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California | Sonoma County / Forestville

Russian RiverSteelhead Beach to Sunset Beach River Park

The popular Sonoma County float from Steelhead Beach to Sunset Beach through the Forestville reach.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 2.6 river miles
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAllow 2–4 hours with current
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Russian River broadens near Jenner on California’s north coast.
River contextRussian River near Jenner; same-river context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Wikimedia Commons contributor

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 2.6 river milesSteelhead Beach to Sunset Beach River Park
DifficultyeasyThe selected lower reach is generally Class I with slow current and seasonal shallow water; hazards and channel conditions change after storms and summer recreation structures.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle first, then drive to the named upstream public beach.
PermitsCheck posted rulesConfirm current Sonoma County parking, seasonal launch, shuttle and closure rules before unloading.
CampingDay tripNo overnight camping is included; use separately permitted sites and obey park rules.
SeasonJan-DecCheck live discharge, rainfall, water quality, seasonal beaches or dams, and current Sonoma County access notices before launch.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

The popular Sonoma County float from Steelhead Beach to Sunset Beach through the Forestville reach.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

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Start

Put-in

Steelhead Beach River Park river entry
Open mapDirections to put-in

Use only named public access sites and obey posted seasonal and water-quality notices.

Finish

Take-out

Sunset Beach River Park river entry
Open mapDirections to take-out

Use only named public access sites and obey posted seasonal and water-quality notices.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Use only named public access sites and obey posted seasonal and water-quality notices.

Watch for

  • Low-water shallows and storm debris
  • Seasonal dams and changing current
  • Cold water, heat, crowds and private banks

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

The Russian River broadens near Jenner on California’s north coast.
Russian River near Jenner; same-river context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Wikimedia Commons contributor
Wikimedia Commons license on linked file page

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Access and distanceSteelhead Beach to Sunset Beach River Park; 2.6 miles

    California State Parks and Sonoma County Regional Parks identify the selected public boating access sites; OSPR publishes mapped site coordinates.

    Source

  • GaugeUSGS 11464000

    Direct Russian River gauge near Healdsburg; recheck current telemetry and trend before launch.

    Source

  • Gauge contextUSGS 11464000 near Healdsburg

    Direct Russian River telemetry; California Creeks’ numeric route guidance does not cover this endpoint pair. Check current flow and local conditions without treating this gauge as a score.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

Paddler reports

See recent photos and notes from people on the route.

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Photos

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in California

All 50 routes
California route guideBrowse every tracked California route.Sonoma County / ForestvilleJump to routes in this region.

More on Russian River

All 37
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Quick answers

Russian River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Steelhead Beach to Sunset Beach River Park route on the Russian River?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Steelhead Beach to Sunset Beach River Park route on the Russian River start and end?

This route starts at Steelhead Beach River Park river entry and ends at Sunset Beach River Park river entry, about 2.6 river miles on the water.

Is the Steelhead Beach to Sunset Beach River Park route on the Russian River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a easy route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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