San Lorenzo River near Santa Cruz

Pleasant scenery and a few kilometers of technical rapids, combined with proximity to Silicon Valley, make this a popular wintertime run for local boaters. The water quality (1998) leaves a lot to be desired, though. Not only is the water muddy from driveway runoff, but septic tank overflow causes high microorganism content after floods. Capital spending by the private sector could mitigate both problems. As Uncle Dan Dunlap was fond of saying, “there's a lot of wildlife, it's just that you can't see most of it.” A count of fecal coliform bacteria is available on this website.

Optimum flow for inflatable kayaks is between 250 and 350 cfs, although 150 cfs is boatable if you don't mind a few ultra-shallow rapids (in particular, Grovel Bar and Grovel Island below The Waterfall). Rafts and hardshell kayaks would want 300 to 500 cfs or more. Holbek/Stanley list the kayak minimum as 500 cfs, but that is probably more than absolutely required.

Upstream of this recommended run, the San Lorenzo and several of its tributaries are runnable after sufficient rain. Rapids are mostly brushy class I-II with occasional cement dams. One rainy day we ate a big pancake breakfast in Boulder Creek while waiting for the water to come up, which it never did much. Downstream of this recommended run, the San Lorenzo is runnable, but not very exciting, all the way to the ocean.

In the ultra wet winter of 2006, several new logjams developed, one of which (in the Waterfall) was quickly removed.

Warning: in the flatwater less than a quarter mile below the Felton bridge into Henry Cowell park, there is a river-wide log. Easy portage on the left. In the flatwater section below Rincon take-out, there were multiple redwood logs spanning the channel. Moderate portage on the left.

A hiking trail from Henry Cowell park follows the San Lorenzo on the left bank until a railroad bridge, where the trail crosses over. Another hiking trail descends steeply from highway 9 to an old gauging station just above the class III gorge. This is an alternate put-in if you prefer boat-carrying to flatwater paddling.

First class III below Henry Cowell park	Long boulder garden, shortly above the Waterfall

The Waterfall, class IV, scout left
Sometime during 2001 The Waterfall got harder: not only is the main drop more twisting, but the following drop has a nasty-looking keeper hole on the left. At flows above 500 cfs, you might consider sneaking it on the right side, however its second drop is surprisingly tall, making it hard to work left for the boulder-laced right turn before the final drop.

		Paddling sharp right towards a good slot in the rock fence
Tandem boat bumping the rock above	Straightening out as they drop over the falls
	This boater failed to ferry right quickly enough, and is attempting to self-rescue after getting stuck on the rock fence

One rapid below The Waterfall comes Grovel Bar. The normal route is down the right side, cutting left near the bottom. In 2003 a tree spanned the right-side, making a short left jog necessary. Grovel Island follows; recently its right channel has become runnable. In several rapids below the gorge, you might have some close encounters of the brush kind. One of them contains a big rock/hole just where the brush ain't. Another rapid is followed by slabs of concrete fallen from the railroad, potentially a logjam hazard, but clear in 2003.

Rincon Take-out. There is a fire road on river right around mile 2.5, where the San Lorenzo makes a sweeping left turn around a big island. The hike out is about a half mile uphill, and deposits you right onto highway 9, greatly simplifying your shuttle, or enabling a quick hitchhike-assisted rerun. Most people prefer the easy take out at Paradise, however.

To reach take-out at Paradise, take highway 17 south to Ocean Street. Where the freeway ends turn right, curve right past Denny's, and drive under the highway 1 overpass. Where Graham Hill Road bears right and starts climbing steeply, turn left, at a cemetary, onto Ocean Street Extension. Drive past residences and thru thick redwoods until the road comes within sight of the San Lorenzo. Keep a low profile to avoid conflicts with Paradise residents. If this take-out becomes posted against trespassing, a long brushy paddle to the cemetary will become necessary.

To reach put-in from there, return to the highway 1 overpass and turn right onto the uphill entrance to highway 1 north. After crossing the San Lorenzo on a bridge, turn right on River Road, which becomes highway 9. Drive several winding miles thru scenic redwoods until you reach the entrance to Henry Cowell Park. Park along highway 9 past the park entrance (in south Felton) and carry your gear to the bridge, which offers a good put-in spot underneath.

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