Friant Dam to Skaggs Bridge ParkClass I
31 Miles
Avg Gradient 3 fpm
Max Gradient 13 fpm
Big Chute! - Lost Lake
Big Chute! - Lost Lake Photo of John Gomez by Paul Martzen taken Jan 22, 2006 @ 1000 cfs Gauge Information
San Joaquin
River DescriptionThe San Joaquin River below Friant is a flat, valley river with occasional riffles in the upper reaches and even some class 1 rapids near Friant and Lost Lake. At summer low flows it is the safest introduction to river paddling in the Fresno area. At high flows it is the closest whitewater to Fresno, even if there is only a small amount. The main attraction of this reach is its proximity to Fresno, the nice scenery, the birdlife and occasional wildlife sightings, such as deer and beaver. This section is significantly easier than the Kings River at Piedra and is really more similar to the Kings River from Sanger to Reedley, though with more brush hazards because of the usual lack of high flows.The river is typically broken into 3 sections which will take about 6 hours each at low flows. Allow 2 or 3 hours per section at high flows: Friant to Highway 41 area Highway 41 area to Highway 99 area Highway 99 area to Skaggs Bridge There are a few access options for each of these sections. Brush and Tree Hazards: Because Friant seldom releases more than a couple hundred cfs, vegetation tends to crowd into the channel wherever there are shallow riffles. The river is mostly wide, slow pools alternating periodically with narrow, swift riffles where the current often swings close to trees or brush. First time canoers will find many opportunities to tip over where the current pushes them into trees or brush. At high flows such dangers are increased for beginners. At low flows tipping and swimming will have minimal consequences. At high flows boaters should have swiftwater rescue skills or be with a group that has such skills. Put-in: Friant Bridge, elevation 315 feet. This access is not used all that often, but there is easy river access on the Fresno side of the bridge. It may be best to leave any cars up in the large area near the highway. Upon putting in, paddlers must immediately manuver past the remains of an old bridge, then find the narrow channel through all of the trees. At typical low flows it is fun and easy. At high flood release flows this is one of the most dangerous sections on the river and less experienced paddlers should not launch here. Paddlers with any whitewater experience will have few problems but should scout carefully from the road. It is also fun to paddle 1/2 mile upstream from this bridge to a short steep rapid just below the dam. topozone map google map Lost Lake Co. Park, river access. Mile .7 to mile 2.7 This park is probably the most frequently used put-in. It is also a nice place to just paddle around with out going very far downstream. There are three small rapids along the nearly 2 mile length of the park which can provide fun practice. The upper two rapids are next to the road, but the third rapid, towards the furthest end of the park is down a hill and hidden by trees. Paddlers can boat the length of the park, then carry through some trees and up a small hill to return to the road. topozone map google map 
Bridge, mile 4.5, is used by a gravel mining company to access quaries on both sides of the river. 
High voltage power lines cross river, Mile 4.8 First Mansion, Mile 6.4, The river splits into a long island and a short island, forming 3 channels for a short distance. The left channel is narrow at a sharp left-right bend with snags on the left. The middle and right channels may be more open. Donaghy Mansion, 6.7 miles. 
Heron & Egret Rookery, Mile 7. Look at the tall trees on river right for the large nests made out of sticks. 
Causeway Culvert, mile 8.2 A road crosses the river, but instead of a bridge, the gravel company just piles enough dirt to form a dam which they can drive across. A number of concrete pipes allow the water to flow under the road, but a final corrugated culvert is large enough to allow the passage of canoes. Paddle along the river left till you come to the final pool with the culvert. If you do not want to paddle through the culvert, you must carry up a steep bank over the road and down the other side. Immediately below the culvert (at typical summer low flows) there is a short pool, then a sharp right and left turn into a narrow channel with overhanging brush. Beginning paddlers often tip over here. Whenever flood releases occur, the causeway tends to wash out and boaters can paddle through a break upstream of the culvert. In January of 2006, at 1,000 cfs there was still plenty of room to float canoes and a raft through the culvert. 
Ft Washington Beach Campground, 9.8 miles, elevation 266 feet. Privately owned public access with inexpensive parking. 10705 Lanes Rd. (Friant Rd to Rice Rd.) Phone (559) 434-9600 topozone map google map 
Highway 41 Bridge. Wildwood Park river access on the north side of the river (Madera side). Mile 10.9, elevation 260 feet. Just upstream of the bridge, the river splits into several small channels. The right channel leads past a mobile home park to the Wildwood Park river access underneath the bridge. The river left channel is accessible by pedestrians or bicyclists from Woodward Park. Below the bridge, the river flows through average narrow channels for a ways then opens out onto a large lake formed by former gravel mining pits. topozone map, google map. Sycamore Island. River access from Madera side. Mile 13.6, elevation 256 feet. The lake ends at a bridge used by the gravel company. In some years there has also been a causeway with a culvert that canoeists had to go through, or portage. Shortly after, the river narrows considerably and trees hanging out into the channel can be a problem Sycamore Island Ranch was owned by the Moen family who allowed public access on weekends. In Nov. of 2005 they sold this 347 acre property to the San Joaquin Conservancy. The area is open on weekends through the summer. Scout Island; Fresno County Schools facility. No public access. Mile 15, elevation 250 feet. There tend to be multiple channels in this area with various degrees of brush and tree hazards. Milburn Unit (fish and Game reserve) Mile 17.7, elevation 240 feet. Santa Fe Railroad bridge. Unofficial river access. Mile 20, elevation 227 feet. Camp Pashayan at highway 99, river access on weekends, April to September. Mile 21.75, elevation 227 feet. topozone map, google map. Skaggs Bridge Park, Highway 145, river access. Mile 30.8, elevation 217 feet. topozone map, google map. 
Links of interest Fresno Bee: Rescuing the San Joaquin River San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust Photos of River Cleanup volunteers ThisFresno County parks page has information about and directions to Lost Lake and Skagg's Bridge as well as for all other county parks. Contacts SJPaddlers (Yahoo Group) NEW Kayak club (Yahoo Group) Revive the San Joaquin
The NRDC has been a lead organization in a legal and political battle to restore sufficient water back into the San Joaquin River so that it does not dry up and so that salmon can once again swim up the river.
The Valley Water Alliance advocates that no additional water should be released to the San Joaquin River beyond what is presently released for downstream users. This organization states that large amounts of water will be needed to be released into the river for restoration of the San Joaquin River salmon run and that this will be devastating to the valley economy.
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Last Updated: 2008-06-10 13:57:57
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