State routes

California Rivers

Compare 50 tracked California paddle routes with route links, water-level context, difficulty, and access planning details.

33 routes support live scores. 17 planning-only routes provide trip details and source links without a live route score.

Find a route Request a missing California route Browse all routes

50 routes3 rivers4 regions21 beginner routes

Loading supported rivers and route reaches.

End of map

Coverage snapshot

Explore supported California rivers

Scan the highlighted river network from above, then use the route guides and access markers to find a supported reach.

50 route markers3 multi-route rivers21 beginner routes

Supported riverSelected reachAccess-point connectionStrong conditionsGood conditionsWatch closelySkip

Sonoma County / Forestville 21 Sonoma County / Cloverdale to Monte Rio 16 Sacramento County / Lower American River Parkway 10 El Dorado County / Coloma–Lotus Valley 3

Live conditions

Best California routes today

Loading current scores, gauge reads, and weather signals.

--Live

Sacramento County / Lower American River Parkway

American River

Harrington BTAF to Howe Avenue BLF

Moderate | About 6.3 river miles | Allow 3–5 hours with current, feature scouting and shuttle time | Live score supported

View trip details

--Live

Sacramento County / Lower American River Parkway

American River

Harrington BTAF to Watt Avenue BTAF

Moderate | About 4.9 river miles | Allow 2–4 hours with current and access stops | Live score supported

View trip details

--Live

Sacramento County / Lower American River Parkway

American River

Sailor Bar / Illinois to Harrington BTAF

Moderate | About 8.2 river miles | Allow 3–5 hours with current and feature scouting | Live score supported

View trip details

--Live

Sacramento County / Lower American River Parkway

American River

Sailor Bar / Illinois to Howe Avenue BLF

Moderate | About 14.5 river miles | Allow 6–9 hours with current, feature scouting and shuttle time | Live score supported

View trip details

Current scores load here when available. You can still open the route links to check details and sources if this update fails.

Best route options

Good starting points in California

Ranked from route metadata, source support, difficulty, and logistics.

The Russian River broadens near Jenner on California’s north coast.

California routeSonoma County / Cloverdale to Monte RioRussian RiverAlexander Valley Road / campground river access (water-entry edge) to Monte Rio public boat launch (water-entry edge)A long Russian River planning itinerary linking the documented upper run with the lower Guerneville-to-Monte Rio access corridor.

Route facts

Moderate | About 43 river miles | Plan 2 days or a full daylight expedition with multiple bailouts | Planning only · no live scoreofficial source support

California routeSonoma County / Cloverdale to Monte RioRussian RiverAsti Summer Bridge / Washington School Road river access (water-entry edge) to Alexander Valley Road / campground river access (water-entry edge)The documented 11-mile Russian River run from the Asti summer crossing south of Cloverdale to the Alexander Valley Road campground access.

Route facts

Moderate | About 11 river miles | Plan 5–8 hours with seasonal-access, shallow-water and shuttle margin | Planning only · no live scoreofficial source support

California routeSonoma County / Cloverdale to Monte RioRussian RiverAsti Summer Bridge / Washington School Road river access (water-entry edge) to Del Rio Woods public beach (water-entry edge)A documented upper Russian River planning itinerary from Asti through Alexander Valley Road to Del Rio Woods.

Route facts

Moderate | About 13.7 river miles | Plan 6–9 hours with shallow-bar and shuttle margin | Planning only · no live scoreofficial source support

California routeSonoma County / Cloverdale to Monte RioRussian RiverAsti Summer Bridge / Washington School Road river access (water-entry edge) to Healdsburg Memorial Beach below Avenue dam (water-entry edge)A combined upper Russian River planning itinerary from Asti through Alexander Valley Road and Del Rio Woods to Healdsburg.

Route facts

Moderate | About 16.4 river miles | Plan 7–10 hours with seasonal-structure, shallow-bar and shuttle margin | Planning only · no live scoreofficial source support

California routeSonoma County / Cloverdale to Monte RioRussian RiverAsti Summer Bridge / Washington School Road river access (water-entry edge) to Monte Rio public boat launch (water-entry edge)A full Russian River planning itinerary from the Asti seasonal crossing to Monte Rio with multiple documented intermediate exits.

Route facts

Moderate | About 41 river miles | Plan 2 days with documented intermediate take-outs and shuttle support | Planning only · no live scoreofficial source support

California routeSonoma County / Cloverdale to Monte RioRussian RiverCloverdale River Park / McCray Road ramp (water-entry edge) to Alexander Valley Road / campground river access (water-entry edge)A combined upper Russian River planning itinerary from Cloverdale through Asti to Alexander Valley Road.

Route facts

Moderate | About 18 river miles | Plan 7–10 hours with shallow-water and shuttle margin | Planning only · no live scoreofficial source support

Beginner routes

California beginner routes

These routes are tagged easy in the route data. Today's water can still change the call.

Showing 8 of 21 beginner routes. Use the Easy difficulty filter below to see the full set.

Weekend planning

Routes with practical logistics

Use the live weekend board for score-based recommendations.

American RiverHarrington BTAF to Howe Avenue BLFAbout 6.3 river miles | Allow 3–5 hours with current, feature scouting and shuttle time American RiverHarrington BTAF to Watt Avenue BTAFAbout 4.9 river miles | Allow 2–4 hours with current and access stops American RiverSailor Bar / Illinois to Harrington BTAFAbout 8.2 river miles | Allow 3–5 hours with current and feature scouting American RiverSailor Bar / Illinois to Howe Avenue BLFAbout 14.5 river miles | Allow 6–9 hours with current, feature scouting and shuttle time American RiverSailor Bar / Illinois to Upper Sunrise Recreation AreaAbout 2 river miles | Allow 1–2 hours with bridge, feature and shuttle checks American RiverSailor Bar / Illinois to Watt Avenue BTAFAbout 13.1 river miles | Allow 5–8 hours with current, feature scouting and shuttle time

Browse coverage

Rivers and regions

Expand a river or region to browse its routes.

By river

Russian River37

American River10

American River hub Harrington BTAF to Howe Avenue BLF Harrington BTAF to Watt Avenue BTAF Sailor Bar / Illinois to Harrington BTAF Sailor Bar / Illinois to Howe Avenue BLF Sailor Bar / Illinois to Upper Sunrise Recreation Area Sailor Bar / Illinois to Watt Avenue BTAF Upper Sunrise Recreation Area to Harrington BTAF Upper Sunrise Recreation Area to Howe Avenue BLF Upper Sunrise Recreation Area to Watt Avenue BTAF Watt Avenue BTAF to Howe Avenue BLF

South Fork American River3

South Fork American River hub Henningsen Lotus Park to Greenwood Creek River Access Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park to Greenwood Creek River Access Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park to Henningsen Lotus Park

By region

El Dorado County / Coloma–Lotus Valley3

South Fork American River: Henningsen Lotus Park to Greenwood Creek River Access South Fork American River: Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park to Greenwood Creek River Access South Fork American River: Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park to Henningsen Lotus Park

Sacramento County / Lower American River Parkway10

American River: Harrington BTAF to Howe Avenue BLF American River: Harrington BTAF to Watt Avenue BTAF American River: Sailor Bar / Illinois to Harrington BTAF American River: Sailor Bar / Illinois to Howe Avenue BLF American River: Sailor Bar / Illinois to Upper Sunrise Recreation Area American River: Sailor Bar / Illinois to Watt Avenue BTAF American River: Upper Sunrise Recreation Area to Harrington BTAF American River: Upper Sunrise Recreation Area to Howe Avenue BLF American River: Upper Sunrise Recreation Area to Watt Avenue BTAF American River: Watt Avenue BTAF to Howe Avenue BLF

Sonoma County / Cloverdale to Monte Rio16

Sonoma County / Forestville21

Need broader planning context?

Weekend board Explore all routes Request a route

All tracked routes

Every California route on Paddle Today

50 routes with condition and access details.

Showing all 50 routes.

Quick answers

California paddling FAQ

How does Paddle Today choose California paddle routes?

Paddle Today lists source-backed routes with reviewed access and trip information. This page includes 33 routes with live-score support and 17 planning-only routes across 3 rivers. Planning-only routes do not have a live route score.

Are these California river conditions live?

Scored routes show the latest available conditions, subject to data availability. Planning-only routes provide trip information and source links without a live route score. Check update times and missing-data notices, and verify conditions with the linked managers before leaving.

Can I request another California route?

Yes. Use the request form to send the river, reach, access points, and any source links. Requests help prioritize useful additions with verified public access and route evidence.