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Watch this water

California

Manzana 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 Los Padres 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.

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Why you'll love it

18.4 mi run

Seasonal — can run dry

37 cfs avg flow

River facts

Water: Seasonal — can run dry
Average flow: 37 cfs
Average current: 1.3 ft/s
Gradient: 159.1 ft/mi
Drainage area: 56 sq mi

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

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Manzana Creek

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Photos

Directions & GPX

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Permits & access

Managing agency: Forest Service

About this water

Manzana Creek is a 18-mile paddling stretch near New Cuyama, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 37 cfs and a gradient of about 159.1 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: Unknown historical, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sisquoc River

~6 min drive

Sisquoc River is a 40-mile paddling stretch near New Cuyama, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 242 cfs and a gradient of about 98.5 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Photo: Gordon F. Smith, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Santa Ynez River

~26 min drive

Santa Ynez River is a 74-mile paddling stretch near Santa Ynez, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 291 cfs and a gradient of about 32.8 feet per mile.

Photo: NHRHS2010, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Santa Maria River

~1h 2m drive

Santa Maria River is a 16-mile paddling stretch near Santa Maria, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 99 cfs and a gradient of about 14.9 feet per mile.

Photo: LorraineWalter, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Ventura River

~1h 17m drive

Ventura River is a 16-mile paddling stretch near Ventura, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 180 cfs and a gradient of about 56.8 feet per mile.

Photo: Blackmb, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sespe Creek

~1h 24m drive

Sespe Creek is a 60-mile paddling stretch near Ojai, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 233 cfs and a gradient of about 73.9 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Santa Cruz Creek

~20 min drive

Santa Cruz Creek is a 15-mile paddling stretch near Santa Ynez, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 53 cfs and a gradient of about 93.7 feet per mile.

Cuyama River

~24 min drive

Cuyama River is a 103-mile paddling stretch near New Cuyama, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 234 cfs and a gradient of about 33.5 feet per mile.

La Brea Creek

~25 min drive

La Brea Creek is a 6.5-mile paddling stretch near Santa Maria, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 35 cfs and a gradient of about 47.9 feet per mile.

Mono Creek

~41 min drive

Mono Creek is a 26-mile paddling stretch near Maricopa, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 84 cfs and a gradient of about 101.1 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Alamo Creek

~50 min drive

Alamo Creek is a 21-mile paddling stretch near Santa Maria, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 31 cfs and a gradient of about 51.6 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

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