California National Wild and Scenic Rivers
Here are some useful wilderness links for you to explore. They cover California National Wild and Scenic rivers.
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California Resources Agency, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

This short stretch of river running through Sacramento is the most heavily used recreation river in California. The river is also known for its runs of steelhead trout and salmon.

• Bureau of Land Management, Bakersfield District
• 800 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301
• Tahoe National Forest, P O Box 6003, Nevada City, CA 95959

A fairly inaccessible river, this waterway protects spectacular Sierra mountain scenery.

• Bureau of Land Management, Ukiah District, 555 Leslie Street, Ukiah, CA 95482-5599
• California Resource Agency, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
• Six Rivers National Forest, 1330 Bayshore Way, Eureka, CA 95501
• Mendocino National Forest, 420 East Lauren Street, Willows, CA 95988

California's Eel River flows through canyons most of its length but ends in a gently sloping valley with virgin redwood stands. Its salmon and steelhead fishery is of commercial importance to the local area.

Plumas National Forest, 159 Lawrence Street, Box 11500, Quincy, CA 95971-6025

The Middle Fork features Feather Falls, the third highest waterfall (640 feet) in the United States. This northern California river is remote and has outstanding fishing.

• Sequoia National Forest, 900 W. Grand Avenue, Porterville, CA 93257-2035
• Sequoia National Park, Three Rivers, CA 93271

This river includes the North and South Forks of the Kern. The South Fork is totally free flowing. It descends through deep gorges with large granite outcroppings and domes interspersed with open meadows. It is habitat for the golden trout, the state fish of California. The upper 47.5 miles of the North Fork flow through Sequoia National Park and the Golden Trout Wilderness, a scenic area with a wide variety of outstanding recreational opportunities, as well as cultural and historical associations.

• Sequoia National Forest, 900 W. Grand Avenue, Porterville, CA 93257-2035
• Sierra National Forest, 1600 Tollhouse Road, Clovis, CA 93611
• Kings Canyon National Park, Three Rivers, CA 93271

The river includes the entire Middle and South Forks, which are largely in Kings Canyon National Park. Beginning in glacial lakes above timberline, the rivers flow through deep, steepsided canyons, over falls and cataracts, eventually becoming an outstanding whitewater rafting river in its lower reaches in the Sierra and Sequoia National Forests. Geology, scenery, recreation, fish, wildlife, and history are all significant aspects.

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• Bureau of Land Management, Ukiah District, 555 Leslie St, Ukiah CA 95482
• California Resources Agency, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
• Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation, P O Box 817, Hoopa, CA 95546
• Klamath National Forest, 1312 Fairlane Rd, Yreka, CA 96097

California's second largest river, which flows through the state's northwestern counties and then into the ocean in Redwood National Park is a major salmon producer, particularly for Coho and Chinook. On the banks are noted raptor habitats. The Scott and Salmon, North and South Forks Salmon, and Wooley Creek are included.

• Bureau of Land Management, Bakersfield District
• 800 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301
• Sierra National Forest, 1600 Tollhouse Road, Clovis, CA 93611
• Yosemite National Park, P O Box 577, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389

Including the South Fork, the Merced flows through superlative scenery -- glaciated peaks, lakes, alpine and subalpine meadows -- in alternating pools and cascades. Wild flower displays are also spectacular. The South Fork possesses one of the few remaining pristine Sierra fisheries with self-sustaining populations of rainbow, eastern brook, and brown trout. Archeological and wildlife features are also noteworthy.

• California Resources Agency, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
• Six Rivers National Forest, 1330 Bayshore Way, Eureka, CA 95501

The Smith, including 46 tributaries that are also protected, is the only major undammed river system in California. The river is an important stream for fish and is shaded by the towering redwoods of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park as it passes by the northern boundary of the park on its way to the Pacific Ocean. Most of the river system is also within the Smith River National Recreation Area.

• Bureau of Land Management, Ukiah District, 555 Leslie Street, Ukiah, CA 95482
• California Resources Agency, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
• Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation, P O Box 817, Hoopa, CA 95546
• Shasta-Trinity National Forest, 2400 Washington Ave, Redding, CA 96001
• Six Rivers National Forest, 1330 Bayshore Way, Eureka, CA 95501

This major tributary of California's Klamath River is located in heavily forested, mountainous terrain. The lower river flows through the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation. The North and South Forks of the Trinity and the New River are included.

• Bureau of Land Management, Bakersfield District
• 800 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301
• Stanislaus National Forest, 19777 Greenley Road, Sonora, CA 95370
• Yosemite National Park, P O Box 577, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389

The Tuolumne originates from snow melt off Mounts Dana and Lyell in Yosemite National Park. and courses 54 miles before crossing into Stanislaus National Forest and the BLM public land. This river contains some of the most noted whitewater in the high Sierras and is an extremely popular rafting stream. The park segment provides views of some of America's most spectacular scenery.

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