River guideCalifornia
Russian River
Compare trips by distance, difficulty and current conditions. Open a trip for its map, directions and planning tools.
Compare trips
Choose a route
Start with distance, then compare current scores where available.
Showing all 37 trips.
Clear a filter to see more of this river.
Loading trip map.
End of mapRiver overview
Russian River paddle planning
What to verify before you commit.
Water levels
These Russian River routes use 2 gauge references depending on the stretch.
Route options
Compare all 37 trip options here. Every trip page provides its mileage, access, shuttle, and hazard notes. The upper, middle, and lower reaches use different guide and gauge references.
Difficulty
Russian River routes here are marked easy and moderate, so choose the stretch that fits your group and conditions.
Russian River sections
Choose a reach before comparing routes
The 37 trip combinations cross upper, middle, and lower stretches with different access and gauge references.
Upper river: Asti to Healdsburg
California Creeks describes the 11-mile Asti–Alexander reach separately from the 14.6-mile Alexander Valley–Healdsburg run. These are different flow zones: the Asti guide gives its own seasonal guidance, while the Healdsburg run uses the direct Healdsburg gauge.
- Asti Summer Bridge / Washington School Road river access (water-entry edge) to Alexander Valley Road / campground river access (water-entry edge) · About 11 river miles
- Alexander Valley Road / campground river access (water-entry edge) to Healdsburg Memorial Beach below Avenue dam (water-entry edge) · About 14.6 river miles
Middle river: Healdsburg to Forestville
California Creeks names an 8.9-mile Healdsburg–Wohler run and a 10.1-mile alternate ending at Mirabel. Both use its 300–1,500 cfs Healdsburg-gauge guidance; Wohler has a seasonal permit/key, 4WD recommendation, and short portage.
- Healdsburg Avenue dam carry to Wohler Bridge Fishing Access · About 8.9 river miles
- Healdsburg Avenue dam carry to Mirabel Park · About 10.1 river miles
Lower river: Forestville to Guerneville
This lower reach uses the Hacienda Bridge water-level information. Dreamflows lists 500–2,500 cfs triggers for its Healdsburg–Guerneville reach at that gauge. Steelhead–Sunset is a shorter beach-to-beach option; long combinations retain their individual endpoints and bailout choices in the trip list.
- Steelhead Beach to Sunset Beach River Park · About 2.6 river miles
- Healdsburg Avenue dam carry to Guerneville River Park · About 19.5 river miles
California Creeks publishes separate route notes for the Asti–Alexander, Alexander–Healdsburg, and Healdsburg–near-Forestville reaches. Dreamflows provides the Healdsburg–Guerneville route and Hacienda gauge map and gauge-specific flow triggers. Those community flow indicators are not safety limits.
Wohler Bridge is a seasonal permit/key launch with a short portage and a 4WD recommendation; check the current Sonoma County access details. Seasonal dams and crossings change water depth and navigation. Before a lower-river trip, check the district’s latest Vacation Beach Dam and Guerneville dam notices, along with the linked USGS gauge and local access status.
Quick answers
Russian River paddling FAQ
Where can I paddle the Russian River?
Start with the named Asti–Alexander and Alexander Valley–Healdsburg upper runs, the Healdsburg–Wohler or Mirabel middle reach, or a lower beach-to-beach trip. The hub keeps every endpoint combination available so you can choose a shorter exit or a longer day.
How should I check Russian River water levels?
Use the guide for your exact stretch. California Creeks ties its 300–1,500 cfs guidance for Healdsburg-to-near-Forestville and Alexander-to-Healdsburg runs to the Healdsburg gauge. Dreamflows separately lists 500–2,500 cfs triggers for Healdsburg-to-Guerneville at Hacienda Bridge. These are community flow indicators, not safe limits; the Asti reach has separate seasonal guidance.
Which Russian River route is best today?
Compare current scores where available, along with water level, recent trend, weather, access, and route difficulty. Planning-only cards provide trip information without a live paddling recommendation.