River Comparisons | Whitewater Voyages: Our California Rivers At A Glance

RIVERS Gradient Drop
ft/mile
Distance in Miles from Light Snowpack Year Normal Snowpack Year Heavy Snowpack Year Wet Suits Needed? Personal Gear to Minimum? Usual Minimum Age Group Limit Elevation at Put-In Wilderness Beauty Solitude
LA San Fran Sacramento
CENTRAL & SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RAFTING
Lower Kern 30 145 325 315 May-Aug April-Sept April-Oct Spring and Fall No 10 30 2360 Good Good
Upper Kern 45 155 340 330 April-June April-Mid July April-Sept Spring only 12 50 3740 Fair Fair
Thunder Run 63 155 340 330 April-May April-June April-Aug Yes 14 50 3740 Good Fair
Forks of the Kern 60 155 350 340 May-June May-Mid July May-Sept Yes Yes 14 15 4680 Excellent Excellent
Kaweah 60 195 252 233 April-Early June April-Early July April-Early August Spring No 14 48 1200 Good Fair
Kings 35 250 260 200 April-Early June April-Early July April-Early August Spring No 7-Dec 120 1280 Excellent Outstanding
CENTRAL & NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RAFTING
Merced 32 305 180 160 Late April-Late June Late April-Early June Late April-August Spring Yes 12 25 1700 Good Good
Tuolumne 40 360 140 130 March-Oct March-Oct March-Oct Spring and Fall Yes 14 20 1430 Excellent Excellent
South Fork American 24 425 120 58 April-Oct April-Oct April-Oct Spring and Fall No 7 104 930 Good Fair Spring, Fall, Mid-week
Middle Fork American 40 440 140 35 May-Early August May-Oct May-Oct Spring and Fall No 14 30/100 1100 Good Fair, Good Mid-week
North Fork American 50 440 140 50 April-May April-June April-July Yes 14 24 1100 Excellent Fair
Lower North Yuba 45 490 190 85 April-May April-June April-July Yes No 12 36 2700 Excellent Good
Upper North Yuba 72 490 190 85 April-May April-June April-July Yes 16 36 3350 Excellent Good

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