North Fork Willow Creek
Bass Lake, California
Free — you'll pick up right here.
Conditions: Blocked
for canoeing, todayAn agency closure order is in effect for this area; weather is good
2 factors · 2 sources
Newest 46 min ago · oldest 1 h
problem: Agency alerts
14 active alerts in Sierra National Forest; most severe: Wilderness Food and Refuse Storage
USFSPosted May 22 · checked 1 h ago
clear: Weather
Clear, high 87°F / low 59°F, 0% precip — 100/100 for canoeing
OpenWeather46 min ago
Been out here in the last few days? One report keeps this current for everyone.
Why you'll love it
River facts
- Water
- Seasonal — can run dry
- Average flow
- 78 cfs
- Average current
- 1.2 ft/s
- Gradient
- 239.3 ft/mi
- Drainage area
- 58 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
North Fork Willow Creek
Suggested plan · check conditions before you go
Photos
Directions & GPX
Permits & access
- Managing agency
- Forest Service
About this water
North Fork Willow Creek is a 23-mile paddling stretch near Bass Lake, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 78 cfs and a gradient of about 239.3 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 Huntington Lake, CA weather station, 19 mi away. High / low in °F.
- Jan43° high24° low
- Feb44° high23° low
- Mar46° high26° low
- Apr50° high29° low
- May56° high36° low
- Jun66° high42° low
- Jul74° high49° low
- Aug74° high49° low
- Sep68° high44° low
- Oct58° high37° low
- Nov49° high31° low
- Dec44° high25° low
Where it is
- Bass Lake Ranger District · Ranger district
- Sierra National Forest · National forest
- Managed by
- Forest Service
Conditions
Active alerts for Bass Lake Ranger District as of Oct 9, 2026:
Mammoth Pool Boat Launch Rehabilitation
caution · posted Aug 24, 2026
Mammoth Pool Boat Launch Order Termination
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Source: USFS forest alerts
Nearby
- Willow Cove 2Hiking0.6 mi
- Cedar BluffCamping0.7 mi
- LupineCamping0.7 mi
- Willow CoveHiking0.7 mi
- Sand CreekCanoeing3.7 mi
- South Fork Willow CreekCanoeing4.7 mi
- Doggy DomeRock climbing5.4 mi
- CorduroyRock climbing6 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Add to a trip & share
Keep exploring — more water worth the drive
Photo: California High-Speed Rail Authority, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)Fresno River
~21 min drive
Fresno River is a 31-mile paddling stretch near Coarsegold, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 158 cfs and a gradient of about 75.2 feet per mile.
Chilkoot
~6 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Mammoth Pool Boating Site
~20 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Photo: Kylir Horton from Eagle Mountain, Utah, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Merced River
~47 min drive
Merced River is a 11-mile paddling stretch near Yosemite National Park, California. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 1,854 cfs and a gradient of about 158.6 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the National Park Service.
Briceburg Put-in
~53 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Redinger Boating Site
~22 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Photo: MCalamari, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)San Joaquin River
~47 min drive
San Joaquin River is a 45-mile paddling stretch near Raymond, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 3,108 cfs and a gradient of about 62.7 feet per mile.
Trimmer Campground
~54 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Huntington Launching Ramp
~35 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Photo: USFS Region 5, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)Dinkey Creek
~50 min drive
Dinkey Creek is a 24-mile paddling stretch near Shaver Lake, California. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 177 cfs and a gradient of about 322.0 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
