Whitewater
Kayaking & Rafting in
California
Northern
California
#1.
Yuba River
A clear and dependable float
for novices, the Yuba River
scampers through immense
dredge tailings of the Yuba
Gold Fields. Above Daguerra
Dam, the landscape is typical
California foothills: oak
trees ...
From the guidebook "Paddling
Northern California"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Yuba City, CA - Whitewater
Paddling - 17.9 miles (About
Top Trails)
#2. East Fork Carson
River
This Sierra high-country
gem offers lots of Class
II whitewater, spectacular
scenery, great campsites,
and hot springs. The East
Fork of the Carson River
is one of my favorite places.
Days are delight...
From the guidebook "Paddling
Northern California"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Woodfords, CA - Whitewater
Paddling - 20 miles (About
Top Trails)
#3. Bear River -
Colfax to Dog Bar
This intimate stream has
fun riffles when releases
are high enough. Once heavily
exploited, the Bear River
has made an aesthetic comeback.
Ridgetops along the Bear
seem nearby since the canyon
is only...
From the guidebook "Paddling
Northern California"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Weimar, CA - Whitewater
Paddling - 4.6 miles
#4. Cache Creek
- North Fork to Bear Creek
These remote canyons provide
a warm Class II stream with
fine camping, big wildlife,
and few people. The clear
water of the North Fork
Cache Creek comes from Indian
Valley Reservoir some 11
miles upst...
From the guidebook "Paddling
Northern California"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Williams, CA - Whitewater
Paddling - 19 miles
#5. Middle Fork
American River - Greenwood
Bridge to Mammoth Bar
Reliable flows, a short
shuttle, and fun fishing
in a rugged gold mining
canyon add to this whitewater
run. Imagine being a visitor
to the Middle Fork’s
gold mines of the 1850s.
More than 10,000 men l...
From the guidebook "Paddling
Northern California"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Auburn, CA - Whitewater
Paddling - 6.6 miles
More whitewater
paddling and rafting in
California Running
the Rivers of North America
Southern
California
#1.
Sespe Creek
Sespe Creek is indisputably
the finest wilderness run
south of the Sierra Nevada.
The first 14 or so miles
pass effortlessly. It is
when the river takes a bend
to the south, and begins
to cut throug...
From the guidebook "Best
Whitewater In California"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Ojai, CA - Whitewater Paddling
- 33.1 miles
#2. Dinkey Creek
(Upper)
The Cherry Bomb Falls section
of Dinkey Creek is a fun
and beautiful kayak run.
The elevation is high, at
about 5,800 feet. The rapids
are mostly bedrock slides
and ledges, although there
are some s...
From the guidebook "Best
Whitewater In California"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Dinkey, CA - Whitewater
Paddling - 5.2 miles
#3. Dinkey Creek
(The Waterfalls)
This section of Dinkey Creek
is one of the most beautiful,
scary and committing canyons
you may ever travel through.
It is steep, isolated, and
has long pools and big waterfalls.
The drops are fanta...
From the guidebook "Best
Whitewater In California"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Dinkey, CA - Whitewater
Paddling - 6.3 miles
#4. Kern River (Fairview
Dam to Gold Ledge Campground)
A USFS permit is required
to run this section of the
Kern River. There are a
couple of short sections
of class II - III separated
by sections of class IV
and V rapids. The section
starts out with a ...
From the guidebook "Best
Whitewater In California"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Kernville, CA - Whitewater
Paddling - 6.5 miles
#5. Kern River (Kernville
Run)
This section of the Kern
River does NOT require a
permit. This is an excellent
beginner run. The only rapid
that might put the fear
of god into the novice paddler
is Ewings rapid, which is
just upst...
From the guidebook "Best
Whitewater In California"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Kernville, CA - Whitewater
Paddling - 2 miles
