Eel River
A long North Coast river that winds through rugged canyons from Lake Pillsbury past Dos Rios and Alderpoint, then northwest through redwood country near Weott, Scotia and Fortuna to a broad estuary on the Pacific.
Course of the river, simplified. Map data from Natural Earth (public domain).
Weather at the Eel River (National Weather Service) ↗
River facts
| Length | About 196 miles |
|---|---|
| Source | Bald Mountain, Mendocino National Forest, Mendocino County, California |
| Mouth | Pacific Ocean in Humboldt County, below Fortuna |
| State | California |
Scott Dam (Lake Pillsbury) and Cape Horn Dam (Van Arsdale Reservoir) form the Potter Valley Project, which PG&E has applied to remove.
Boat ramps, launches and bait shops
Detailed ramp, bait shop and lock-and-dam listings for the Eel River are coming soon. Until then, these searches open Google Maps along the river:
Fishing regulations
Check the state agency for river-specific rules, seasons and limits before you fish:
- California: California Department of Fish and Wildlife ↗
Facts from Eel River (Wikipedia) ↗