Overview of the Salinas River

The Salinas has been called an "upside down" river. It flows south-to-north between the counties of San Luis Obispo and Monterey. It is in many places completely dry on the surface, but water continues to run deep underground.

Safety

Specific things to keep in mind when taking a trip down the Salinas.

Private property

Specific things to keep in mind when taking a trip down the Salinas.

Dam release schedule

Much of the water between the Nacimiento river junction and the rest of the middle section depends on dam release from the Nacimiento and San Anonio reservoirs.

Rubber dam

The Salinas River Diversion Facility is a necessary portage in the lower river April through October.

River Usage

Confirmed sightings of people using the river, detected by AI from USGS monitoring cameras.