Napa River
Napa Co. · 55 mi · Class Riffles
33.8CFS/ 2.97 ft
Flood→Stable
Optimal: 50–300 CFS · USGS #11458000
Length
Difficulty
Optimal
Avg Flow
Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
Napa River Flood Protection Project · San Francisco Bay Estuary
The Napa River flows 55 miles through the heart of California wine country from Mount Saint Helena to San Pablo Bay. The upper river is a seasonal Class I riffle run through vineyards, while the lower tidal estuary offers year-round flatwater paddling past historic Napa and through restored wetlands. Fall paddling pairs perfectly with winery tours.
Trip sections
Upper Napa — Calistoga to Yountville, Class I riffles, vineyard float
Middle Napa — Yountville to Napa, Class I, wine country corridor
Tidal Napa — Napa to San Pablo Bay, flatwater estuary, year-round
Outfitters
Napa Valley Paddle
Kayak rentals and guided wine country paddles
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPSLoading forecast...
10-Year Flow Patterns
See 10 years of flow patterns for this river — historical analysis is a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
Your Optimal Range
Set your personal optimal CFS window per river — custom ranges are a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.