Downie River

Downieville, California

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 Tahoe 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

6.8 mi run
Flows year-round
283 cfs avg flow

River facts

Water
Flows year-round
Average flow
283 cfs
Average current
1.4 ft/s
Gradient
138.8 ft/mi
Drainage area
73 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

Downie River

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Photos

Directions & GPX

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Permits & access

Managing agency
Forest Service

About this water

Downie River is a 6.8-mile paddling stretch near Downieville, California. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 283 cfs and a gradient of about 138.8 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Facts about this water

When to go

Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Downieville, CA weather station, 2.4 mi away. High / low in °F, and days with snow.

  1. Jan48° high30° low2 days with snow
  2. Feb52° high31° low2 days with snow
  3. Mar58° high33° low2 days with snow
  4. Apr63° high36° low1 days with snow
  5. May72° high42° low
  6. Jun81° high46° low
  7. Jul89° high51° low
  8. Aug89° high50° low
  9. Sep83° high46° low
  10. Oct72° high39° low
  11. Nov56° high33° low1 days with snow
  12. Dec46° high29° low2 days with snow

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020

Where it is

Managed by
Forest Service

Source: USFS EDW boundaries; USGS PAD-US 4.1

Conditions

Active alerts for Tahoe National Forest as of Oct 10, 2026:

Source: USFS forest alerts

Nearby

Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)

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Keep exploring — more water worth the drive

Lavezzola Creek

~7 min drive

Lavezzola Creek is a 13-mile paddling stretch near Downieville, California. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 112 cfs and a gradient of about 229.7 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Salmon Lake -Boat Ramp

~18 min drive

A worthwhile stop near California.

Berger

~17 min drive

A worthwhile stop near California.

Little Canyon Creek

~9 min drive

Little Canyon Creek is a 7.8-mile paddling stretch near Downieville, California. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 48 cfs and a gradient of about 212.6 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Gold Lake Boat Ramp

~19 min drive

Gold Lake Boat Ramp is a boat launch in California.

Jim Crow Creek

~10 min drive

Jim Crow Creek is a 4.1-mile paddling stretch near Downieville, California. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 38 cfs and a gradient of about 411.5 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Little Grass Valley Reservoir Recreation Area Boating Site

~20 min drive

A worthwhile stop near California.

Canyon Creek

~11 min drive

Canyon Creek is a 23-mile paddling stretch near Downieville, California. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 260 cfs and a gradient of about 131.2 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Tooms (Boating)

~20 min drive

A worthwhile stop near California.

Wolf Creek

~16 min drive

Wolf Creek is a 5.6-mile paddling stretch near Alleghany, California. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 32 cfs and a gradient of about 347.0 feet per mile.

Guided trips nearby

Local operators near Downievilleoffering guided trips. You book directly with them — Roamze doesn’t take a cut.

Truckee River Rafting

Kayaking business nearby (~47 mi away) — hasn't claimed their Roamze page yet

View operator