The American River, site of the 1849 discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill, begins west of Lake Tahoe in the high Sierra Nevada Mountains. It has three forks, the South, Middle and North, that flow through the Sierra foothills and intersect east of Sacramento. All three of the American River forks offer boating and rafting excursions with experienced river guides, as well as on-shore hiking and canyon trails.
The Russian River runs from the Coyote Dam near Ukiah to Jenner-by-the-Sea on the California coast, where it empties into the Pacific Ocean. Fishing possibilities include large- and smallmouth bass, bluegill and catfish. There are public access beaches for swimming and river banks and woods for bird watching. The Russian River Jazz Festival takes place every year in Guerneville, Cali.
The Smith River is located five miles south of the Oregon border, making it California's northernmost coastal river. It is the longest of the free-flowing rivers in the state and a National Wild and Scenic River. The Smith River features giant trees and record steelhead and salmon populations.
The Sacramento River is the third largest river by volume of water emptying into the Pacific Ocean in the contiguous United States, and the longest river contained entirely within the state of California. The Upper Sacramento River is nearly continuous white water with majestic views of Mount Shasta. It has abundant bird life and trout fishing.
The San Joaquin River originates high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and flows through the southern border of Yosemite then south to King's Canyon National Park. It is approximately 330 miles long, the second longest river in California. The delta of the San Joaquin and its "Thousand Miles of Waterways" provides recreation for skiers, boats and fishermen as well as vital fresh water. Preserving the water quality and levees of the delta is an ongoing challenge.
The Kern River flows through the southern Sierra Nevada mountains northeast of Bakersfield. It is the only major river in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range that drains in a southerly direction. The Kern River is sometimes called the "Killer Kern," because 248 people drowned in the river between 1968 and July 2009. Country singer Merle Haggard recorded a song called "Kern River," which tells the story of one such drowning. Despite its infamous reputation, the Kern is a popular river for white-water rafting, kayaking, fishing, river boarding and camping.
