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California whitewater - San Lorenzo River, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz
county,
Felton to Ocean at Santa Cruz section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.
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CLASS III-IV 6 miles
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We're novices and found Felton-Santa Cruz to be a fun if slightly scary run about ten years ago, the weekend after heavy rains.
There is a water gauge under the bridge from Hwy 9 into Henry Cowell State Park. We believe the river is runnable when this gauge reads about 4. 65 feet, though we didn't find out about the gauge until after our trip.
The put-in is in the Felton town park under the old covered bridge. From there to the steel RR bridge the river is very tranquil and a pleasant paddle aside from glimpses of toilet paper and other |
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debris stuck in the willows by high water. Just below the road into Henry Cowell there is an inflatable dam that could cause problems for rafters if it happens to be up when you go over. I don't know how high it inflates; not very, I think. After passing under the steel RR bridge
| | (used by the tourist train from Roaring Camp to the Boardwalk), the river drops into a very scenic canyon with a good section of class III+ whitewater and one hole that flipped our standard-floor raft, in the granite gorge before the Rincon, where the river bends to the left to go around a hogsback ridge. The Rincon (Spanish for bend in the river), a pretty place to pull out for a picnic and some hiking, is part of Henry Cowell State Park and is the last chance to exit easily on public property before Santa Cruz. An old road goes up to a large parking | |
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area on Hwy 9 here.
Approaching the Rincon the river spreads out and may be too shallow to float; we had to walk a short distance. Also, at the remains of a concrete diversion dam, teh river splits into two channels. The left-most is the one to take as the right will leave
you high and not-quite-dry, though I suppose this may change from year to year.
Where the river goes around the Hogsback there is a lot of large woody debris, including a narrow area with strainers that could be quite dangerous. Recently the county has announced that woody
debris will no longer be cleared from county streams in an effort to restore our nearly extinct steelhead populations, and this may make the situation even worse. I don't know whether it will be practical to portage around the woodpile at the point where the river make its final
bend toward Paradise Park.
Past the Hogsback, the river goes through a number of very mild rapids, often in narrow willow-lined channels. A special treat is the opportunity to pass under the 1867 Powder Mill Flat covered bridge at Paradise Park, not normally seen by the
public as the community is a private enclave of the Masons.
One last note is that Santa Cruz city's water intake is in the river, on the right as I recall, just as one emerges from the canyon below Sycamore Grove (location of a long-gone resort now frequented mainly by homeless
campers and drug dealers). I don't remember the intake as being dangerous, but I mention it just in case.
Says Chehalumche
I have lived in and around the San Lorenzo River for over 15 years and I have never ONCE heard of ANYONE rafting this river. It is dammed in Ben
Lomond and becomes a creek by April. Don't come here for the rafting! There are lots of other things to do though!! Says Dianne
This section of San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz County is 6 miles long and is a class III-IV section of whitewater according to American Whitewater.
The wonderful California scenery and the sparkling of the sunlight on the water attract people from near and far. If you've been whitewater rafting and kayaking outside California you might find the rivers here a bit more challenging, so keep in mind that a large number of rivers
in this state are not easy. Getting your paddling muscles activated and spending some quality time in nature are sure to keep you coming back for more. This is one of a small number of paddling sections in this river system, there are a few others too. The put-in location is a
short drive from Santa Cruz-Watsonville, if you're not familiar with the area there's a road map further down the page. If you'll be staying in a hotel you're in luck, lodging is available very near the river, and if you make reservations in advance you're all set. The campgrounds
here at San Lorenzo River are pretty good. The beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains scenery is an added bonus. No matter if you're whitewater rafting or kayaking this area has a pretty small number of paddling places. This stretch has has enough mileage, good for a one day paddling trip.
Briefly
about the general area:
Good hiking is available along the Rincon Fire Road Trail, and a great beach nearby is Santa Cruz Beach. You truly should go for the Santa Cruz Mountains. Cathedral Redwoods is a forest in close proximity to San Lorenzo River that you can go to; Cowell
Beach is a beach close by that you can go to. If you come to this river you will have a good time for sure.
San Lorenzo River is a wet place that gets a large amount of rain; through January this area sees the most rain; the driest of the months is July. Through the days of
summer at San Lorenzo River highs are regularly in the 70's with night lows in the 50's. The cold days of the wintertime come with highs in the 50's; winter nights come with lows in the 30's to San Lorenzo River.
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San Lorenzo River, Felton to Ocean at Santa Cruz road map
Printable road map with the put-in and take-out locations clearly marked.
QUICK STATS
AW Class:
III-IV
Length:
6
miles
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Putin Location Coordinates:
Latitude: 37.0527
Longitude: -122.0713
Takeout Location Coordinates:
Latitude: 36.9659
Longitude: -122.01171
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Paddler input for San Lorenzo River, California:
It's a good run but with a very short season. On days of very heavy rain during the rainy season it's a real whitewater river but most of the year it's a collection of stillwater pools connected with rocky unrunnable wet thingies. This picture is how it looks most of the year but during heavy rains the water is way higher.
- Bob
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Santa Cruz Mountains Whitewater
Complete list of all the whitewater kayaking and rafting spots in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Santa Cruz Mountains Outdoors Info
Complete outdoors info for the Santa Cruz Mountains.
All California Whitewater
Complete list of all the whitewater paddling spots in California.
Books about whitewater paddling on San Lorenzo River, California
List of books from Amazon.com that cover whitewater paddling on San Lorenzo River, California.
Find a whitewater outfitter in California
Whitewater Basics
If you're new to whitewater paddling please take a look at this basic whitewater info.
Outdoors Recreation Near Santa Cruz-Watsonville, California
Very comprehensive list of a variety of outdoors recreation in the vicinity of Santa Cruz-Watsonville, California, the metro area neareast to San Lorenzo River. Find info on campgrounds, hiking trails, ski resorts, lakes, beaches, parks, whitewater and more.
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| These outdoors activities are available near San Lorenzo River. |
| | Whitewater Near San Lorenzo River:
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San Lorenzo River, Santa Cruz
County
, 6 miles away, Class II - 9.1 miles long (Boulder Creek to Felton) |
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Pescadero Creek, San Mateo
County
, 20 miles away, Class II - 9 miles long (Portola State Park to Memorial County Park) |
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| | Beaches Near San Lorenzo River:
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Cowell Beach, Santa Cruz County
, 3 miles away |
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Santa Cruz Beach, Santa Cruz County
, 3 miles away |
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Seabright Beach, Santa Cruz County
, 3 miles away |
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Twin Lakes Beach, Santa Cruz County
, 4 miles away |
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Wilder Beach, Santa Cruz County
, 4 miles away |
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| | Hotels Near San Lorenzo River:
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University Inn, Santa Cruz
, 0 miles away |
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Best Western Inn, Santa Cruz
, 2 miles away |
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NATIONAL 9 PLYMOUTH ST, Santa Cruz
, 2 miles away |
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Inn at Pasatiempo, Santa Cruz
, 2 miles away |
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Hampton Inn Santa Cruz CA, Santa Cruz
, 2 miles away |
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| | Trails Near San Lorenzo River:
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Rincon Fire Road Trail, Santa Cruz
County
, 1 miles away, 1.6 hiking miles, 205 feet elevation difference |
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Summit Trail, San Mateo
County
, 18 miles away, 3 hiking miles, 506 feet elevation difference |
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Sequoia Nature Trail, San Mateo
County
, 18 miles away, .4 hiking miles, 32 feet elevation difference |
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Butano Ridge Loop Trail, San Mateo
County
, 18 miles away, 4.2 hiking miles, 1656 feet elevation difference |
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Coyote Ridge Trail, San Mateo
County
, 19 miles away, 1.2 hiking miles, 549 feet elevation difference |
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| | National Parks Near San Lorenzo River:
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Juan Bautista De Anza National Historic Trail, San Francisco - CA
, 44 miles away |
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Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco - CA
, 51 miles away |
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| | Golf Courses Near San Lorenzo River:
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Pasatiempo Golf Club, Santa Cruz
, 1 miles away |
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Scotts Valley Golf Course, Scotts Valley
, 2 miles away |
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De Laveaga Golf Course & Lodge, Santa Cruz
, 3 miles away |
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Whether you are visiting for business or pleasure, we hope you take advantage of all the UCSC Inn has to offer. After your busy day, relax beside the pool or in our spa. Or perhaps you'd like to work ...
2 miles away
