Body
of Water
|
Run
/ distance |
Craft |
Season |
Class |
Typical
costs |
Notes |
|
American
River |
Nimbus
Dam to Discovery Park (20 miles) or shorter via many downstream put-ins in
Sac parks |
Open
deck canoes and kayaks |
Late
spring to fall |
I |
$65/canoe
per day |
California
Canoe and Kayak @ Nimbus Camp
at BSA Camp Pollock nr Discovery Park. Combined bike Am River Parkway/canoe
weekend http://gec-bsa.org/camps.html#Pollock |
|
American
River, south fork |
Chili
Bar to Salmon Falls (18 miles) |
Guided
inflatable raft |
Late
spring to fall |
III |
$100
for one day “Gorge” Trip |
Exciting,
good scenery. Generally done in two days.
Dozens of outfitter; we’ve used Mariah for the last few years. Ned is
an Eagle https://www.adventuresports.com/wwraft/mariah/raft/southfork.htm |
|
Cache
Creek |
Bear
Creek to Rumsey (15 miles) |
Self-guided
inflatable rafts and kayaks |
Late
spring to fall |
II |
$85
spring; $120 - $140 summer for 2 day trips |
Very
popular with Troops. Warm water, easy
but exciting rapids. Two outfitter,
but “beer-soaked” rafter a hazard with both.
Only Cache Canyon Rafting offers “Scouts only” outings; run by Eagle Scout
Rick Wilson http://cachecanyon.com/ |
|
Cache
Creek |
Camp
Haswell to Rumsey Bridge (2 miles) |
Open
deck canoes |
Late
spring to fall |
I+
/ II- |
N/A |
Have
not done this but its appears to acceptable for experienced paddlers http://creekin.net/cache.htm |
|
Cache
Creek |
Rumsey Bridge to Guinda (7 miles) |
Open
deck canoes |
Late
spring to fall |
I+ |
c |
Have
not done this but looks suitable for novice paddlers |
|
Canoe
& Kayak Rental outlets |
http://totalescape.com/active/water/kayakrent.html |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elkhorn
Slough |
Moss
Landing harbor to 1.5 mi inland (3 miles) |
Open
deck canoe or kayak |
All
year |
N/a |
$30/person
|
Wonderful
seal and otter viewing in estuary Kayak
Connection http://www.kayakconnection.com/ Monterey
Bay Kayaks http://montereykayaks.com/ |
|
Estero
Americano |
4
miles inland to last road before Bodega Bay |
Open
deck canoe or kayak |
All
year |
N/a |
|
Similar
to Elkhorn Slough put possible to do shuttle from east to west end. Just
south of Bodega Bay |
|
Inflatable
Kayak rental outlet |
Pacific
River Supply in Richmond |
1
and 2 person iks for extended trips |
|
|
|
|
|
Klamath
River |
Beaver
Creek to Seiad Valley (50 miles) |
Open
deck canoes with flotation |
Late
spring to Fall |
II/III |
|
Perhaps
the best open deck canoing waters in California. Warm water, beautiful scenery, challenging rapids. Neil Rucker offers an outstanding 5 day
Whitewater Canoeing Clinic for Scout troops – highly recommended http://www.snowcrest.net/canoewest/canoecon.html |
|
Port
of Redwood City |
|
|
|
|
|
Easy
access, good launch facilities at USGS Dock (open to Scout ujnits). Good spot for canoe and rowing merit badge
instruction |
|
Russian
River |
Asti
to Alexander Valley Bridge (10 miles) |
Open
deck canoe |
Late
spring to fall |
I/II |
$75/canoe
for weekend or $55/day |
Haven’t
used WC “Bob” Trowbridge for years, but they’re still in business http://www.trowbridgecanoe.com/ Private
campground at Alexander Valley Bridge |
|
Russian
River |
Alexander Valley Bridge to Healdsburg (10
miles) |
Open
deck canoe |
Late
spring to fall |
I |
$75/canoe
for weekend or $55/day |
Haven’t
used WC “Bob” Trowbridge for years, but they’re still in business http://www.trowbridgecanoe.com/ Private
campground at Alexander Valley Bridge |
|
Russian
River |
Duncans
Mill to Jenner (5 miles) |
Open
deck canoe |
Late spring to early summer |
I |
|
Camp at Marin Council’s Camp Royaneh nr
Guerneville. Paddle down to Jenner
and back (or one way and shuttle) Bodgea
Bay Surf Shack |
|
Sacramento
River |
Redding
to Red Bluff (50 miles) |
Open
deck canoe |
Early
summer to fall |
I/II |
|
Outstanding 50 miler, can be done in 2 paddling day. Camping along the river via BLM http://dbw.ca.gov/Pubs/Redding/ Pull
out ABOVE Lake Red Bluff or finish in the morning – strong upriver afternoon
winds and heavy waves http://creekin.net/sac-red.htm |
|
Stanislaus
River |
Knights
Ferry to Orange Blossom Bridge (10 miles) |
Open deck canoe |
Summer
to early fall |
I |
$17-19/
person |
Farm land scenery; easy paddling after
Russian Rapid in first mile; Sunshine Raft company, Oakdale http://www.whitewateradventures.com/whitewaterrafting/sunshineadventures/index.cfm Boat-in
campgrounds run by Army Corps of Engineers http://www.spk.usace.army.mil/cespk-co/lakes/stanislaus.html |
|
Stanislaus
River |
Knights
Ferry to Orange Blossom Bridge (10 miles) |
Unguided
Inflatable raft |
Late
spring to early summer |
II |
$17-19/
person |
Farm land scenery; easy paddling after
Russian Rapid in first mile; Sunshine Raft company, Oakdale http://www.whitewateradventures.com/whitewaterrafting/sunshineadventures/index.cfm Boat-in
campgrounds run by Army Corps of Engineers http://www.spk.usace.army.mil/cespk-co/lakes/stanislaus.html |
|
Tomales
Bay |
Marshall
to n/e Pt Reyes peninsula beaches (1 mile) |
Open
deck canoe |
All
year |
N/a |
|
Explore and camp on
northeastern end of Pt Reyes peninsula.
Camping permit required from PRNS headquarters Tomales Bay Kayaking 415/663-1743 in Marshall |
|
Utica
& Union Reservoirs |
Paddle
only reservoirs on the upper Stansislaus near Alpine Lake and Bear Valley;
approx 1 mi x 0.5 mile each |
Open
deck canoe & Kayak |
Early
summer to Fall |
N/a |
$50-$60/day /canoe |
Small but lots of
peninsulas and coves to explore.
Wilderness trails at far end explore up into the Stanislaus
drainage. SNAC rents canoes in Arnold https://www.snacattack.com/Rentals/canoe.htm |