Main Stem 27 cfs ·
Northwest 1/4 Of Sec. 33 T3s, R1w, Hm. To Southeast 1/4 Of Sec. 27 T3s, R1w, Hm 27 cfs ·
(1)Southwest 1/4 Of Sec 25 And 26 T3s, R1w, Hm (2)Southwest 1/4 Sec 8, T3s, R1e, Hm To To Their Junctions With The Main Stem 27 cfs ·
Within Tunnison Wsa To Within Tunnison Wsa 44 cfs III-III
Headwaters To Confluence With New River 1,810 cfs III
Headwaters To Hoover Wilderness Boundary 80 cfs IV-V
Southwest 1/4 Of Sec. 36 T3s, R1w, Hm To To Its Junction Woth Main Stem 27 cfs ·
Southwest 1/4 Sec. 14 T4s, R1e, Hm To Northeast 1/4 Sec. 14 T4s, R1e, Hm 27 cfs ·
From Its Headwaters In Sec. 32, T2s, R2w, Hm To To The Pacific Ocean 50 cfs III-IV
From Its Headwaters In Sec 27, T2s, R2w, Hm To To The Pacific Ocean 50 cfs IV-V
Crouch Ranch To Morena Reservoir 0 cfs III-IV
Mainstream Confluence With Cooper Canyon To Confluence Wit South Fork Little Rock Creek 21 cfs III-IV
Mainstream Confluence With South Fork Little Rock Creek To Little Rock Creek Reservoir 21 cfs III-IV
Mainstream Headwaters To Confluence With Cooper Canyon 21 cfs III-IV
Headwater Deadman Creek To Confluence With Middle Fork Stanislaus River 220 cfs IV
Cooper Canyon Near State Highway 2 (Sw 1/4, Ne 1/4, Sec 16, T3n, R10w To Confluence With Little Rock Creek 21 cfs ·
One Mile Downstream From Black Rock To Western Nf Boundary 119 cfs II-III
1/4 Mile North Of State Highway 50 To Avalanche Lake 20 cfs ·
Hoover Wilderness Boundary To Leavitt Meadows Campground 220 cfs III-V
West Sec Line Of Sec 6, T28n,R9/10w To Nf Boundary With Blm 582 cfs ·
Private Land In Sec 1, T21n, R9w To Confluence Of Cold Creek And Black Butte River 62 cfs IV
Centerville Flat To Hangman's Bridge 184 cfs III-IV
Hoover Wilderness Boundary To Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest Boundary 80 cfs III-IV
Headwaters, Includes East Fork And West Fork To Hoover Wilderness Boundary 80 cfs III-V
Nine Mile Bridge To Confluence With South Fork Trinity River 230 cfs ·
Highway 4 To Salt Springs Reservoir 184 cfs III-IV
From Junction With North Fork And South Fork In Sec. 9, T4s, R1e, Hm To To Private Land Boundary In South 1/2 Of Sec. 11, T4s, R1e, Hm 27 cfs ·
Southwest 1/4 Sec. 36 T3s, R1e, Hm To To Its Junction With The Mattole River 27 cfs ·
Southwest And Northwest 1/4 Of Sec. 36 T4s, R1e, Hm. To To Its Junction With Big Creek 27 cfs ·
From Its Headwaters Just North Of The Humboldt Co./ Mendocino Co. Line To To The Pacific Ocean 27 cfs ·
Southeast 1/4 Of Sec. 19 And 30, T5s, R2e, Hm To To The Junction With The Main Stem 27 cfs ·
From Its Intersection With Chaparral Creek In Sec. 9 T3s, R2w, Hm To To The Pacific Ocean 50 cfs III-IV
Highway 70 Crossing To Lake Oroville 187 cfs III-IV
Cresta Dam To Poe Reservoir (Camp Creek) 187 cfs IV-V
Begins Near Muck Valley To Ends Two Miles From The Fall River Valley 1,440 cfs III-IV
Begins 2.5 Miles West Of Little Valley, California To Juncture With The Pit River. 134 cfs II-IV
Four Tenths Mile Upstream With The Confluence Of Foley Creek Four Tenths Mile Upstream With Confluence With Foley Creek To Trinity Wsr 7 cfs III-IV
West Section Line Of Sec 28, T28n, R11w To Two Tenths Of A Mile West And Downstream Of Double Cabins Site 7 cfs III-IV
Multiple: Sec. 13, T3s, R2w, Hm; Sec. 18, 7, 17 (Nw1/4 & Sw1/4), 9, 10, 15, 21, T3s, R1w, Hm To To Their Junctions With The Main Stem 50 cfs ·
From The Old Town Site At Falk In Sec. 36, T4n, R1w, H.M. To To The Headwaters In Sec. 14 T3n, R1e, H.M. 329 cfs III+-IV
Source (Tower Lake) Includes Kirkwood Creek, Cascade Creek And Tower Creek To Hoover Wilderness Boundary 80 cfs II-IV
Headwaters In Sec 2, T9n, R18e To Confluence With Mokelumne River 184 cfs III-IV
From Its Headwaters In Sec. 28, T3s, R1w, Hm To To The Pacific Ocean 50 cfs III-IV
From Shelter Cove Road To To Junction With Main Stem In Sec. 9, T4s, R1e, Hm 27 cfs III-V
Southeast 1/4 Of Sec 25 T3s, R1w, Hm To To Its Junction With The Main Stem 27 cfs ·
Northeast 1/4 Of Sec. 35 T3s, R1w, Hm To To The Pacific Ocean 27 cfs ·
Northwest 1/4 Of Aec. 28 And Southwest 1/4 Of Sec. 34, T4s, R1e, Hm To To Its Junction With The Main Stem 27 cfs ·
Northeast 1/4 Sec. 3, T5s, R1e, Hm To To Its Junction With The Main Stem 27 cfs ·
1.5 Miles Downstream From Big Spring To Extends To Smoke Creek Reservoir 46 cfs III
Confluence With Glass Creek To Big Springs 22 cfs III-V
Northeast 1/4 Of Sec. 35 23 And 24, T3s, R2w, Hm To To Its Junction With The Main Stem 50 cfs ·
Northwest 1/4 In Sec. 7, T4s, R1e, Hm To To Its Junction With The Main Stem 27 cfs ·
Northeast 1/4 Sec. 19 T3s, R1w, Hm To To Its Junction With The Main Stem 50 cfs ·
From Headwaters In Sec. 35, T4s, R1e, Hm To To Its Junction With The Mattole River 27 cfs III-IV
1 Mile West Of Devil's Corral To To Susanville 44 cfs III-IV
Confluence With Daggett Creek To Confluence With Klamath River 119 cfs IV-V
Headwaters To Trailhead 512 cfs IV-V
Headwaters In Marble Mtn. Wilderness To Pre 1984 Wilderness Boundary 373 cfs IV-V
From Its Headwaters In Sec. 18, T5s, R2e, Hm To From Shelter Cove Road 27 cfs II-IV
From Its Headwaters In Sec. 21, T2s, R2w, Hm To To Its Junction With The Mattole River 50 cfs II-IV
From Its Headwaters In Sec. 17, T4s, R1e To To The Pacific Ocean 27 cfs IV-V
Northeast 1/4 Of Sec. 35 T3s, R1w, Hm To To Its Junction With The Main Stem 27 cfs ·
Northwest 1/4 Of Sec 27 T3s, R1w, Hm To To Its Junction With The Main Stem 27 cfs ·
From The Reserve Boundary In Sec. 18, T3n, R1e, H.M. To To The Headwaters In Sec. 22 And 28, T3n, R1e, H.M. 329 cfs II-IV
Headwaters In Sec. 28, T4s, R1w, Hm To To Its Junction With The Pcific Ocean 27 cfs III-IV
From Its Headwaters In Sec. 18, T4s, R1e, Hm To To The Pacific Ocean 27 cfs III-IV
From Its Headwaters In Sec. 1, T5s, R1e, Hm To To Its Junction With The Mattole River 27 cfs III-IV
Southeast 1/4 Of Sec. 1 T5s, R1e, Hm To To Its Junction With The Main Stem 27 cfs ·
Southeast 1/4 Of Sec. 23 T4s, R1e, Hm To To Its Junction With The Main Stem 27 cfs ·
Northwest 1/4 Of Sec 29, T3s, R1w, Hm To To Its Junction With The Main Stem 50 cfs ·
Site Of St Francis Dam Disaster To Seco Canyon At The Nf Boundary 20 cfs ·
Section Line To Confluence With Rock Creek 1 cfs III-IV
0.25 Miles Downstream Of The Impoundment Of Sportsman's Lodge To Ventana Wilderness Boundary 24 cfs III
From Its Headwaters In Sec. 6, T4s, R1e, Hm To To Junction With Main Stem In Sec. 9 T4s, R1e, Hm 27 cfs ·
0.25 Milesupstram Of The Impoundment At Sportsman's Lodge To 0.25 Miles Downstream Of The Impoundment At Sportsman's Lodge 24 cfs III-IV
San Mateo Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary With Camp Pendleton · III-IV
Devil Canyon Tributary To San Mateo Creek · IV-V
Southeast 1/4 Of Sec. 36 T3s, R1w, Hm To To Its Junction With The Main Stem 28 cfs ·
From The Confluence With The South Fork Elk River To To The Headwaters In Sec. 21, T3n, R1e, H.M. 364 cfs III-IV
Starts In Sec. 8 T3n, R1e, H.M. To Ends In Sec. 15, T3n, R1e, H.M 364 cfs II-III
From Headwaters In Sec. 21, T3s, R1w, Hm To To Private Land Boundary In The Nw 1/4 Of Se. 8, T3s, R1w, Hm 57 cfs ·
From Its Headwaters In Sec. 20, T3s, R1w, Hm To To The Pacific Ocean 57 cfs III-IV
From Its Headwaters In Sec 1, T4s, R1w, Hm To To The Pacific Ocean 28 cfs V-IV
From Headwaters In Sec. 11, T5s, R1e, Hm To To The Pacific Ocean 28 cfs III-IV
From Its Headwaters In Sec. 14, T4s, R1e, Hm To To Its Junction With The Mattole River 28 cfs III-IV
From Its Headwaters In Sec. 13, T3s, R2w, Hm To To The Pacific Ocean 57 cfs III-IV
From Its Headwaters In Sec. 15, T3s, R1e, Hm. To To Its Junction With The Mattole River 57 cfs III-IV
From Its Headwaters In Sec. 9 T5s, R1e, Hm In Shelter Cove To To The Pacific Ocean 28 cfs III-IV
Two Tenth Mile West And Downstream Of Double Cabins Site To Confluence With Smoky Creek 8 cfs ·
Headwaters (At Wilderness Boundary) To West Section Line Of Sec 28, T28s,R11w 8 cfs III-IV
Confluence With Smoky Creek To Four Tenths Of A Mile West And Downstream Of Double Cabins Site 8 cfs II-IV
Wilderness Boundary To Forest Road 40n54 55 cfs III-IV
Battle Creek 264 cfs III
Salmon Creek Trib 364 cfs ·
Palm Canyon · III
Mission Creek 1 cfs III-IV
Smoke Creek 85 cfs IV-IV
Sacramento River 12,600 cfs III-IV
Butte Creek Trib 181 cfs III-IV
Big Flat Creek 28 cfs III-IV
Cache Creek 20 cfs III-IV
Cedar Creek Trib 20 cfs III-IV
Colman Creek 181 cfs IV-V
South Fork Cottonwood Creek 12 cfs III-IV
Paynes Creek 12,600 cfs ·
Beegum Creek 673 cfs III-III
North Fork Mission Creek 1 cfs IV/V-IV/V
Elder Creek 2 cfs V
Pipe Creek 181 cfs III-IV
Garcia River 10 cfs III-IV
Bridge Creek 28 cfs IV-III
West Fork Mission Creek 1 cfs III-IV
North Fork Cedar Creek 20 cfs V
White Rock Creek Trib 2 cfs III-IV
Middle Fork Cottonwood Creek 11 cfs III
White Rock Creek 2 cfs III
Mokelumne River 60 cfs III-IV
Charlton Creek 20 cfs IV-V
Rattlesnake Creek 20 cfs ·
Indian Creek 69 cfs IV-V
Bear Creek 264 cfs III-V
Butte Creek 27 cfs III-IV
East Branch South Fork Trib 20 cfs III+
Bell Springs Creek 20 cfs III-IV
Upper Pit River Canyon 1,190 cfs III-V
Honeydew Creek 28 cfs III-IV
Santa Margarita River 1 cfs II-III
Shell Rock Creek Trib 2 cfs IV-V
Colman Creek Trib 181 cfs III-V
Edan Creek Trib 69 cfs III-IV
Shell Rock Creek 2 cfs III-IV
Big Chico Creek 119 cfs III/IV
Mad River (Segment 2) 27 cfs III-IV
Susan River 45 cfs III-IV
Lower Rock Creek 56 cfs III-IV
Mattole River 57 cfs III-II
Shasta River 52 cfs II-III
Little South Fork Elk Creek 364 cfs IV-V
George Creek 11 cfs V-V
South Fork Battle Creek 264 cfs III
Mill Creek 300 cfs IV-V
Virginia Creek 39 cfs III-V
Atastra Creek 171 cfs III-V
Dog Creek 39 cfs III-IV
Hulls Creek 69 cfs IV-V
Lacks Creek 16 cfs III-IV
Fish Slough 56 cfs III+-III
Charlton Creek Trib 20 cfs III-III
Indian Creek Trib 69 cfs III-IV
Lower Pit River Canyon 1,190 cfs III-IV
Rough Creek 171 cfs III-IV
Bear Creek, Main Stem 28 cfs IV
Lower Horse Creek Canyon 134 cfs IV-V
Independence Creek 11 cfs III-IV
Bell Springs Creek Trib 20 cfs III-IV
Salmon Creek 364 cfs III-V
Hot Creek 56 cfs III-IV
Willow Creek 45 cfs ·
North Fork Cottonwood Creek 448 cfs IV
East Branch South Fork Eel 20 cfs III-IV
Mad River (Segment 1) 27 cfs III
Clear Creek 448 cfs III-V
Jewett Creek 28 cfs III-II
Green Creek 39 cfs III-IV
Gitchell Creek 28 cfs III-II
Deer Creek 119 cfs III-IV
Casoose Creek 8 cfs IV-V
Tenmile Creek 2 cfs III-IV
Cedar Creek 20 cfs IV-V
North Fork Cache Creek 31 cfs III-IV
Bear Creek, North Fork 28 cfs IV
Bear Creak, South Fork 28 cfs ·
Bear Creek, North Fork, Trib 28 cfs ·
Big Creek 28 cfs IV-V
Bear Creek, Main Stem, Trib 28 cfs III
River runs FAQ

About California river runs

What does whitewater class mean?

The international whitewater scale (Class I–VI) rates a river's difficulty. I is moving water with riffles. II is straightforward rapids with clear channels. III requires complex maneuvers in fast water. IV is intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring decisive boat handling. V is extremely long, obstructed, or violent rapids with significant hazard. VI is considered impossible to run.

Where does the California streamflow data come from?

USGS streamgauges. Each California paddle run is keyed to a specific gauge that paddlers and outfitters have agreed represents flow on that section. Gauges report every 15 minutes; we re-pull throughout the day.

What's a runnable level?

Run-specific. A creek that's classic at 200 cfs might be too low at 100 and dangerously flooded at 1,000. Always cross-reference with a guidebook or a California paddling club for the run's accepted gauge ranges before launching.

Can I get an alert when a run hits prime flow?

Yes. Save any paddle run as a favorite in the Snoflo iOS app, set a flow window (e.g. "alert me between 800 and 1,500 cfs"), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses into range. Free with a Snoflo account.

Is this a substitute for local guidebooks and trip leaders?

No. Snoflo is informational. Always carry appropriate skills, gear, and a sober assessment of the day's flow. For high-consequence runs (Class IV+), paddle with people who know the run and never solo. American Whitewater is the authoritative source for U.S. river information.

Browse other states

River runs in every state

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District Of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming