New River (Trinity River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New River |
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 Location of the New River In California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Salmon Mountains Shasta-Trinity National Forest 2,014 ft (614 m) 41°01′46″N 123°20′56″W / 41.02944°N 123.34889°W |
| River mouth | Trinity River near Burnt Ranch 692 ft (211 m) 40°50′45″N 123°28′48″W / 40.84583°N 123.48000°W |
| Length | 21.4 mi (34.4 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 225 sq mi (580 km2) |
The New River is a 21.4-mile-long (34.4 km) river in northern California. It flows into the Trinity River. People from the Tsnungwe and Hupa tribes call it yiduq' nilin. The Karuk people call it akráah kumásaamvaroo.
Miners gave the river its name during the California Gold Rush in the early 1850s. They were looking for gold west of their old digging spots. They called it "New River" because it was a fresh, "new" place to search for gold.
Where the New River Flows
The New River starts high up in the Salmon Mountains. It begins where two smaller streams, Virgin Creek and Slide Creek, meet. This area is part of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
First, the river flows south. Then, it meets the East Fork New River and turns southwest. It picks up more water from Quimby Creek. The river then flows past Denny, which is one of the small towns started by Gold Rush miners.
After that, it turns south when it meets China Creek. It then joins with Big Creek near Hoboken. From there, it flows southwest to meet the Trinity River. This meeting point is about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) north of Burnt Ranch.
The New River drains an area of about 225 square miles (580 km2). This area is full of rugged mountains and thick forests. Almost 70 percent of the land around the river is part of the Trinity Alps Wilderness. This is a very wild and protected natural area.
History of the New River
The New River area has a long and interesting history with Native American people. The Tsnungwe people, including the tł'oh-mitah-xwe group, lived here.
Other tribes also visited the area. The Chimariko people came seasonally to hunt. The New River Shasta and Konomihu people visited from the other side of the Salmon River divide. These groups used the river and its lands for many years before the miners arrived.
Fun on the New River
The New River is a popular spot for adventure sports like kayaking and rafting. It has different types of rapids, from easy ones (Class I) to very challenging ones (almost Class V). The water flow can range from 400 to over 1000 cubic feet per second. Because of the tough rapids, it's mostly used by experienced kayakers and rafters.
In 1980, the entire main part of the river was named a National Wild and Scenic River. This means it's protected for its natural beauty and special qualities.
Most of the land around the New River is remote and isolated. This means it's far from cities and towns. Only a few small communities are along the river. Because it's so remote, not many people visit this beautiful backcountry area.
