Paddling is one of most enjoyable pastimes on
the Sacramento River, presenting you with the
opportunity to view the river from its best
vantage point, all the while enjoying a bit of
peace and the option to stop wherever you choose
for an impromptu dip in the refreshing water. As
you paddle your way around the river’s snaking
1000-miles of waterways, keep your eyes peeled
for the migrating birds that are most populous
in early spring and late fall, but are present
almost year round.
If you crave long distance paddling
getaways, sprinkled with scenic coves along
the way, this superb destination offers you
endless choices. Surrounded by crystalline
blue waters and rolling green hills, it’s
nearly impossible not to be drawn into
nature as you navigate the river, obeying
the call of the outdoors. The Sacramento
River hosts a water trail system that allows
paddlers to enjoy the stunning views,
diverse nature, and wildlife that make the
river a superb paddling retreat.
Dazzling vistas, deep blue skies and
sparkling water draw paddlers to this
remarkable destination from near and far.
While you take in the scenery and
tranquility around you, be sure to have your
camera ready to capture breathtaking
sunrises and sunsets, and magnificent
landscape views. The surroundings provide
extraordinary scenery, enveloping a stunning
array of pristine waterways on the
Sacramento River.
The river meanders through oak woodlands,
rolling hills, and open plains with views of
Mt. Lassen to the East and the Yollo Bolly
Wilderness to the west, where beaver,
black-tail deer, river otter, grey squirrel
and ring-tail cat are commonly seen. Low,
rolling, grass-covered hills speckled with
cottonwood and oak trees border both sides
of this immense river, which has an endless
number of scenic coves to explore.
The Upper Sacramento winds through passages
of hidden beauty, especially sections where
the river narrows through tight canyons and
pauses in grottoes decorated with seeping
springs and canopies of trees, cascading
flowers and vines.
When paddling on any river, be mindful of
possible white water conditions. In the
spring, the Upper Sacramento River includes
nearly thirty continuous miles of
whitewater, with class II to V rapids.
Map of Sacramento River
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