Sacramento River
Sacramento River is a major watercourse flowing ~400 miles (~640 km) from Klamath Mountains to Sacramento Bay. Key for regional fisheries, agriculture & flood control, it passes through Redding, Red Bluff, and Sacramento before reaching the Pacific.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | California |
| Subregion | Western United States |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Sacramento County |
| District | Sacramento Basin |
| Timezone | AmericaLos Angeles |
| Latitude | 38.58 |
| Longitude | -121.75 |
| Maps |
6:15 PM LOCAL TIMESacramento River is California’s largest inland waterway, over 400 miles (~640 km) in length and draining a basin of approximately 27,000 square miles (~70,000 km²). It originates in the Klamath Mountains near Mt. Shasta and flows southward across the Central Valley to enter Sacramento Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Along its course, the river is vital for fisheries, supporting species like Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Chinook salmon) and Oncorhynchus mykiss (steelhead trout), and is a cornerstone of regional water supply for agriculture, cities, and industry. Major tributaries include the Upper Sacramento and Feather Rivers, while flood management and hydropower are managed via dams and reservoirs such as Shasta Dam and Castaic Lake. Historically, the river shapes the landscape and ecology of the Sacramento Valley, cycling through seasonal high flows and dry periods. Visitors today can explore its banks via parks and trails in towns like Red Bluff, Sutter Creek, and Sacramento, experiencing scenic delta estuaries, riparian forests, and urban waterfronts.
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