Middle Fork Stanislaus River
Pinecrest, California
Free — you'll pick up right here.
No verdict for this water
We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.
What we do know
Inside Stanislaus National Forest
2 managing-area boundaries mapped — agency alerts for them feed this page automatically.
Boundary data
What's missing
No access route mapped
We don't yet know which road reaches this trailhead, so we can't tell you if it's gated.
Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.
Why you'll love it
River facts
- Water
- Seasonal — can run dry
- Average flow
- 659 cfs
- Average current
- 1.9 ft/s
- Gradient
- 165.5 ft/mi
- Drainage area
- 320 sq mi
Long-term averages modeled by USGS (NHDPlus HR), not today's conditions. Check a gauge before you go.
Here's your day on the water, mapped
Middle Fork Stanislaus River
Suggested plan · check conditions before you go
Photos
Directions & GPX
Permits & access
- Managing agency
- Forest Service
About this water
Middle Fork Stanislaus River is a 17-mile paddling stretch near Pinecrest, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 659 cfs and a gradient of about 165.5 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
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Keep exploring — more water worth the drive
Photo: Michael Nevins, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)Stanislaus River
~50 min drive
Stanislaus River is a 3.9-mile paddling stretch near Murphys, California. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 1,894 cfs and a gradient of about 22.9 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Spicer Meadow Boat Launch
~12 min drive
Spicer Meadow Boat Launch is a boat launch in California. It gives access to Spicer Reservoir.
Photo: Matkatamiba, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)East Fork Carson River
~33 min drive
East Fork Carson River is a 23-mile paddling stretch near Markleeville, California. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 360 cfs and a gradient of about 128.5 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Beardsley Boatramp
~18 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Clark Fork
~17 min drive
Clark Fork is a 19-mile paddling stretch near Pinecrest, California. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 126 cfs and a gradient of about 256.7 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Lake Alpine Boat Launch
~20 min drive
Lake Alpine Boat Launch is a boat launch in California.
Summit Creek
~22 min drive
Summit Creek is a 9.1-mile paddling stretch near Pinecrest, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 47 cfs and a gradient of about 342.4 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Cherry Lake Boating Site
~41 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Kennedy Creek
~23 min drive
Kennedy Creek is a 7.6-mile paddling stretch near Pinecrest, California. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 35 cfs and a gradient of about 374.7 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Caples Lake Boat Launch
~47 min drive
Caples Lake Boat Launch is a boat launch in California.
