North Fork Stanislaus River

Bird’s Eye View

The North Fork of the Stanislaus River, or the “North Stan,” is an under-appreciated gem for rafting and kayaking. It is only runnable in the springtime when the snow melts and the river rises, since the upstream dam rarely releases water during daylight hours. When it does run, in May and early June, it is well worth making the drive up Highway 4 into Calaveras Big Trees State Park to raft or kayak and experience the excitement and beauty the North Fork of the Stanislaus River has to offer.

North Stan Whitewater Photo Gallery

The North Stan in a Nutshell

Difficulty: Class IV+

Gradient: 77 ft/mi

Length: 7 miles

Season: May – June

Put-in: Sourgrass Campground

Take-out: Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Who should go: Intermediate and advanced boaters who can withstand a little cold for one of the most beautiful runs in California

Whitewater & Scenery

Because the Sourgrass run is at higher elevation the landscape is quite different from other California foothill runs. Transparent turquoise water tumbles over granite boulders and meanders through giant redwoods creating an incredible array of contrasting colors…

River Flows

Luckily this section of the North Stan is fed by snow melt that flows into the river before the upstream Spicer Reservoir. So, in a sense, this river acts like it is “free-flowing” in April and May.