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California
West Branch Nelson 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 Plumas 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
River facts
- Water
- Flows year-round
- Average flow
- 53 cfs
- Average current
- 1.2 ft/s
- Gradient
- 225.7 ft/mi
- Drainage area
- 12 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
West Branch Nelson Creek
AI-suggested draft · review before you go
Photos
Directions & GPX
Permits & access
- Managing agency
- Forest Service
About this water
West Branch Nelson Creek is a 7.5-mile paddling stretch near Downieville, California. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 53 cfs and a gradient of about 225.7 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: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Downie River
~19 min drive
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.
Gold Lake Boat Ramp
~17 min drive
Gold Lake Boat Ramp is a boat launch in California.
Berger
~21 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Middle Fork Feather River
~28 min drive
Middle Fork Feather River is a 6.6-mile paddling stretch near Portola, California. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 556 cfs and a gradient of about 52.0 feet per mile.
Little Grass Valley Reservoir Recreation Area Boating Site
~17 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Hopkins Creek
~4 min drive
Hopkins Creek is a 5.1-mile paddling stretch near Downieville, California. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 50 cfs and a gradient of about 318.3 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Tooms (Boating)
~18 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Jamison Creek
~9 min drive
Jamison Creek is a 12-mile paddling stretch near Blairsden Graeagle, California. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 92 cfs and a gradient of about 173.2 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the state park agency.
Salmon Lake -Boat Ramp
~18 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Nelson Creek
~9 min drive
Nelson Creek is a 6.6-mile paddling stretch near Downieville, California. It is ephemeral and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 176 cfs and a gradient of about 125.0 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
