California Rivers

Major California Rivers and Maps

California River Maps can lead you to the most secluded camping spots, well away from the crowds. Find access and dirt roads, all the trailheads, the reservoirs and the best fishing spots and swimming  holes.

Rivers located in Southern California tend to be more like a large creek, than a real raging river. However, for big flowing rivers – head to the Sierra Nevada mountains or Northern California. Furthermore, rising river levels and flooding can be an issue during winter months along any river system, so caution should be taken, usually between DEC-MAY.

This California Rivers list is in alphabetical order, listed by Name of River.

California River Maps

American River Auburn, CA
(Gold Country, Sierra Nevada)
El Dorado National Forest Map
Yuba & American Rivers Map
Crystal Basin/Silver Fork Map

Bear River Fortuna, CA
(North Coast California)
Lost Coast Map
Redwoods Map

Bear River Colfax, CA
(Donner Pass, Sierra Nevada)
Yuba & American Rivers Map
Tahoe National Forest Map

Bear River Kirkwood, CA
(Carson Pass, Sierra Nevada)
ElDorado National Forest Map

Carson River Markleeville, CA
Mokelumne Wilderness Map
Toiyabe National Forest Map

hiking river maps

Cosumnes River Placerville, CA
(Gold Country, Sierra Nevada)
Mokelumne Wilderness Map
ElDorado National Forest Map

Cuyama River Ventucopa, CA
Los Padres National Forest Map

Eel River Scotia, CA
Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness
Mendocino National Forest
Six Rivers National Forest Map

Feather River Oroville, CA
Lassen National Forest Map
Plumas National Forest Map
Feather River Map

Kaweah River Three Rivers, CA
Mineral King Map
Sequoia National Park Map

Kern River Kernville, CA
Kern Canyon Recreation Maps

forest river maps

Kings River, Kings Canyon NP
Kings Canyon Highcountry Map
Kings Canyon National Park
Sierra National Forest

Klamath River Happy Camp, CA
Klamath National Forest Map
Six Rivers National Forest Map

Mad River Arcata, CA
Yolla Bolly Wilderness
Shasta-Trinity National Forest Map

Matole River Petrolia, CA
Lost Coast Map

McCloud River McCloud, CA
Shasta-Trinity National Forest Map

Merced River Yosemite Maps

Merced River Yosemite NP
(Gold Country, Sierra Nevada)
Yosemite National Park Map
Merced & Tuolumne Rivers Map

Mojave River Apple Valley – Barstow, CA
headwaters @ Deep Creek (then flows underground, to the east)
San Bernardino National Forest Map
Mojave National Preserve Map

Mokelumne River Jackson, CA
(Gold Country, Sierra Nevada)
El Dorado National Forest Map
Carson Iceberg, Emigrant, Mokelumne Wilderness

New River Willow Creek, CA
Trinity Alps Wilderness Map
Shasta-Trinity National Forest Map

Owens River Bishop, CA
Inyo National Forest Map

fishing maps

Pit River Alturas, CA
Modoc National Forest Map

Rubicon River Lake Tahoe, CA
Desolation Wilderness Maps
Eldorado National Forest Map
Crystal Basin/Silver Fork Map

Russian River
Find online maps @
Russianrivertravel.com

Sacramento River Redding, CA
Mount Shasta/Castle Crags Map
Shasta-Trinity National Forest Map

Salinas River Salinas, CA
Los Padres National Forest
Ventana Wilderness Map
Pinnacles National Park Map

Salmon River Orleans, CA
Klamath National Forest Map
Marble Mountain Wilderness Map
Trinity Alps Wilderness Map
Shasta-Trinity National Forest Map

San Joaquin River Shaver Lake, CA
Sierra National Forest Map
Shaver Lake Map

Santa Ana River Riverside, CA
headwaters along Big Bear Hwy 38 @ Barton Flats
Forest Roads #1N09, 1N13, and specifically 2E03
San Bernardino National Forest Map

river maps

Santa Ynez River Santa Ynez, CA
Los Padres National Forest Map

Sisquoc River
Los Padres National Forest Map

Scott River Etna, CA
Klamath National Forest Map
Marble Mountain Wilderness Map
Shasta-Trinity National Forest Map

Shasta River Yreka, CA
Klamath National Forest Map

Smith River Crescent City, CA
Smith River NRA Map
Six Rivers National Forest Map
Redwoods Map
Siskiyou Maps

Stanislaus River Sonora, CA
Stanislaus National Forest Map
Carson Iceberg, Emigrant, Mokelumne Wilderness

Susan River Susanville, CA
Lassen National Forest Map

Trinity River Weaverville, CA
Shasta-Trinity National Forest Map
Six Rivers National Forest Map
Trinity Alps Wilderness

kayaking map

Truckee River Truckee, CA
Tahoe National Forest Map

Tule River Springville, CA
Sequoia National Forest Map
Golden Trout Wilderness Map

Tuolumne River Twain Harte, CA
Tuolumne Meadows Map
Yosemite High Country Map
Yosemite National Park Map
Merced & Tuolumne Rivers Map
Carson Iceberg, Emigrant, Mokelumne Wilderness

Van Duzen River Fortuna, CA
Six Rivers National Forest Map
Redwoods Map

Walker River Walker, CA
Toiyabe National Forest Map

Yuba River Downieville, CA
Lakes Basin Recreation Area
South Yuba River Recreation Map
Yuba & American Rivers Map
Tahoe National Forest Map

California Rivers

Wikipedia – All Rivers in California
wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rivers_of_California

hikinghiking

Other Rivers Nearby –

A few notable rivers in which outdoor enthusiasts often travel, beyond the state line of California, are listed below.

Colorado River Moab UT – Yuma, AZ
Lake Mead Map NV
Moab Maps
Lake Mohave

camping river maps

Oregon’s River Maps
Columbia River Map
Rogue River Guide Book
Rogue River National Forest
Siskiyou Maps

Yosemite River Map

Cooling off in the Merced River, Yosemite NP