Maximizing Stoke and Minimizing Getting Rad Deficits in Northern California:

If you lived in the Bay Area and enjoyed kayaking class IV and V rivers of all styles what would be the perfect hit list for a paddling season assuming you were confided to the standard weekend paddling trips?

You should really ask this question on Boof.com to get some good responses from local northern cali boaters. You can check out www.awetstate.com or www.cacreeks.com to get some good write ups on rivers in Cali. Right now the only thing going somewhat close to the bay area is the north fork american unless you want to drive up to the trinity area or beyond. Chamberlain Falls and Giant Gap are good runs to try. The Yuba drainage is classic if it comes in. Really good runs to check out on the South, Middle and North Fork. You can combine the North Fork Yuba with Pauley and Lavezolla. There are some good runs to get on the upper South Fork American. South Silver Creek might come in with the warm weather coming. There is the run below Kyburz on the South Fork American and above that there is Lover's Leap. I've heard Cherry Creek might be accessible this year, and there is also the lower Toulomne if you are looking for class IV and not class V. Also some good runs on the Mokelumne, Kings, Kaweah, Kern, Trinity draingages. All within driving distance if you don't mind driving up to 6 hours each way. Really too many to list. Challenge this year is the bad drought conditions.

From what I know about the SF Bay area, you want to be on the oakland side, preferrably into Sacramento or Folsom to be reasonably close to anything. I have a good friend who lives in the bay area and he leaves a week at a time to boat pretty much anywhere in cali because it is 2.5 to 3hrs min. to good whitewater. That said, sf yuba, golden gate (sf american), south silver, bald rock, devils, cherry creek, sf merced, tuolomne, etc. would all be within 3 to 6 hours.