BRT Insights - WW Kayaking & Hiking

Canoeing, Rafting, Innertubing & Kayaking Paddlesport - Mendocino County & Sonoma County.

Whitewater on the upper Russian River runs in the winter/spring rainy season, excepting the EF Russian River which also runs in summer due to a diversion from the Eel River.

Russian River Whitewater Boating Runs - put-ins and other landmark locations.

1. Russian River EF, class III, 2.6 miles. (flows in the summer due to Eel River water diversions)(beware of the mandatory portage just upstream from the put-in)
2. Coyote Dam to Talmage Run, class II, 4.5 miles.
3. Talmage to Hopland Run, class I+, 14.5 miles.
4. Hopland to Pieta Creek Run, class I-II, 5 miles.
5. Pieta Creek to Cloverdale, class II-III, 11 miles. (Squaw Rock Run)
6. Mark West Creek Upper Run, class III-V, 4 miles.

Real-time Flow - Upper Russian River whitewater.

Flows can vary dramatically in different segments of the river depending upon diversions and local patterns of recent rainfall. Use the flow gauge that is closest to the section of river that you plan to paddle. See red location markers on map below.



• EF Russian River nr Calpella - USGS Real-Time Water Flow Data. inflow to Lake Mendocino (B)
• EF Russian River nr Ukiah - USGS Real-Time Water Flow Data. outflow from Lake Mendocino(D)
• Russian River nr Ukiah - USGS Real-Time Water Flow Data. above confluence with EF Russian R (C)
• Russian River nr Talmage - USGS Real-Time Water Flow Data. (F)
• Russian River nr Hopland - USGS Real-Time Water Flow Data. (G)
• Russian River nr Cloverdale - USGS Real-Time Water Flow Data. (J)

River Map - access locations for upper Russian River paddle boating.

• Map user FAQ. The map is interactive. Click and drag to reposition map.
• Use the tool on the left to zoom in and out. Point on the red markers to see their names.
• Map button = road map. Terrain = 3D shaded topo map. Topo = topographic map.
• Full-Screen River Map: Russian River access and flow gauge locations .



Geographic coordinates - Landmark name (marker on map above)
--- EF Russian River. ---
1. Russian River EF, class III, 2.6 miles. (flows in the summer due to Eel River water diversions)
N 39.26077 W 123.11215 - put-in (A)
N 39.24439 W 123.13363 - gauge inflow to Lake Mendocino (B)
N 39.23671 W 123.15176 - take-out.

--- Russian River - Main. ---
2. Coyote Dam to Talmage Run, class II, 4.5 miles.
N 39.20190 W 123.19955 - Russian R gauge nr Ukiah (C)
N 39.19114 W 123.17178 - put-in gauge outflow from Lake Mendocino (D)
N 39.13459 W 123.18661 - Talmage take-out (E)

3. Talmage to Hopland Run, class I+, 14.5 miles.
N 39.13459 W 123.18661 - Talmage put-in (E)
N 39.11305 W 123.18193 - Russian R gauge nr Talmage (F)
N 39.02677 W 123.13077 - Russian R gauge nr Hopland (G)
N 38.97144 W 123.10663 - Hopland take-out (H)

4. Hopland to Pieta Creek Run, class I-II, 5 miles.
N 38.97144 W 123.10663 - Hopland put-in (H)
N 38.92323 W 123.05756 - Pieta Creek take-out (I)

5. Pieta Creek to Cloverdale, class II-III, 11 miles. (Squaw Rock Run)
N 38.92323 W 123.05756 - Pieta Creek put-in (I)
N 38.88215 W 123.05518 - Russian R gauge nr Cloverdale (J)
N 38.80898 W 123.00789 - Cloverdale take-out (K)

--- Mark West Creek - Russian River Tributary. ---
6. Mark West Creek Upper Run, class III-V, 4 miles.
N 38.54964 W 122.72038 - put-in (L)
N 38.50551 W 122.72964 - take-out.

Driving Directions, Map, Distance, Estimated Time & Road Conditions.

Mapquest provides directions, distance & time from your house to the river.
• From Davis, CA to Potter Valley, CA - driving time 2 hrs 37 mins - 123 miles.

California Road Conditions (Delays or closures due to weather, construction, etc.)
• California Travel Information - highwayconditions.com.
• Road Conditions - California Dept Transportation.

Local weather in Potter Valley, California (elevation 917 feet).

Online River Guides & River Flow Data for Paddleboating.

• Directory for Paddle Boating on the Russian River. (See section 1.)

Printed Guidebooks & Maps - Russian River whitewater.

• Guidebook - Ann Dwyer's Easy Waters of California North, 2000. (pg. 68-81, Coyote to Talmage, Pieta Ck to Cloverdale)
• Guidebook - Best Whitewater in California, Third Edition 1998. (pg 4-11, Pieta to Cloverdale, Mark West Ck)
• Guidebook - West Coast River Touring - Rogue River Canyon and South, 1974. (pg. 173-182, EF Russian, Coyote to Cloverdale)
• Guidebook - California Whitewater - A Guide to the Rivers, Third Edition 1995. (pg.146-150, Pieta Ck to Cloverdale)

Russian River Boating Stories REQUESTED !!

Contact me to submit your Russian River trip report. I welcome whitewater boating trip stories, pictures & videos from guest authors. I will post or link to your trip reports.
• East Fork of the Russian River photos - liquidfusionkayaking 29april2010.
• Russian River, Squaw Rock, 500 CFS photos - Loma Prieta Paddlers 16oct2009.
• Kayaking on the East Fork of the Russian River - Thinking Out Loud 05mar2006.

Whitewater River Recreation & Environment.

• Russian River Valley Conservation & Recreation Directory. Websites for the Russian River watershed. Set display options - alphabetical 100. Section 1=kayaking-canoeing, 2=oarboating-rafting, 3=environment-conservation, 4=fishing, 5=hiking-camping, 6=other-resources)

More about:
• Rivers & creeks nearby: Gualala River, Eel River, Cache Creek.
• North Coast California River Guides for Paddleboating.
• Canoeing, Kayaking & Rafting Paddlesport Guides for California Whitewater Rivers.
• How to use these whitewater river kayaking and rafting guides - BRT Insights.

IceRocket Tags: kayaking, river map, river tubing, float tube.
Tags: Russian River, California, Mendocino County, Sonoma County, rafting, canoeing, whitewater, kayaking, paddle boating, river.

Labels: guide