Outdoor Recreation 17 The north river
From the border of Shasta and Tehama counties to Red Bluff, the Sacramento River has strong currents through bedrock and water temperature can be below 58 degrees. The calm surface cloaks the river’s strength. A public boat ramp is available at Bend Bridge Park. Jellys Ferry, Barge Hole, and Perry Riffle,
which is walk in only, offering primitive launch sites.
The Bureau of Land Management has created 100 acres of wetlands, and
maintains 600 acres that provide habitat for a diversity of wildlife. The river, along Battle Creek and Paynes Creek, support four runs of salmon and winter and spring runs chinook salmon.
The south river
The river south of the Red Bluff Diversion Dam has wide channels and low banks. It is a 25-mile trip from the diversion dam to Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area and another 16 to the Butte County line. Along the way, it is easy to spot waterfowl in the summer
including bald eagles
that nest in the area. Much of the shore of the south river is managed by the Sacramento River Wildlife refuge. The refuge begins about three miles south of the diversion dam. Maps and
information on the refuge are available at (530) 934-2801, or www.sacramentovalley refuge.fws.gov.
