Sacramento River
★ Wild & Scenic
Shasta / Tehama Co. · 400 mi · Class I–II
11,400CFS/ 4.65 ft
Optimal→Stable· +100 cfs in 3h
Optimal: 5000–15000 CFS · USGS #11377100
Length
Difficulty
Optimal
Avg Flow
Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
National Wild & Scenic River (upper section) · Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge
California's largest river by volume — the Sacramento flows 400 miles from Mount Shasta to the San Francisco Bay Delta. The upper river below Shasta Dam runs cold and clear through pastoral Shasta and Tehama counties, supporting the state's most important salmon runs. A big-water float through the heart of Northern California's agricultural valley.
Trip sections
Redding to Red Bluff — 60 mi, cold tailwater, prime salmon water
Red Bluff to Colusa — 80 mi, riparian corridor, wildlife refuge
Upper Sacramento above Shasta Lake — Class II–III, mountain run
72-Hour Flow Forecast
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10-Year Flow Patterns
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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.