South Fork San Joaquin River

Shaver Lake, California

Blocked todayCalifornia
Blocked today

Free — you'll pick up right here.

Conditions: Blocked

for canoeing, today

An agency closure order is in effect for this area; weather is good

2 factors · 2 sources

Newest 15 h ago · oldest 15 h

  • problem: Agency alerts

    12 active alerts in Sierra National Forest; most severe: Wilderness Food and Refuse Storage

    USFSPosted May 22 · checked 15 h ago

  • clear: Weather

    Clouds, high 74°F / low 46°F, 20% precip — 96/100 for canoeing

    OpenWeather15 h ago

Been out here in the last few days? One report keeps this current for everyone.

Why you'll love it

40.1 mi run
Flows year-round
750 cfs avg flow

River facts

Water
Flows year-round
Average flow
750 cfs
Average current
1.7 ft/s
Gradient
162.0 ft/mi
Drainage area
460 sq mi

Long-term averages modeled by USGS (NHDPlus HR), not today's conditions. Check a gauge before you go.

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South Fork San Joaquin River

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Photos

Directions & GPX

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Permits & access

Managing agency
Forest Service

About this water

South Fork San Joaquin River is a 40-mile paddling stretch near Shaver Lake, California. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 750 cfs and a gradient of about 162.0 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Facts about this water

Where it is

Managed by
Forest Service

Source: USFS EDW boundaries; USGS PAD-US 4.1

Conditions

Active alerts for Sierra National Forest as of Oct 9, 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

Dinkey CreekPhoto: USFS Region 5, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Dinkey Creek

~33 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.

Florence Lake Boat Launch

~5 min drive

A worthwhile stop near California.

Bishop CreekPhoto: Photographersnature, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Bishop Creek

~46 min drive

Bishop Creek is a 9.9-mile paddling stretch near Bishop, California. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 99 cfs and a gradient of about 288.2 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Huntington Launching Ramp

~17 min drive

A worthwhile stop near California.

North Fork Kings RiverPhoto: Gene Daniels, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

North Fork Kings River

~37 min drive

North Fork Kings River is a 30-mile paddling stretch near Shaver Lake, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 309 cfs and a gradient of about 306.6 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Rock Creek Boat Launch

~30 min drive

A worthwhile stop near California.

Bear Creek

~9 min drive

Bear Creek is a 11-mile paddling stretch near Shaver Lake, California. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 69 cfs and a gradient of about 262.5 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Mammoth Pool Boating Site

~31 min drive

A worthwhile stop near California.

Mono Creek

~13 min drive

Mono Creek is a 19-mile paddling stretch near Shaver Lake, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 140 cfs and a gradient of about 232.0 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Convict Boat Ramp

~36 min drive

A worthwhile stop near California.