There is a launching area on the upstream, east side of the highway 145 bridge in Friant.   In 2007, the lower parking area was eliminated and replaced with stairs and a winding access ramp.   A paved parking area was constructed up above, next to the highway.   The parking area is gated at night, but there is an empty lot on the other side of  Road 145 where you can also leave a car.

Boaters can paddle upstream towards the dam and explore this interesting area.   A small rapid/cascade marks the turn around point a safe distance below the dam. 

Boaters can also proceed downstream towards Lost Lake, but need to beware of the difficulties immediately downstream.   As soon as you round the corner and pass under the 145 bridge, an old Broken Bridge presents several obstacles directly in your way.  The water turbulence here can easily flip unskilled boaters.  

Immediately past the Broken Bridge, a grove of trees spreads across the entire river, with only two clear, but narrow channels through.  At low flows the current feeds debendably into these channels, but careful manuvering is required.   At high flows the current flushes straight through the grove and good paddling skills are required to find a safe route.   

The remains of an old concrete bridge clutter the river channel, creating obstacles and hydraulics that may be interesting or hazardous, depending on your skill level. 

Immediately downstream the river splits into several channels around small islands.  Trees in the channel can be a problem, especially at high flows. 

This small riffle is popular with fishermen, but paddlers can have some fun playing in the eddy lines and on the far river right side.  At very high flows some interesting play holes can develop at the rounded rocks just downstream. 

The riffle itself may be manmade; the remains of a small weir.  There is an old gauging station building on the river left, which has markers showing the height of a past flood. 

Also on river left is the Lost Lake campground.  Toilets are available here and at several other locations in Lost Lake Park. 

Lost Lake 2nd Rapid-1

Lost Lake 2nd Rapid-1

Photo of Kat and Rob Walker by Paul Martzen taken 01/02/06 @ 1000 cfs

Sometime in the past, small boulders were placed across the river to form this low dam.    Trees have grown in along the length creating an interesting wild area.   Water drains through in various spots, but two chutes, one at each end, carry most of the flow.  The chute at the far river right end is straight enough for canoes, but bumpy enough that flips are common.  At the far left side, kayaks can scrape over some rocks to run a slalom route.   As flows rise, both routes become better.    There can be some minor play potential for kayaks at the base of either side.   

The river splits around an Island while dropping steadily.   At low flows the left channel tends to be a bit deeper, but it has several obstacle rocks in awkward locations.   The right channel tends to be wider and cleaner, but more shallow. 

Where the channels come back together the flow pushes against granite outcroppings on the river right. 

After a long flat straight section, the river comes to the head of Ledger Island and makes a sharp bend to the left.  The river drops down a wide, shallow, but long riffle.   On the sides at the top of the riffle look for the handiwork of beavers trying to dam the river.   

At low flows the deepest water is on the far river left.   Pass to the left of two very small bushy islands  then cut back out to the right of a third very small bushy island.

Indian grinding holes can be seen at the bottom on river right.

During high flood releases, part of the river flows to the right into a large expance of gravel pits in the center of Ledger Island.  This flow rejoins the main channel a few hundred yards below the concrete bridge. 

Bridge

Bridge

Photo of Kat, Christopher & Tim by Paul Martzen taken 01/02/06 @ 1,000 cfs

Privately owned bridge serves as a landmark for boaters.   There are many swallow nests underneath this bridge.   Also, there is a lot of driftwood wedged in the girders underneath the left side of the bridge.   The flood of January 1997 was up to this bridge and washed out the roads on either side. 

There is a fun riffle immediately below the bridge.  The channel drops to the right, then swings back to the left.  At low flows of 250 cfs in 2008, the river split into two channels.  The left channel is safest, as a tree hangs into and blocks most of the right channel. 

At low flows the right channel is the deepest.   The main flow pushes towards a fallen tree sticking out from the right bank, then bounces towards tree roots along the left bank.   Beginners can run into the banks, get turned sideways and easily tip.  Trees leaning over the channel, form a shady canopy. 

At 1,600 cfs there are wide easy channels. 

In 2008, Friant Water Users constructed a new diversion dam on this channel to divert more water into the Cobb channel.   The dam is just a pile of cobble stones and is easy to portage.    It is also easy to run, or rather scrape down, a shallow chute on the left.   The channel is narrow and makes a sharp bend to the left.  Beginners who don't make the turn at the bottom of the chute will crash into the berry bushes on the right bank and probably tip over.  The chanel following is fast and narrow, with several overhanging bushes that cause beginners to tip over. 

Friant is legally obligated to deliver  some amount of flow (5 cfs maybe?) into the Cobb channel, but over the years the channels change and less water has flowed into this side channel.  To compensate, Friant had to release larger amounts of water into the river.   River runners benefitted because flows often were in the 300 to 400 cfs range instead of 100 to 200 cfs. 

The new diversion dam raises the level of the river at the side channel and forces more water into the side channel.   This allows Friant to lower flows down below 200 cfs most of the time. River runners had to paddle with these much lower flows, till higher restoration program flows started in 2009.   Confusing?

Heron Rookery

Heron Rookery

Photo by Paul Martzen taken 05/15/06 @ 7,600 cfs

Herons and Egrets nest together in colonies in one or two sycamore trees on river right, but set back 100 yards.  The white egrets are easiest to see, but also look for the large clumps of sticks which are the nests. 

This rookery is on Rank Island, now protected by the San Joaquin Conservancy.   Just before the river picks up speed and flows around a concrete pipe, look at the tall sycamore trees off river to the right.   You will see the most activity in spring and early summer.

The San Joaquin River Parkway uses this put in for many half day canoe trip adventures.   Contact the parkway to sign up for canoe and hiking trips in this area.    The property is part of the Vulcan gravel mining operations and so is not presently open to the public other than for Parkway sponsored trips.   

The gravel mining company runs a road across the river at this location.  A series of small concrete pipes pass much of the flow under the road, but at the furthest downstream point, they have placed a very large corrugated pipe culvert which is large enough for canoes to float through.  It is an exciting fast ride through the culvert, and there is usually a small drop off at the end.   The drop off tends to splash lots of water into canoes. 

Following the culvert is a short pool, then a tight awkward passage with overhanging branches.   Inexperienced canoeists can easily tip over here.   The short tight channel joins a wide channel going left towards a small gravel bar island (low water).  In the past, most of the current went left around this island till it made a sharp right turn against a bank of undercut berry bushes.   In recent years (2009) most of the current goes right around this island into an overhanging bank of bushes. (Not berry bushes, sticks but no thorns)    Beginners often run into these bushes, but if they duck and stay centered they won't necessarily tip over. 

At high flows the causeway always washed out upstream of the culvert and paddlers could follow the main flow through the washout.   Since about 2006 the causeway has not been rebuilt, so there is now a permanent channel upstream of the culvert.   But for most paddlers going through the culvert still seems like the most fun. 

A fun riffle at low flows in a narrow, river right chute.   Washes out at high flows.    The initial drop is formed by a low, diagonal bedrock ledge on far river right.  After the first drop, the current pushes boats further right towards another bedrock outcropping which can tip the unwary paddler. 

The rest of the river channel is semi dammed by chunks of concrete and the remains of concrete pipes.  There is a diversion channel on the left leading a short ways to the gravel mining operation.   It appears that the gravel company has dammed the river a little bit to help divert water to their operation. 

The parkway folks have another name for this, but it escapes me at the moment.  There is a nice gravel bar for stopping at the bottom left.   Swimmers can walk to the top of the riffle and float through.    

Fort Washington; Take-out

Fort Washington; Take-out

Photo by Paul Martzen taken 01/02/06 @ 1,000 cfs

Ft Washington is a privately owned camping, fishing and river access park.   Fees to park and camp are very reasonable and the owners are very nice.   This is a good take out point for boaters floating from Lost Lake and a good put in point for boaters heading towards highway 99. 

10705 Lanes Rd. (Friant Rd to Rice Rd.) Phone (559) 434-9600

The river splits around a large island with a series of riffles in each channel.   Both channels are interesting.  The right channel is a bit narrower and has a number of tight turns, but the left channel also has some tight turns and tight spots.  The Wildwood Access area is at the end of the right channel.

The channels rejoin at the highway 41 bridges, and the main flow passes next to a bridge support.

Wildwood Park is on the north side of the river, on the east side of Freeway 41.  The parking/loading area is a ways from the river, so boaters must carry their boats to and from the river. 

Upstream of the Freeway 41 bridges, the river splits.  Both channels get tight and technical as they near the bridge.    Tree and brush hazards here are especially bad at high flows and a boater lost her life here during high flows one year when she was pinned by the boat against an obstacle. 

At typical low flows the river narrows down against the right bank.   A tree fell across the river and was cut off, leaving several feet of tree trunk protruding across the current.  Experienced boaters can easily avoid the obstacle, but beginners have a hard time avoiding a collision and tip over.   Beginners can do a short and easy portage in the shallow water on the far left.

A major part of the cut tree came to rest in the middle of the channel about 30 feet downstream where it presents some hazard to swimmers and a broaching danger to canoes.   As of 2009, the tree is becoming more of an Island and less of a strainer, but it still broaches swamped canoes.

A former gravel mining operation was sold to the San Joaquin River Conservancy.   It is open for camping and day use, Friday through Sunday.   A private contractor collects fees for day use and camping in exchange for supervising the area and doing maintanence.   There are bathrooms here and a small store.

The map marker shows the location of a good canoe put in or take out on Muddy Pond.   A break in the levee connects this pond with the river channel.   Two concrete boat ramps are also found along the considerable Sycamore Island waterfront.

Street access is from the Madera side of the river.   Take Avenue 9, to Road 40 south, then turn right on Ave 7 1/2 to the Sycamore Island entrance.   Dnive in to a small building which is the store and pay the fees. 

At the intersection of of N. Palm and W. Nees, turn left and drive down an access road to the river.  There is a fairly large dirt and gravel parking area next to the river.   If the road is gated, park above and walk down to the river.

Boaters who launch here can paddle upstream to explore a large area of interconnected lakes.  A series of small riffles run downstream into another area of very large ponds.

The Sycamore Island access area is directly across the river on the Madera side.

Once this area was owned by the Boy Scouts and was used for overnight camping and camporees.  It was undeveloped and primitive at  that time.   Now the area is owned by the Fresno Unified School District and is used for outdoor education activities.   It is also home to the Parkway River Camps each summer.  The area is now well developed with large lawns, a small amphitheater, bathrooms and challange course structures on both sides of the river. 

There is no public access here. 

There are some sections of fast narrow channels leading towards scout Island and even faster channels following. 

Camp Pashayan is usually open weekends during the spring, summer and fall.   Contact the San Joaquin Parkway Trust for specific hours and operations.   

A railroad trestle and freeway 99 both cross the river at the downstream end of Camp Pashayan. 

At the downstream end of the freeway overpass, are old bridge pillings (posts) that collect driftwood.   There is usually an opening, but in some years it can get completely clogged until someone cleans out some of the driftwood..   Be more careful during or after periods of high water that could deposit more driftwood here. 

The river passes through a narrow opening under a metal bridge.   At high flows, there may be limited clearance.   A solar panel powers the gauge instruments.

This Fresno County park is on the west side of highway 145 which runs between between Madera and Kerman.   The entrance to the park is a quarter mile south of the bridge.  The park is heavily used on summer weekends, so parking can be a problem.   The county will close the park when flows are very high.

Since the construction of Friant dam the river has generally been dry after this point.   A sudden lack of trees along the river is testament to the lack of water.   Since the start of restoration flows in the fall of 2009, riparian vegetation is likely to make a steady comeback.

Bifurcation dams

Bifurcation dams

Photo by Paul Martzen taken 01/03/11 @ 860 cfs

The river is blocked by two small dams.   The left dam releases water into the river channel and on to Mendota Pool.   The right dam releases water into the Chowchilla Bypass during flood events.   The bypass is a big barren ditch.  

The portage around the left side of the left dam looks fairly easy. 

San Mateo Ave access

San Mateo Ave access

Photo by Paul Martzen taken 01/03/11 @ 860 cfs

San Mateo Avenue fords the river just upstream of the tailwaters of Mendota Pool.   Now that the river is no longer dry, it is not possible to ford, but it is a good launching or take out spot.   The road at the very end is not county maintained (has lots of potholes) and may be private.    It is regularly used by the public, but there is a gate which could potentially be closed at times.   

There is a fair bit of trees and brush in the channel in this area, so careful manuvering is required in several areas.   There is one area in particular (in 2010), about a half mile downstream that was very tight and awkward, requiring a sharp right turn next to an overhanging branch. 

With 860 cfs, two of us paddled a canoe 4 miles upstream to the bifurcation in 2.5 hours.  We came back in 1 hour. 

With 950 cfs it took two of us less than 3 hours to leisurely paddle the 7 miles to Mendota dam from here.  

This public park on Bass road just south of Mendota dam has water access.    It is the same distance as going to the dam but requires turning left up a side channel under a bridge.   You could be fighting a current sometimes.

Take out on the left just above the dam.  It will be muddy but fairly easy.    There is plenty of parking next to the dam.  The dam is often heavily used by fishermen.    The pool is very shallow in many areas.  If the water level is down there will be large areas of exposed mud flats.

An alternate take out or access point is to paddle up a side channel to Mendota Pool Park.