Private property

Dislcaimer this website should not be construed as, and it does not constitute, legal advice on any specific matter.

Many established access areas are on private land which the owner has graciously opened for the public. All of the access points listed here are either public, or have clear, well-established trails that have been used for years.

While there is confusion about whether you are allowed to actually float on the river, American Whitewater's excellent Navigability Primer says:

In the California court case of People v. Mack, the ruling stated, “The public has the right to navigate below the high water mark on rivers which are capable of being navigated by small recreational craft.” In other words, the definition of navigability in California rests on whether the river is capable of floating a canoe or kayak. American Whitewater strongly advocates this test of navigability.

People v. Mack states:

The streams of California are a vital recreational resource of the state. The modern determinations of the California courts, as well as those of several of the states, as to the test of navigability can well be restated as follows: members of the public have the right to navigate and to exercise the incidents of navigation in a lawful manner at any point below high water mark on waters of this state which are capable of being navigated by oar or motor propelled small creaft.

The land surrounding the river is definitely private. Protect your access to the river by: