Hazard Warning: Hazard information may be user-submitted and unverified. Conditions change frequently. Always scout rapids and obstacles yourself.

Rapid CA Class III

Surf City

American Whitewater 37.8546, -120.6371

Save this feature with the run it belongs to.

Gauge Conditions

Oakdale CN near Knights Ferry CA Upstream Primary

Runnable: ? – ? CFS

Approximate - nearest available gauge. Use as general reference only.

Data from American Whitewater & USGS

CDEC Flow Data California

STANISLAUS RIVER NML Primary Dam Release

Elevation: 1,135 ft

STANISLAUS RIVER TUL Primary Dam Release

Elevation: 515 ft

Data from California Data Exchange Center (CDEC)

Photo

Photo courtesy of American Whitewater

Description

Surf City is a technical Class III rapid featuring a series of diagonal waves and a prominent mid-river boulder that creates a challenging split channel. Paddlers need to navigate carefully between the rock and the stronger right-side current, with potential for catching eddies or getting pushed into hydraulic features if the line is missed. At moderate to high water levels, the rapid can develop more complex wave trains and requires precise boat positioning to avoid potential keeper holes near the central obstruction.