Free — you'll pick up right here.
Watch this water
Sign up to watch it — saving subscribes you to gate, closure and report changes.
California
Helms Creek
No verdict for this water
We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.
What we do know
Inside Sierra National Forest
3 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
- 56 cfs
- Average current
- 1.2 ft/s
- Gradient
- 256.7 ft/mi
- Drainage area
- 45 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
Helms Creek
AI-suggested draft · review before you go
Photos
Directions & GPX
Permits & access
- Managing agency
- Forest Service
About this water
Helms Creek is an 8.9-mile paddling stretch near Shaver Lake, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 56 cfs and a gradient of about 256.7 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Add to a trip & share
Keep exploring — more water worth the drive
Photo: Gene Daniels, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)North Fork Kings River
~15 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.
Florence Lake Boat Launch
~18 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Camp Four And Half Cabin
~33 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Photo: The Greater Southwestern Exploration Company from Long Beach, California, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)South Fork San Joaquin River
~22 min drive
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.
Huntington Launching Ramp
~22 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Trimmer Campground
~38 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Photo: Kurt Minard, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Middle Fork Kings River
~34 min drive
Middle Fork Kings River is a 36-mile paddling stretch near Shaver Lake, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 482 cfs and a gradient of about 260.6 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the National Park Service.
Kirch Rafting Take Out Boating Site
~32 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Island Park
~43 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Photo: Daniel Mayer (mav), CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)South Fork Kings River
~50 min drive
South Fork Kings River is a 0.8-mile paddling stretch near Hume, California. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 496 cfs and a gradient of about 76.0 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the National Park Service.
