Russian River
Guerneville / Monte Rio / Healdsburg · near Guerneville / Healdsburg · North Coast
Rivers & Whitewater
At a glance
- Season
- June–October · Summer low water = ideal tube conditions · Spring high water moves faster
Permits and booking
- Permit
- No permit for most Russian River floats. Burke's Canoe Trips and other outfitters manage the logistics — they handle shuttle and rental on private land. Steelhead Beach Regional Park put-in requires Sonoma County Parks day fee.
What is here
- Activities
- tubing · kayaking · self-guided
Worth knowing
- Minimum age
- All ages · Best suited for ages 6+ for paddling · Younger with life jacket on tubes
- Good for a first timer
- Yes
Guides, rentals and operators
- Operators
- Burke's Canoe Trips · Russian River Adventures
- Outfitters
- Burke's Canoe Trips · Russian River Outfitters · King's Sport & Tackle (Guerneville)
Rivers & Whitewater detail
- Nickname
- Wine Country Float
- Class min
- I
- Class max
- II
- Trip options
- 2–5 hour canoe/kayak float · Half-day tube float · Overnight canoe camping
- Key rapids
- Vacation Beach to Guerneville Float · Healdsburg Bar Section · Monte Rio to Guerneville
- Intl tip
- The Russian River valley is Sonoma County's other wine region — Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the cooler climate along the river corridor. Combine a morning float with afternoon wine tasting in Guerneville or a drive to the Sonoma Coast (the river meets the Pacific at Jenner, 15 miles from Guerneville — one of California's most dramatic river mouth viewpoints). Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, immediately north of Guerneville, adds 805 acres of old-growth redwoods to the afternoon.
The guide
The Russian River is California's most civilized river experience. From Healdsburg down through Guerneville and Monte Rio to th…
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Russian River — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 38.5024, -122.9926