List of rivers of California
The following is a list of rivers in California, by location:
Far North Coast[change | change source]
Rivers and streams between the Oregon border and Humboldt Bay that empty into the Pacific Ocean:
Tributaries of Humboldt Bay[change | change source]
- Jolly Giant Creek
- Jacoby Creek
- Eureka Slough
- Freshwater Slough
- Elk River (California)
- Salmon Creek (Northern Humboldt County)
North Coast[change | change source]
Rivers and streams between Humboldt Bay and the Golden Gate that empty into the Pacific Ocean:
- Eel River:
- Bear River (Humboldt County)
- Mattole River
- Noyo River
- Big River
- Albion River
- Navarro River
- Garcia River
- Gualala River:
- Russian River
Tributaries of San Francisco Bay[change | change source]
Streams that empty into San Francisco Bay or its tributary bays, from north to south:
- Petaluma River
- Sonoma Creek
- Napa River
- Sacramento River:
- Pit River
- Clear Creek
- Cow Creek
- Cottonwood Creek
- Battle Creek
- Mill Creek
- Deer Creek
- Big Chico Creek
- Stony Creek
- Butte Creek
- Feather River
- Dry Creek
- American River
- Putah Creek
- Cache Creek
- Cache Slough
- Miner Slough
- Lindsey Slough
- Lookout Slough
- Steamboat Slough
- Ulatis Creek
- San Joaquin River:
- Mokelumne River
- Calaveras River
- Stanislaus River
- Tuolumne River
- Merced River
- Chowchilla River
- Fresno River
- Big Creek
- Tulare Lake Basin—this region would overflow into the San Joaquin River during flood years
- Pinole Creek
- Alameda Creek
- Coyote Creek
- Guadalupe River
- Stevens Creek
- San Francisquito Creek
- Redwood Creek (San Mateo County)
- San Mateo Creek
Central Coast[change | change source]
Rivers that empty into the Pacific Ocean between the Golden Gate and Point Arguello, from north to south:
- San Gregorio Creek
- Pescadero Creek
- San Lorenzo River
- Pajaro River
- Elkhorn Slough
- Salinas River
- Carmel River
- Little Sur River
- Big Sur River
- San Luis Obispo Creek
- Santa Maria River
- Santa Ynez River
South Coast[change | change source]
Rivers that empty into the Pacific Ocean southeast of Point Arguello, from north to south:
- Ventura River
- Santa Ynez River
- Santa Clara River
- Malibu Creek
- Los Angeles River
- San Gabriel River
- Santa Ana River
- Lytle Creek
- Mill Creek
- San Jacinto River (drains into Lake Elsinore but can overflow into the Santa Ana)
- Aliso Creek
- San Juan Creek
- Santa Margarita River
- San Diego River
- San Luis Rey River
- San Dieguito River
- Sweetwater River
- Otay River
- Tijuana River
Tributaries of the Gulf of California[change | change source]
Rivers that empty into the Gulf of California:
Salton Sea[change | change source]
Rivers that empty into the Salton Sea:
Great Basin[change | change source]
Rivers in the Great Basin: