Few waterways in Butte County are more exciting than the Feather River! With four long tributary forks — the South Fork, Wild and Scenic Middle Fork, North Fork, and West Branch Feather Rivers – converging at Lake Oroville and flowing into the Sacramento River as its principal tributary, the Feather River has boundless opportunities for kayaking, fishing, swimming, and more.
Jump to: Lower Feather River │ North Fork │ Middle Fork │ History
Lower Feather River
All four forks of the Feather River converge at Lake Oroville and run through Oroville and all the way to the Sacramento River. The river (also sometimes referred to as the Lower Feather River) offers a variety of recreation opportunities right in the middle of the city.
Fishing
The Feather River is home to one of the largest steelhead runs in the California’s Central Valley and is also a prime fishery for striped bass. The lower Feather River, below Lake Oroville, has a series of riffles perfect for fly fishing, and attract anglers from around the state when the steelhead and striped bass run. The forks of the Feather River above Lake Oroville are abundant rainbow and brown trout fishing for anglers willing to hike.
Kayaking
Kayaking on the Feather River is a popular pastime, and the calm waters on the river through the city of Oroville are perfect for family-friendly explorations. During the salmon season, kayakers can get up-close-and-personal with migrating fish as they launch at the Feather River Fish Hatchery and end at Riverbend Park.
North Fork
The North Fork Feather River is a primary tributary of the Feather River and runs through the northern Sierra Nevada. It flows generally southwards from its headwaters near Lassen Peak to Lake Oroville before merging with the South Fork and Middle Fork into the Feather River.
Whitewater Rafting/Kayaking
With a steady dose of dam-released water from Lake Almanor, this section of river holds some of the best year-round whitewater in the state. Recreation high-water flows are generally held four weekends a year in June, July, August, and September along the Rock Creek Reach (check for updates from PG&E for the annual flow dates). During these periods, in which water flows are increased to 700 – 800 cubic feet per second (cfs) (normal range for the season is 150 cfs), the part of the North Fork contains Class III, IV, and V rapids.
The Rock Creek Reach is the 8.3‑mile portion of the North Fork of the Feather River in the Plumas National Forest between PG&E’s Rock Creek dam and the Rock Creek powerhouse near Storrie.
Access to the upper portion of the North Fork is accessible via Highway 70.
Fishing
Fishing is also available at several spots along the river. From below Lake Almanor downstream to Belden Bridge, enjoy a no-restriction, five-fish limit from the last Saturday in April through the middle of November. The section from Cresta Powerhouse downstream to Lake Oroville is open year-round without restrictions.
Middle Fork
Of the three forks that feed Lake Oroville, the Middle Fork of the Feather River is the only one undammed, so it remains wild and scenic. The river gradient varies from gentle at the upper end to very steep in the deep canyons of the lower reaches. The adjacent lands range from the most primitive imaginable to manicured golf courses and residential area. In the wild sections, huge boulders, cliffs and waterfalls are a part of the natural beauty of the area, but can make navigating the river and hiking difficult.
Kayaking
For kayakers and rafters up for one of the most challenging sections of whitewater anywhere, the Middle Fork of the Feather River serves up 32 miles of Class V rapids in a remote, pristine canyon. The river was designated as one of the original eight wild and scenic rivers by Congress, and is known throughout the West as one of the première whitewater descents in the state. Experienced whitewater kayakers take 3 to 4 days for the self-supported trip.
Fishing
Those looking for fishing spots will enjoy access to both warm- and cold-water fish. The Middle Fork is full of riffles, runs, and holes that receive very little pressure throughout the season. The wild and stocked brown and rainbow trout are known to be hard-fighting fish, so come prepared for a fight.
The Middle Fork’s History
The Middle Fork of the Feather River was one of eight “charter” rivers designated with the passage of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act in 1968. Of the 77.6 miles of the Middle Fork of the Feather River designated as Wild & Scenic, 32.9 miles are wild (generally inaccessible except by trail), 9.7 miles are scenic (accessible in places by roads but largely undeveloped), and 35 miles are recreational (readily accessible by road/railroad with some development along the shore).
History & Usage
The Feather River and its forks were a center of gold mining during the 19th century.
Since the 1960s, the river has provided water to central and southern California as the main source of water for the California State Water Project. Its water is also used for hydroelectricity generation. The average annual flow of the Feather River is more than 7 million acre feet.
Water from the Feather River is heavily used and diverted into irrigation ditches for agricultural purposes. The river has formed several valleys, including Indian Valley and American Valley, which are used primarily for grazing, hay production, and agriculture. The site of the river’s headwaters, Sierra Valley, is the largest high-alpine meadow within the continental United States, and is an important stopover site for migratory birds.