List of rivers of California facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Map of some major California rivers and lakes

This is a list of rivers in the U.S. state of California, grouped by region.

North Coast (north of Humboldt Bay)

Klamath River watershed

Trinity River

Rivers and streams between the Oregon border and Humboldt Bay that empty into the Pacific Ocean (arranged north to south; tributaries with those entering nearest the sea first). Bold indicates rivers with more detailed lists in following sections.

Smith River

Smith River
- Rowdy Creek
- Mill Creek
- Myrtle Creek
- South Fork Smith River
  - Craigs Creek
  - Coon Creek
  - Rock Creek
  - Gordon Creek
  - Goose Creek
  - Hurdygurdy Creek
  - Jones Creek
  - Buck Creek
  - Quartz Creek
  - Eightmile Creek
  - Harrington Creek
  - Prescott Fork Smith River
- Middle Fork Smith River
  - Patrick Creek
  - Little Jones Creek
  - Monkey Creek
  - Siskiyou Fork Smith River
  - Griffin Creek
  - Knopki Creek
- North Fork Smith River
  - Stony Creek
  - Still Creek
  - Diamond Creek

Klamath River

Klamath River
- Hunter Creek
- Turwar Creek
- Blue Creek
  - West Fork Blue Creek
  - Nikowitz Creek
  - Crescent City Fork Blue Creek
  - East Fork Blue Creek
- Ah Pah Creek
- Tectah Creek
- Pecwan Creek
- Mettah Creek
- Roach Creek
- Tully Creek
- Pine Creek
- Trinity River
- Hopkins Creek
- Copper Creek
  - Indian Creek
- Bluff Creek
  - Fish Creek
  - East Fork Bluff Creek
  - Notice Creek
  - North Fork Bluff Creek
- Slate Creek
- Red Cap Creek
  - North Fork Red Cap Creek
  - Middle Fork Red Cap Creek
- Boise Creek
- Camp Creek
- Pearch Creek
- Salmon River
- Rogers Creek
- Irving Creek
- Rock Creek
- Swillup Creek
- Ukonom Creek
  - McCash Fork
- King Creek
- Independence Creek
- Clear Creek
  - South Fork Clear Creek
  - Fivemile Creek
  - Tenmile Creek
  - Bear Valley Creek
  - Red Hill Creek
  - West Fork Clear Creek
  - Doe Creek
- Oak Flat Creek
- Elk Creek
  - East Fork Elk Creek
  - Doolittle Creek
  - Bear Creek
  - Granite Creek
    - Burney Valley Creek
  - Toms Valley Creek
  - Rainy Valley Creek
- Indian Creek
  - Doolittle Creek
  - East Fork Indian Creek
  - South Fork Indian Creek
    - Twin Valley Fork Indian Creek
  - Mill Creek
  - Granite Creek
  - Green Creek
- China Creek
- Thompson Creek
- Fort Goff Creek
- Portuguese Creek
- Seiad Creek
- Grider Creek
- Walker Creek
- Scott River
  - Mill Creek
  - Kelsey Creek
  - Shackleford Creek
  - Indian Creek
  - Moffett Creek
  - Kidder Creek
  - Etna Creek
  - Sugar Creek
  - East Fork Scott River
  - South Fork Scott River
- Shasta River
  - Yreka Creek
  - Oregon Slough
  - Little Shasta River
  - Willow Creek
  - Parks Creek
  - Whitney Creek
- Cottonwood Creek
- Bogus Creek
- Jenny Creek
- Butte Creek (joins the Klamath in Oregon)
- Lost River (joins the Klamath in Oregon)
  - Rock Creek
  - Willow Creek
  - Mowitz Creek

Trinity River

Trinity River
- Mill Creek
- Tish Tang o Tang Creek
- Horse Linto Creek
- Willow Creek
- South Fork Trinity River
  - Madden Creek
  - Grouse Creek
    - Mosquito Creek
  - Buckeye Creek
  - Hayfork Creek
    - Corral Creek
    - Salt Creek
    - Big Creek
    - Carr Creek
    - East Fork Hayfork Creek
  - Indian Valley Creek
    - Butter Creek
  - Plummer Creek
  - Rattlesnake Creek
  - Smoky Creek
  - Happy Camp Creek
  - East Fork South Fork Trinity River
    - Prospect Creek
  - Shell Mountain Creek
- Sharber Creek
- Quinby Creek
- Hawkins Creek
- New River
  - Bell Creek
  - Big Creek
  - China Creek
  - Panther Creek
  - Quinby Creek
  - Devils Canyon Creek
  - East Fork New River
  - Slide Creek
  - Virgin Creek
- Canadian Creek
- Big French Creek
- Little French Creek
- Price Creek
- Manzanita Creek
- Big Bar Creek
- Sailor Bar Creek
- North Fork Trinity River
  - East Fork North Fork Trinity River
  - Backbone Creek
  - Whites Creek
  - China Creek
  - Rattlesnake Creek
  - Gas Creek
  - Grizzly Creek
- Canyon Creek
  - Big East Fork Canyon Creek
  - Little East Fork Canyon Creek
- Oregon Gulch
- Soldier Creek
- Dutch Creek
- Browns Creek
  - Little Creek
- Reading Creek
- Weaver Creek
  - Little Browns Creek
  - East Weaver Creek
  - West Weaver Creek
- Indian Creek
- Grass Valley Creek
  - Little Grass Valley Creek
- Rush Creek
- Deadwood Creek
- Papoose Creek
- Stuart Fork
  - Hobel Creek
  - Mule Creek
  - Stoney Creek
  - Owens Creek
  - Deep Creek
  - Boulder Creek
  - Deer Creek
- Swift Creek
  - Granite Creek
- East Fork Trinity River
  - Cedar Creek
  - Mumbo Creek
  - Crow Creek
  - Baker Creek
- Coffee Creek
  - Little Boulder Creek
  - Boulder Creek
  - Sugar Pine Creek
  - East Fork Coffee Creek
  - North Fork Coffee Creek
  - Union Creek
  - South Fork Coffee Creek
- Scorpion Creek
- Eagle Creek
- Ramshorn Creek
- Bear Creek
- Tangle Blue Creek
- Scott Mountain Creek
- Little Trinity River
- Sherer Creek
- Picayune Creek
- Cedar Creek
- Bear Creek
- High Camp Creek

Salmon River

Salmon River
- Merrill Creek
- Somes Creek
- Wooley Creek
  - Steinacher Creek
  - Bridge Creek
  - Rock Creek
  - Hancock Creek
  - North Fork Wooley Creek
    - Cuddihy Fork
  - Hell Hole Creek
  - Big Meadows Creek
  - South Fork Wooley Creek
  - Big Elk Fork
- Butler Creek
- Morehouse Creek
- Nordheimer Creek
- Crapo Creek
- North Fork Salmon River
  - Little North Fork Salmon River
  - Russian Creek
  - Right Hand Fork North Fork Salmon River
- South Fork Salmon River
  - Knownothing Creek
  - Methodist Creek
  - Black Bear Creek
  - Plummer Creek
  - St Claire Creek
  - Crawford Creek
  - Cecil Creek
  - East Fork South Fork Salmon River
    - Taylor Creek
  - Rush Creek
  - Little South Fork Salmon River

Redwood Creek

Redwood Creek (Humboldt County)
- Prairie Creek (California)
  - Lost Man Creek
- McArthur Creek
- Tom McDonald Creek
- Bridge Creek
- Copper Creek
- Devils Creek
- Coyote Creek
- Panther Creek
- Garrett Creek
- Lacks Creek
- Minor Creek
- Lupton Creek
- Noisy Creek
- High Prairie Creek
- Minon Creek
- Lake Prairie Creek
- Bradford Creek
- Pardee Creek
- Twin Lakes Creek

Mad River

Mad River
- Maple Creek (California)

Humboldt Bay

Primary streams entering Humboldt Bay are listed north to south beginning north of the entrance to the bay and continuing in a clockwise direction. Tributaries entering nearest the bay are listed first.

For additional detail on Humboldt Bay streams, see Humboldt Bay: Bay tributaries and sloughs.

Jacoby Creek
Eureka Slough
- Freshwater Slough
  - Freshwater Creek
Elk River (California)
Salmon Creek (Northern Humboldt County)

North Coast (south of Humboldt Bay)

Eel River watershed map

Russian River near Duncan's Mills

Rivers and streams between Humboldt Bay and the Golden Gate that empty into the Pacific Ocean (arranged north to south; tributaries with those entering nearest the sea first):

Eel River
- Salt River
- Van Duzen River
  - Yager Creek
- South Fork Eel River (see List of tributaries of the South Fork Eel River for additional detail)
  - Bull Creek
  - East Branch South Fork Eel River
  - Cedar Creek
  - Tenmile Creek
- North Fork Eel River
- Middle Fork Eel River
  - North Fork Middle Fork Eel River
  - Thatcher Creek
  - Black Butte River
  - Rice Fork
- Outlet Creek
Bear River
Mattole River
- North Fork Mattole River
- Upper North Fork Mattole River
Usal Creek
Ten Mile River
Noyo River
Big River
Little River
Albion River
Big Salmon Creek
- Little Salmon Creek
Navarro River
- Rancheria Creek
- Anderson Creek
Garcia River
Gualala River
- Wheatfield Fork
Russian River
- East Fork Russian River

For details of the Sonoma and Marin coasts, see List of watercourses in the San Francisco Bay Area.

San Francisco Bay

Streams that empty into San Francisco Bay or its tributary bays (arranged clockwise, starting at the north side of the Golden Gate; tributaries are listed from those entering nearest the bays to farthest).

For additional detail on Bay Area creeks, see List of watercourses in the San Francisco Bay Area.

San Pablo Bay

Suisun Bay

Pacheco Creek (Contra Costa County)

Sacramento River

Map of Sacramento River

Sacramento River near the mouth

Headwaters of the Feather River

Cache Creek, in the Coast Ranges

Sacramento River:
- Cache Slough
  - - - Miner Slough
  - Lindsey Slough
  - Lookout Slough
  - Ulatis Creek
    - Horse Creek
- Putah Creek
- American River
  - North Fork American River
    - Middle Fork American River
      - North Fork of the Middle Fork American River
      - Rubicon River
        
        Gerle Creek
    - Bunch Creek
    - Shirttail Creek
  - South Fork American River
    - Slab Creek
    - Silver Creek
- Dry Creek
- Cache Creek
  - Forbes Creek
  - North Fork of Cache Creek
  - Bear Creek
    - Sulphur Creek (Passes Wilbur Springs)
- Feather River
  - Bear River
  - Yuba River
    - South Yuba River
      - Canyon Creek
      - Fordyce Creek
    - North Yuba River
      - Slate Creek
      - Canyon Creek
      - Downie River
        
        Pauley Creek
        
        Lavazolla Creek
    - Middle Yuba River
      - Fall River
  - North Fork Feather River
    - West Branch Feather River
      - Big Kimshew Creek
    - East Branch North Fork Feather River
      - Indian Creek
        
        Last Chance Creek
        
        Red Clover Creek
      - Spanish Creek
  - Middle Fork Feather River
    - Fall River
  - South Fork Feather River
- Butte Creek
  - Little Chico Creek
- Stony Creek
  - Grindstone Creek
  - Little Stony Creek
- Big Chico Creek
- Mud Creek
  - Rock Creek
- Burch Creek
- Jewett Creek
- Deer Creek
- Thomes Creek
- Mill Creek
- Elder Creek
- Dye Creek
- Willow Creek
  - Oat Creek
- Antelope Creek
- Red Bank Creek
- Reeds Creek
- Dibble Creek
- Payne's Creek
- Battle Creek
  - North Fork Battle Creek
  - South Fork Battle Creek
- Cottonwood Creek
  - South Fork Cottonwood Creek
    - Salt Creek
    - Cold Fork Cottonwood Creek
  - North Fork Cottonwood Creek
  - Middle Fork Cottonwood Creek
    - Beegum Creek
- Bear Creek
- Cow Creek
  - Little Cow Creek
  - Oak Run Creek
  - Clover Creek
  - Old Cow Creek
  - South Cow Creek
- Clear Creek
- Rock Creek
- Spring Creek
  - Spring Creek
  - Slickrock Creek
  - Boulder Creek
- Flat Creek
- Pit River
  - McCloud River
  - Squaw Creek
  - Burney Creek
  - Hat Creek
  - Fall River

San Joaquin River

San Joaquin River map

The Merced River, a tributary of the San Joaquin River

The San Joaquin River

San Joaquin River:
- Marsh Creek
- Mokelumne River
- Calaveras River
- Corral Hollow Creek historical
- Stanislaus River
  - Black Creek
  - Angels Creek
  - South Fork Stanislaus River
  - Rose Creek
  - Middle Fork Stanislaus River
    - Clark Fork Middle Fork Stanislaus River
  - North Fork Stanislaus River
    - Griswold Creek
    - Beaver Creek
- Hospital Creek
- Ingram Creek
- Tuolumne River
  - Dry Creek
  - Clavey River
  - South Fork Tuolumne River
    - Middle Fork Tuolumne River
      - Cottonwood Creek
  - Cherry Creek
  - Falls Creek
    - Branigan Creek
  - Tiltill Creek
  - Rancheria Creek
    - Breeze Creek
  - Piute Creek
  - Register Creek
  - Ten Lakes Basin Creek
  - Cathedral Creek
    - South Fork Cathedral Creek
  - Conness Creek
    - Alkali Creek
  - Dingley Creek
  - Delaney Creek
  - Budd Creek
  - Unicorn Creek
  - Dana Fork Tuolumne River
    - Gaylor Creek
    - Parker Pass Creek
      - Mono Pass Creek
  - Lyell Fork Tuolumne River
    - Rafferty Creek
      - Evelyn Lake Creek
    - Ireland Creek
    - Kuna Creek
- Del Puerto Creek
- Orestimba Creek
- Merced River
  - Bear Creek
  - Dry Creek
  - North Fork Merced River
  - South Fork Merced River
    - Alder Creek
    - Bishop Creek
      - Elevenmile Creek
        
        Rail Creek
  - Bridalveil Creek
  - Yosemite Creek
  - Tenaya Creek
    - Snow Creek
  - Illilouette Creek
  - Fletcher Creek
    - Lewis Creek
      - Florence Creek
  - Red Peak Fork
    - Red Devil Creek
  - Lyell Fork
    - Hutching Creek
  - Merced Peak Fork
  - Triple Peak Fork
    - Foerster Creek
- Mud Slough
  - Los Banos Creek
    - Garzas Creek
    - San Luis Creek
- Chowchilla River
- Fresno River
- Fresno Slough from North Fork Kings River distributary in time of flood.
- Big Creek
- North Fork San Joaquin River
- Middle Fork San Joaquin River
  - Minaret Creek
- South Fork San Joaquin River

Tulare Basin

Map of the Tulare Lake Basin

Kaweah River in the foothills of the Sierra

Usually an endorheic basin, waters in this region all eventually would reach Tulare Lake. This region would overflow into the San Joaquin River during flood years when Tulare Lake overflowed.

Kings River

Kings River the Kings River divides into North Fork Distributary, South Fork Distributary and Clark's Fork distributaries. North Fork Distributary connects to the Fresno Slough that drains into the San Joaquin River (during high flows), before turning to the south rejoining with the other distributaries to reform the Kings River and emptying into Tulare Lake.
- Los Gatos Creek historically tributary to North Fork Kings River distributary.
- Fish Creek
- Hughes Creek
- Mill Creek
- Pine Flat Dam, Pine Flat Lake
  - Deer Creek
  - Zebe Creek
  - Russian Charlie Creek
  - Lefever Creek
  - Billy Creek
  - Sycamore Creek
  - Big Creek
  - Sacata Creek
  - Redoak Creek
  - Lower Rancheria Creek
  - Sycamore Springs Creek
- North Fork Kings River
  - Dinkey Creek
  - Basin Creek
    - Patterson Creek
  - Weir Creek
  - Black Rock Creek
  - Williams Creek
  - Mule Creek
  - Rancheria Creek
  - Teakettle Creek
  - Long Meadow Creek
  - Wilson Dam, Wilson Reservoir
    - Woodchuck Creek
    - Short Hair Creek
    - Sharp Creek
  - Helms Creek
    - Dusy Creek
  - Post Corral Creek
    - Burnt Corral Creek
  - Flemming Creek
  - Nichols Canyon
  - Meadow Brook
  - Fall Creek
  - Division Lake
  - Regiment Lake
- Davis Creek
  - Mill Flat Creek
- Verplank Creek
- Fox Canyon Creek
- Converse Creek
- Spring Creek
- Cabin Creek
- Garlic Meadow Creek
- Rough Creek
- Ten Mile Creek
- Middle Fork Kings River
  - Deer Canyon Creek
  - Brush Canyon Creek
  - Tombstone Creek
  - Wren Creek
  - Silver Creek
  - Crown Creek
    - Rogers Creek
  - Gorge of Despair
  - Crystal Creek
  - Blue Canyon Creek
  - Lost Canyon Creek
  - Rattlesnake Creek
  - Alpine Creek
  - Dog Creek
  - Kennedy Creek
  - Dougherty Creek
  - Horseshoe Creek
  - Goddard Creek
    - Disappearing Creek
  - Windy Canyon Creek
  - Cartridge Creek
  - Rimbaud Creek
  - Palisade Creek
    - Cataract Creek
    - Glacier Creek
  - Dusy Branch
  - Helen Lake
- South Fork Kings River (This is the actual river that flows through Kings Canyon)
  - Lockwood Creek
  - Redwood Creek
  - Windy Gulch
  - Boulder Creek
  - Grizzly Creek
  - Lightning Creek
  - Deer Cove Creek
  - Lewis Creek
    - Comb Creek
  - Sheep Creek
  - Hotel Creek
  - Roaring River
    - Sugarloaf Creek
      - Ferguson Creek
  - Granite Creek
  - Copper Creek
  - Avalanche Creek
  - Bubbs Creek
    - Sphinx Creek
    - Charlotte Creek
    - Cross Creek
    - North Guard Creek
    - East Creek
  - Glacier Creek
  - Gardiner Creek
  - Woods Creek
    - Woods Creek
  - Arrow Creek
  - Kid Creek

Kaweah River

Kaweah River
- Yokohl Creek
- Lime Kiln Creek (Dry Creek)
- Greasy Creek
- Horse Creek
- South Fork Kaweah River
  - Cinnamon Creek
  - Grouse Creek
- North Fork Kaweah River
  - Yucca Creek
  - Eshom Creek
  - Redwood Creek
  - Dorst Creek
  - Stony Creek
- Salt Creek
- East Fork Kaweah River
  - Squirrel Creek
  - Horse Creek
  - Monarch Creek
  - Eagle Creek
  - Crystal Creek
  - Franklin Creek
- Marble Fork Kaweah River
  - Elk Creek
  - Suwanee Creek
  - Halstead Creek
  - Sherman Creek
  - Wolverton Creek
  - Clover Creek
  - Stillman Creek
  - Horse Creek
- Middle Fork Kaweah River
  - Paradise Creek
  - Crescent Creek
  - Dome Creek
  - Panther Creek
  - Mehrten Creek
  - Castle Creek
  - Buck Creek
  - Cliff Creek
    - Timber Gap Creek
  - Granite Creek
  - Eagle Scout Creek
  - Lone Pine Creek
  - Hamilton Creek
St. Johns River (distributary)

Tule River

Tule River
- South Fork Tule River
- North Fork Tule River
- Middle Fork Tule River
  - North Fork Middle Fork Tule River

Kern River

Kern River
- North Fork Kern River
  - Cannell Creek
  - Salmon Creek
  - Tobias Creek
  - Brush Creek
  - South Creek
  - Dry Meadow Creek
  - Peppermint Creek
  - Durrwood Creek
  - Needlerock Creek
  - Freeman Creek
    - Lloyd Meadows Creek
  - Little Kern River
    - Fish Creek
    - Deep Creek
    - Deep Creek
    - Clicks Creek
    - Sagebrush Gulch
    - Alpine Creek
      - Mountaineer Creek
      - Pecks Canyon Creek
    - Table Meadow Creek
    - Soda Springs Creek
    - Lion Creek
    - Willow Creek
    - Tamrack Creek
    - Rifle Creek
    - Shotgun Creek
      - Pistol Creek
  - Rattlesnake Creek
  - Deadman Canyon Creek
  - Soda Creek
  - Osa Creek
  - Hockett Peak Creek
  - Grouse Canyon Creek
  - Manzanita Canyon Creek
  - Ninemile Creek
    - Cold Meadow Creek
    - Red Rock Creek
    - Long Canyon Creek
      - Long Stringer
      - Lost Trout Creek
  - Hells Hole Creek
  - Angora Creek
  - Hell For Sure Creek
  - Leggett Creek
  - Grasshopper Creek
  - Little Kern Lake Creek
  - Rough Creek
  - Coyote Creek
  - Golden Trout Creek
  - Laurel Creek
  - Rattlesnake Creek
  - Big Arroyo
    - Willow Creek
    - Soda Creek
    - Lost Canyon Creek
  - Funston Creek
  - Chagoopa Creek
  - Rock Creek
    - Siberian Pass Creek
  - Red Spur Creek
  - Whitney Creek
    - Crabtree Creek
  - Wallace Creek
  - Kern-Kaweah River
    - Picket Creek
  - Tyndall Creek
  - Milestone Creek
- South Fork Kern River
  - Kelso Creek
  - Canebrake Creek
  - Bartolas Creek
  - Palome Creek
  - Long Valley Creek
  - Taylor Creek
  - Manter Creek
  - Tibbets Creek
  - Trout Creek
  - Fish Creek
  - Bitter Creek
  - Lost Creek
  - Crag Creek
  - Honeybee Creek
  - Summit Creek
  - Cow Canyon Creek
  - Snake Creek
  - Soda Creek
  - Monache Creek
  - Schaefer Stringer
  - Strawberry Creek
  - Long Stringer
  - Dry Creek
  - Mulkey Creek
  - Movie Stringer
  - Lewis Stringer
  - Kern Peak Stringer

Other

Clockwise around the Tulare Basin starting at the Kings River:

San Francisco Bay (remainder)

Continuing clockwise around San Pablo Bay/San Francisco Bay:

For additional detail on Bay Area creeks, see List of watercourses in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Central Coast

Rivers that empty into the Pacific Ocean between the Golden Gate and Point Arguello, arranged in order from north to south.

For details of the San Mateo coast, see List of watercourses in the San Francisco Bay Area.

San Gregorio Creek
Pescadero Creek
- Butano Creek
  - Little Butano Creek
  - South Fork Butano Creek
  - North Fork Butano Creek
- Honsinger Creek
- Peters Creek
- Fall Creek
- Waterman Creek
San Vicente Creek (Santa Cruz County)
San Lorenzo River
- Carbonera Creek
- Zayante Creek
  - Bean Creek
Pajaro River
- Pacheco Creek
- San Benito River
  - Clear Creek
- Tres Piños Creek
- Salsipuedes Creek
  - Corralitos Creek
Elkhorn Slough
- Carneros Creek
Salinas River
Carmel River
Malpaso Creek
Little Sur River
Big Sur River
- Pfeiffer-Redwood Creek
McWay Creek
Morro Creek
Los Osos Creek
San Luis Obispo Creek
Santa Maria River
- Cuyama River
- Sisquoc River
San Antonio Creek
Santa Ynez River
- Salsipuedes Creek
  - El Jaro Creek

South Coast

Rivers that empty into the Pacific Ocean southeast of Point Arguello, arranged from north to south:

See also List of rivers of Orange County, California and List of tributaries of the Santa Ana River

Santa Barbara County

Goleta Slough
- Carneros Creek
- Atascadero Creek
Montecito Creek
- Cold Springs Creek
  - East Fork Cold Springs Creek
  - West Fork Cold Springs Creek
Oak Creek
San Ysidro Creek
Romero Creek
- Picay Creek
Toro Canyon Creek
- Garapata Creek
- Buell Reservoir Creek
Arroyo Paredon
Santa Monica Creek
- Franklin Creek
Carpinteria Creek
- Gobernador Creek
  - Eldorado Creek
  - Steer Creek
- Carpinteria Reservoir Creek
Rincon Creek
- Casitas Creek
- Sulphur Creek
- Catharina Creek

Ventura County

Los Sauces Creek
Madrianio Creek
Padre Juan Canyon
Ventura River
- Manuel Canyon
- Cañada Larga
- Cañada de Alisos
- Coyote Creek
  - Lake Casitas
    - Laguna Creek
    - Willow Creek
    - Santa Ana Creek
      - Roble-Casitas Canal
    - Poplin Creek
  - Deep Cat Lake
  - East Fork Coyote Creek
  - West Fork Coyote Creek
- Matilija Creek
  - Rattlesnake Creek
  - Lime Creek
  - Murietta Creek
  - Middle Fork Matilija Creek
  - Upper North Fork Matilija Creek
- North Fork Matilija Creek (This and Matilija Creek form the Ventura River's headwaters.)
Santa Clara River
Calleguas Creek

Los Angeles County

Malibu Creek
Ballona Creek
Dominguez Channel
Los Angeles River
- Compton Creek
- Rio Hondo
  - Santa Anita Wash
- Arroyo Seco
- Verdugo Wash
- Burbank Western Channel
- Tujunga Wash
  - Big Tujunga Creek
    - Lucas Creek
    - Mill Creek
    - Alder Creek
  - Little Tujunga Creek
  - Pacoima Wash
- Bull Creek
- Aliso Creek
  - Limekiln Canyon
  - Wilbur Canyon
- Browns Canyon Wash
  - Diablo Canyon Creek
  - Mormon Canyon Creek
- Bell Creek
  - Dayton Creek
  - Woolsey Canyon Creek
- Arroyo Calabasas
  - Dry Creek

Orange County

San Gabriel River
- Coyote Creek
  - Carbon Creek
  - Moody Creek
  - Fullerton Creek
  - La Canada Verde Creek
    - La Mirada Creek
  - Brea Creek
    - San Jose Flood Diversion Channel
    - Tonner Canyon
  - Imperial Creek
- East Fork San Gabriel River
- West Fork San Gabriel River
Santa Ana River
- Greenville-Banning Channel
  - Huntington Beach Channel
- Santiago Creek
  - Handy Creek
  - Irvine Lake(Instream water supply, recreation and flood control reservoir)
    - Limestone Canyon Creek
  - Black Star Canyon Creek
  - Baker Canyon Creek
  - Silverado Canyon
    - Ladd Canyon
    - White Canyon
    - Halfway Canyon
    - Pine Canyon
    - Lost Woman Canyon
    - Spruce Canyon
  - Williams Canyon
    - Spring Canyon
  - Harding Creek
    - Modjeska Creek(Named for and flows from Modjeska Peak)
  - Bear Trap Canyon Creek
- Blue Mud Creek
- Brush Creek
- Aliso Creek
  - Bane Canyon Creek
  - Water Canyon Creek
- Fresno Canyon
- Wardlow Wash
- Chino Creek
  - Mill Creek
    - Etiwanda Creek
    - Cucamonga Creek
    - Deer Creek
      - Day Canyon Wash
      - Calamity Creek
  - San Antonio Creek
    - Stoddard Creek
    - Kerkhoff Creek
    - Bear Creek
    - Icehouse Creek
      - Cedar Creek
- Temescal Creek
  - Oak Avenue Drain
    - Mabey Canyon Wash
    - Hagador Canyon Wash
      - Tin Mine Canyon Creek
  - Arlington Valley Channel
  - Main Street Canyon Wash
    - Eagle Canyon Creek
  - Joseph Canyon
  - Bedford Canyon Wash
  - Cajalco Canyon
  - Olsen Canyon Wash
  - Brown Canyon Wash
    - McBribe Canyon Creek
  - Coldwater Canyon Creek
  - Dawson Canyon Wash
  - Mayhew Canyon Wash
  - Indian Canyon Creek
  - Horsetheif Canyon Wash
    - Cow Canyon Creek
  - Rice Canyon Wash
    - Bishop Canyon Wash
  - Gavilan Wash in Walker Canyon
  - Arroyo Del Toro
  - Wasson Canyon Wash
  - Lake Elsinore
    - McVicker Canyon Wash
    - Leach Canyon Wash
    - San Jacinto River
      - Canyon Lake
        
        Salt Creek
      - Perris Valley Channel
      - Bautista Creek
        
        Indian Creek
      - North Fork San Jacinto River
        
        Logan Creek
        
        Stone Creek
        
        Black Mountain Creek
        
        Fuller Mill Creek
      - South Fork San Jacinto River
        
        Dry Creek
        
        Spillway Creek
        
        Strawberry Creek
        
        Herkey Creek
        
        Fobes Creek
- Riverside Flood Control Channel
- Sunnyslope Channel
- Arroyo Tequesquito
- Warm Creek
  - Lytle Creek
    - Cajon Wash
      - Cable Creek
      - Lone Pine Creek
      - Crowder Creek
    - Grapevine Creek
    - Meyer Creek
    - South Fork Lytle Creek
      - Bonita Creek
    - Middle Fork Lytle Creek
    - North Fork Lytle Creek
      - Coldwater Canyon Creek
      - Paiute Canyon
      - Dog Bone Canyon
  - East Twin Creek
    - Strawberry Creek
  - Sand Creek
- City Creek
  - Bledsoe Gulch
  - Schenk Creek
  - East Fork City Creek
  - West Fork City Creek
- Elder Gulch
- Plunge Creek
  - Oak Creek
  - Fredalba Creek
  - Little Mill Creek
- Mill Creek
  - Spoor Creek
  - Mountain Home Creek
    - Skinner Creek
    - East Fork Mountain Home Creek
  - Glen Martin Creek
  - Frustration Creek
  - Monkeyface Creek
  - Oak Cove Creek
  - Bridal Veil Creek
  - Hatchery Creek
  - Momyer Creek
  - Slide Creek
  - Alger Creek
  - Falls Creek
  - Vivian Creek
  - High Creek
- Morton Creek
- Deep Creek
- Government Creek
- Warm Springs Creek
- Alder Creek
- Keller Creek
  - Monroe Creek
- Crystal Creek
- Breakneck Creek
- Bear Creek
  - North Fork Bear Creek
  - Siberia Creek
  - North Creek
  - Grout Creek
  - Minnelusa Creek
  - Rathbun Creek
  - Sawmill Creek
- Deer Creek
- Mile Creek
- Cienaga Creek
- Barton Creek
- Hamilton Creek
- Converse Creek
- Staircase Creek
- South Fork Santa Ana River
- Lost Creek
- Wildhorse Creek
- Cienaga Seca Creek
- Heart Bar Creek
- Coon Creek

Newport Bay

Newport Bay
- Upper Newport Bay
  - Big Canyon (Newport Bay)
  - Santa Isabel Channel
  - Dehli Canal
  - San Diego Creek
    - Bonita Canyon Creek
      - Bonita Canyon Reservoir
    - Sand Canyon Wash
      - Sand Canyon Reservoir
    - San Joaquin Wash
      - San Joaquin Reservoir
    - Peters Canyon Wash
      - Santa Ana Channel
      - Rattlesnake Canyon Creek
      - Peters Canyon Reservoir
    - Marshburn Channel
    - Bee Canyon Wash
      - Round Canyon
      - Bee Canyon Reservoir
    - Agua Chinon Creek
      - Borrego Canyon
    - Serrano Creek
      - La Cañada Wash
  - Santa Ana-Delhi Channel
  - Big Canyon Creek

South Orange County Coast

Buck Gully
Morning Canyon
Los Trancos Canyon
Reef Point Creek
Muddy Canyon Creek
El Moro Canyon Creek
Emerald Canyon Creek
Boat Canyon Creek
Laguna Canyon
- Willow Canyon Creek
  - Laurel Canyon Wash
- El Toro Creek
- Camarillo Canyon
- See also Laguna Lakes
- Little Sycamore Canyon
Bluebird Canyon Creek
Hobo Canyon
Aliso Creek
- Wood Canyon Creek
  - See also Wood Canyon Emergent Wetland
- Sulphur Creek
  - Narco Channel
  - See also Sulphur Creek Reservoir
  - Niguel Drain
- Dairy Fork
- Aliso Hills Channel
- Munger Creek
- English Canyon Creek
Salt Creek
- San Juan Canyon Creek
- Arroyo Salada Storm Channel
- Sea Canyon Creek
North Creek
San Juan Creek
- Trabuco Creek
  - Oso Creek,includes Lake Mission Viejo and Upper Oso Reservoir
    - La Paz Creek
  - Tijeras Canyon Creek
    - Cañada Chiquita
  - Live Oak Canyon Creek
  - Hickey Canyon Creek
  - Rose Canyon Creek
  - Falls Canyon Creek
  - Holy Jim Creek
- El Horno Creek
- Cañada Chiquita
- Cañada Gobernadora
  - Wagon Wheel Canyon Creek
- Trampas Canyon
- Verdugo Canyon Wash
- Bell Canyon
  - Crow Canyon Creek
  - Dove Canyon Creek
  - Fox Canyon Creek
- Lucas Canyon Creek
  - Aliso Canyon Creek
- Cold Springs Creek
- Hot Springs Creek
  - Outlet stream of San Juan Hot Springs
  - Chiquito Spring Creek
- Lion Canyon Creek
- Bear Canyon Creek
- Morrell Canyon
  - Long Canyon Creek
    - Arroyo El Cariso
  - Decker Canyon
Prima Deshecha Cañada
Segunda Deshecha Cañada

San Diego County

San Mateo Creek
- Cristianitos Creek
  - Talega Creek
  - Gabino Creek
    - La Paz Creek
- Devil Canyon Creek
  - Cold Spring Canyon Creek
- Nickel Creek (San Mateo Creek)
- Bluewater Creek
- Tenaja Creek
- Los Alamos Canyon Creek
  - Wildhorse Canyon Creek
San Onofre Creek
- South Fork, San Onofre Creek
- North Fork, San Onofre Creek
  - Jardine Creek
Foley Creek
Horno Creek
Las Flores Creek
- Piedra de Lumbre Canyon Creek
Aliso Creek (San Diego County)
French Creek (San Diego County)
Cockleburr Creek
Santa Margarita River
- Newton Canyon
- Pueblitos Canyon
- Wood Canyon
- DeLuz Creek
- Sandia Creek
- Rainbow Creek
- Temecula Creek
  - Pechanga Creek
  - Vail Lake Dam, Vail Lake
    - Kolb Creek
      - Arroyo Seco Creek
    - Wilson Creek
  - Long Canyon
  - Cottonwood Creek
  - Tule Creek
  - Chihuahua Creek
  - Rattlesnake Creek
  - Kohler Canyon
- Murrieta Creek
  - Empire Creek
    - Long Canyon
  - Santa Gertrudis Creek
    - Tucalota Creek
      - Rawson Canyon
    - Long Valley Creek
  - Warm Springs Creek
    - French Valley Creek
  - Kalmia Creek
  - unnamed arroyo, runs from Adelaide Peak, Temescal Mountains
  - unnamed arroyo, runs from Summit 2124, Temescal Mountains
  - unnamed arroyo, runs through Oak Springs Ranch, from Summit 2064, Temescal Mountains
  - Miller Canyon Creek
  - unnamed arroyo, runs from Iodine Springs in the Temescal Mountains
  - Cole Canyon Creek
  - Vail Canyon Creek
    - Slaughterhouse Canyon
  - Bundy Canyon
  - unnamed arroyo, runs from the southeast slope of Elsinore Peak
San Luis Rey River
- West Fork San Luis Rey River
Loma Alta Creek
Buena Vista Lagoon
- Buena Vista Creek
Agua Hedionda Lagoon
- Agua Hedionda Creek
  - Buena Creek (San Diego)
  - Escondido Creek
San Dieguito River
- Santa Maria Creek (San Diego)
- Santa Ysabel Creek
  - Temescal Creek (San Diego)
San Diego River (historically drained into San Diego Bay, but modern flood control channel bypasses the north shore of the bay and empties directly to the Pacific Ocean)
- Oak Canyon Creek
- Spring Canyon Creek
- Forester Creek
- Los Coches Creek
- San Vicente Creek
- Wildcat Canyon Creek
- Chocolate Creek
- Conejos Creek
- Sand Creek
- Isham Creek
- Boulder Creek
- Cedar Creek
- Ritchie Creek
- Dye Canyon Creek
- Iron Springs Canyon Creek
- Temescal Creek
- Sentenac Creek
- Coleman Creek
  - Baily Creek
  - Eastwood Creek

San Diego Bay

Tributaries entering San Diego Bay are arranged from North to South:

Chollas Creek
Paradise Creek
Sweetwater River
Otay River

Below San Diego Bay

Tijuana River

Gulf of California

Rivers that empty into the Gulf of California:

Colorado River
- Milpitas Wash
- McCoy Wash
- Gene Wash
- Chemehuevi Wash
- Piute Wash

Carrizo Plain

The Carrizo Plain is a large enclosed valley near the Central Coast which drains into Soda Lake.

Wallace Creek

Salton Sea

Rivers that empty into the Salton Sea:

Salt Creek
- Dos Palmas Creek
- Red Canyon Wash
Box Canyon Wash
Whitewater River
- San Gorgonio River
Barton Canyon Wash
- Alano Canyon Wash
- Sheep Canyon Wash
Travertine Palms Wash
Garner Wash
Wonderstone Wash
Gravel Wash
Big Wash
Grave Wash
Coral Wash
Palm Wash
Anza Ditch
Arroyo Salada
Tule Wash
San Felipe Creek
- Carrizo Creek, Carrizo Wash
  - Barret Canyon
  - Deguynos Canyon
    - Gert Wash
    - Red Rock Canyon (Deguynos Canyon)
  - Vallecito Wash, Vallecito Creek
    - Arroyo Seco del Diablo
    - Arroyo Tapiado
    - Arroyo Hueso
    - Canebreak Wash
      - North Wash
    - June Wash
    - Squaw Canyon Wash
    - Bisnaga Alta Wash
    - Smugglers Canyon
    - Storm Canyon Wash
    - Cottonwood Canyon
    - Box Canyon Wash
    - Oriflamme Canyon
    - Rodriquez Canyon
  - Bow Willow Creek
  - Rockhouse Canyon
  - Goat Canyon
  - Tule Canyon
  - Walker Canyon
- Tarantula Wash
- Fish Creek Wash
- Palo Verde Wash
- Harper Canyon Wash
- Fault Wash
- Third Wash
- Big Wash
- Hills of the Moon Wash
- Rainbow Wash
- Borrego Sink Wash
  - Borrego Sink
    - Culp Canyon Wash
      - Tubb Canyon
    - Borrego Palm Canyon Wash
      - Hellhole Canyon
      - Henderson Canyon
      - Borrego Palm Canyon
    - Coyote Creek
      - Indian Creek
      - Salvadore Canyon Creek
      - Alder Canyon Creek
      - Horse Canyon Creek
      - Tule Canyon Creek
      - Alder Canyon Creek
      - Nance Canyon Creek
- Pinyon Wash
  - Bighorn Wash
  - Nolina Wash
- Mine Wash
- Chuckwalla Wash
- Grapevine Canyon
  - Bitter Creek Canyon
- Banner Creek
New River
- Coyote Wash (California)
  - Palm Canyon Wash (Coyote Wash, California)
  - South Fork Coyote Wash
  - Myer Creek (Coyote Wash)
- Pinto Wash
Alamo River

Great Basin

Rivers in the Great Basin, arranged roughly north to south:

Northeastern California to Walker River

Lost River
Susan River
Long Valley Creek
Truckee River
- Trout Creek (Truckee River)
- Lake Tahoe (clockwise from Lower Truckee River)

- Martis Creek
- Little Truckee River
Carson River
- East Fork Carson River
- West Fork Carson River
Walker River
- East Walker River
- West Walker River
  - Little Walker River

Mono Lake

Rivers draining into saline and endorheic Mono Lake in eastern California, from north and proceeding counterclockwise:

Cottonwood Creek
Rancheria Gulch
Wilson Creek
Mill Creek
- Deer Creek
- South Fork Mill Creek
  - Lake Canyon Creek
Dechambeau Creek
Lee Vining Creek
- Beartrack Creek
- Gibbs Canyon Creek
- Warren Fork
- Mine Creek
  - Glacier Canyon Creek
- Saddlebag Creek
Rush Creek
- Walker Creek
- Parker Creek
- Alger Creek
- Reversed Creek
  - Fern Creek
  - Yost Creek
- Crest Creek
Dry Creek