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This is a list of rivers in the U.S. state of California, grouped by region. Major lakes and reservoirs, if applicable, are indicated in italics.

North Coast (north of Humboldt Bay)

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 (jump to tributaries)
- 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 (jump to tributaries)
- 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
    - Alder 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
- Lindsay Creek
- North Fork Mad River
- Canon Creek
- Maple Creek
- Boulder Creek
- Black Creek
- Pilot Creek

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.^[1]^[2]

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)

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)
- North Fork Eel River
- Middle Fork Eel River
- 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
- Ackerman Creek

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). The Central Valley watershed feeding into Suisun Bay via the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta is excluded; see the following section for the Sacramento and San Joaquin river systems.

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

San Pablo Bay (north of Carquinez Strait)

Suisun Bay

Clockwise

Suisun Slough
- Cordelia Slough
- Suisun Creek
Montezuma Slough
Sacramento River (jump to tributaries)
San Joaquin River (jump to tributaries)
Kirker Creek
Hastings Slough
- Seal Creek
  - Mount Diablo Creek
Pacheco Creek
Alhambra Creek

San Pablo Bay (south of Carquinez Strait) and San Francisco Bay

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

Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta

The Sacramento and San Joaquin River systems drain the western slope of the Sierra Nevada and most of the Central Valley, forming the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta before emptying into Suisun Bay; together, they are the largest river system in California.

Sacramento River

Sacramento River
- Cache Slough
  - Steamboat Slough (splits from the Sacramento River upstream near Courtland)
  - Elkhorn Slough
  - Miner Slough
  - Sacramento Deep Water Ship Channel (splits from the Sacramento River upstream at the Port of Sacramento)
  - Prospect Slough
    - Dickson Creek
  - Lindsey Slough
  - Shag Slough
  - Yolo Bypass (jump to tributaries) – manmade floodway, occasionally receiving floodwaters from the Sacramento River via Fremont Weir near Knights Landing.
  - Alamo Creek
  - Ulatis Creek
- American River (jump to tributaries)
- Dry Creek
- Feather River (jump to tributaries)
- Colusa Basin Drainage Canal
  - Sand Creek
  - Cortina Creek
  - Salt Creek
  - Stone Corral Creek
  - Funks Creek
  - Hunter Creek
  - Willow Creek
- Butte Creek
  - Angel Slough
    - Little Chico Creek
  - Little Dry Creek
  - Little Butte Creek
  - West Branch Butte Creek
- Stony Creek
  - Black Butte Dam and Black Butte Lake
  - North Fork Stony Creek
  - Grindstone Creek
  - Elk Creek
  - Briscoe Creek
  - Little Stony Creek
  - North Fork Stony Creek
  - Middle Fork Stony Creek
  - South Fork Stony Creek
- Big Chico Creek
  - Mud Creek
    - Rock Creek
- Burch Creek
- Jewett Creek
- Deer Creek
- Thomes Creek
  - Mill Creek
  - Fish Creek
- Mill Creek
  - Little Mill Creek
- Elder Creek
- Willow Creek
  - Oat Creek
- Dye Creek
- Antelope Creek
  - Little Antelope Creek
- Red Bank Creek
- Reeds Creek
- Dibble Creek
- Payne's Creek
- Battle Creek
  - North Fork Battle Creek
  - South Fork Battle Creek
- Cottonwood Creek
  - Hooker Creek
  - South Fork Cottonwood Creek
    - Dry Creek
      - Salt Creek
    - Cold Fork Cottonwood Creek
    - Buck Creek
  - Dry Creek
  - North Fork Cottonwood Creek
    - Roaring River
      - Wilson Creek
    - Jerusalem Creek
    - Moon Fork Cottonwood Creek
  - Middle Fork Cottonwood Creek
    - Beegum Creek
      - South Fork Beegum Creek
- Ash Creek
- Bear Creek
- Cow Creek
  - Little Cow Creek
    - Swede Creek
    - Dry Creek
    - Cedar Creek
  - Oak Run Creek
  - Clover Creek
  - Old Cow Creek
    - Glendenning Creek
  - South Cow Creek
- Clear Creek
  - South Fork Clear Creek
  - Whiskeytown Dam, Whiskeytown Lake
  - Crystal Creek
  - East Fork Clear Creek
- Rock Creek
- Keswick Dam, Keswick Reservoir
- Spring Creek
  - Spring Creek
  - Slickrock Creek
  - Boulder Creek
- Flat Creek
- Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake
- Backbone Creek
- Pit River (jump to tributaries)
- Salt Creek
- Castle Creek
- Soda Creek
- North Fork Sacramento River
- Middle Fork Sacramento River
- South Fork Sacramento River

Yolo Bypass

Yolo Bypass
- Putah Creek
  - Big Canyon Creek
  - Pleasant Creek
  - Monticello Dam, Lake Berryessa
  - Capell Creek
  - Pope Creek
  - Eticuera Creek
  - Hunting Creek
  - St Helena Creek
- Willow Slough
- Cache Creek
  - Bear Creek
    - Sulphur Creek
  - Rocky Creek
  - North Fork of Cache Creek
    - Long Valley Creek
    - Wolf Creek
    - Indian Valley Dam, Indian Valley Reservoir
    - Bartlett Creek
  - Clear Lake (inflow streams listed clockwise starting at outlet)
    - Kelsey Creek
    - Adobe Creek
    - Forbes Creek
    - Rodman Slough
      - Scotts Creek
      - Middle Creek
        Clover Creek

American River

American River
- Folsom Dam, Folsom Lake
- North Fork American River
  - Middle Fork American River
    - Canyon Creek
    - Otter Creek
    - North Fork of the Middle Fork American River
      - El Dorado Canyon
      - Peavine Creek
      - Grouse Creek
      - Secret Canyon
    - Rubicon River
      - Long Canyon
      - Pilot Creek
      - South Fork Rubicon River
        Gerle Creek
      - Hell Hole Dam, Hell Hole Reservoir
      - Five Lakes Creek
    - Duncan Canyon
    - French Meadows Dam, French Meadows Reservoir
  - Clipper Creek
  - Owl Creek
  - Bunch Canyon
  - Shirttail Canyon
  - Indian Creek
  - Canyon Creek
  - North Fork of North Fork American River
    - East Fork of North Fork of North Fork American River
  - Big Granite Creek
- South Fork American River
  - Weber Creek
  - Greenwood Creek
  - Dutch Creek
  - Rock Creek
  - Slab Creek
  - Silver Creek
    - South Fork Silver Creek
    - Little Silver Creek
    - Union Valley Dam, Union Valley Reservoir
    - Jones Fork
    - Bassi Fork
  - Alder Creek
  - Silver Fork American River
    - Caples Creek
  - Pyramid Creek

Feather River

Feather River
- Sutter Bypass - manmade floodway, occasionally receives floodwaters from the Sacramento River upstream and Butte Creek
- Bear River
  - Algodon Slough
    - Best Slough
    - Hutchinson Creek
    - Feeds Creek
  - Dry Creek
  - Camp Far West Dam, Camp Far West Reservoir
  - Rock Creek
  - Wolf Creek
  - Rollins Dam, Rollins Reservoir
  - Greenhorn Creek
  - Steephollow Creek
- Yuba River (jump to tributaries)
- Honcut Creek
  - North Honcut Creek
  - South Honcut Creek
- Oroville Dam and Lake Oroville
- North Fork Feather River
  - Canyon Creek
  - West Branch Feather River
    - Concow Creek
    - Little West Fork Feather River
    - Big Kimshew Creek
    - Last Chance Creek
  - French Creek
  - Grizzly Creek
  - Bucks Creek
  - Chips Creek
  - Yellow Creek
  - East Branch North Fork Feather River
    - Rush Creek
    - Indian Creek
      - Wolf Creek
      - Lights Creek
      - Little Grizzly Creek
      - Last Chance Creek
        Red Clover Creek
        Dixie Creek
        
        Squaw Queen Creek
      - Boulder Creek
    - Spanish Creek
      - Greenhorn Creek
      - Rock Creek
- Middle Fork Feather River
  - South Fork Feather River
    - Sucker Run
    - Lost Creek
    - Little Grass Valley Dam, Little Grass Valley Reservoir
  - Fall River
  - Little North Fork Feather River
  - South Branch Middle Fork Feather River
  - Willow Creek
  - Bear Creek
  - Onion Valley Creek
  - Nelson Creek
  - Jamison Creek
  - Grizzly Creek
  - Sierra Valley Channels
    - Smithneck Creek
    - Little Last Chance Creek

Yuba River

Yuba River
- Dry Creek
- Deer Creek
  - Squirrel Creek
- Englebright Dam, Englebright Lake
- South Yuba River
  - Rush Creek
  - Rock Creek
  - Spring Creek
  - Humbug Creek
  - Poorman Creek
  - Canyon Creek
  - Lake Spaulding Dam, Lake Spaulding
  - Fordyce Creek
    - North Creek
  - Rattlesnake Creek
  - Castle Creek
- Middle Yuba River
  - Oregon Creek
  - Kanaka Creek
  - Wolf Creek
  - East Fork Creek
  - Jackson Meadows Dam, Jackson Meadows Reservoir
- North Yuba River
  - New Bullards Bar Dam, New Bullards Bar Reservoir
  - Slate Creek
  - Canyon Creek
    - Little Canyon Creek
  - Goodyears Creek
  - Downie River
    - Pauley Creek
      - Lavezzola Creek
  - Haypress Creek
  - Salmon Creek

Pit River

Pit River
- McCloud River
  - Nosoni Creek
  - Chatterdown Creek
  - Squaw Valley Creek
  - Claiborne Creek
  - Hawkins Creek
  - Star City Creek
  - Angel Creek
  - Mud Creek
  - Ash Creek
    - Edson Creek
- Squaw Creek
  - Salt Creek
  - North Fork Squaw Creek
- Potem Creek
- Roaring Creek
- Iron Canyon Creek
- Kosk Creek
- Nelson Creek
- Rock Creek
- Clark Creek
- Burney Creek
- Hat Creek
  - Rising River
  - Lost Creek
- Fall River
  - Tule River
    - Little Tule River
  - Bear Creek
- Beaver Creek
- Horse Creek
- Ash Creek
  - Willow Creek
  - Dutch Flat Creek
- Taylor Creek
- Turner Creek
- Toms Creek
- Clover Swale Creek
- Canyon Creek
- Rattlesnake Creek
- North Fork Pit River
  - Pine Creek
  - Parker Creek
  - Thoms Creek
  - Joseph Creek
  - Goose Lake (historical)
- South Fork Pit River
  - Fitzhugh Creek
  - Dry Creek
  - Cedar Creek
  - Mill Creek
  - East Creek

San Joaquin River

San Joaquin River
- Marsh Creek
- Mokelumne River (jump to tributaries)
- Old River (side channel of San Joaquin River)
- Middle River (side channel of San Joaquin River)
- Bear Creek
- Calaveras River (jump to tributaries)
- Mormon Slough (distributary of Calaveras River)
- French Camp Slough
  - Littlejohns Creek
    - Rock Creek
  - Lone Tree Creek
- Corral Hollow Creek (historical)
- Stanislaus River (jump to tributaries)
- Hospital Creek
- Ingram Creek
- Tuolumne River (jump to tributaries)
- Del Puerto Creek
- Salado Creek
- Orestimba Creek
  - Crow Creek
- Merced River (jump to tributaries)
- Mud Slough
  - Los Banos Creek
    - Garzas Creek
    - San Luis Creek
- Bear Creek
  - Deep Slough
    - Owens Creek
    - Mariposa Creek
      - Deadman Creek
- Mariposa Slough
- Eastside Bypass (man-made floodway, occasionally receiving floodwater from the upstream San Joaquin River via Chowchilla Bypass Structure, near Mendota)
  - Chowchilla River
  - Fresno River
    - Dry Creek
- Fresno Slough (also carries floodwaters diverted from the Kings River via North Fork distributary)
- Friant Dam, Millerton Lake
- Fine Gold Creek
- Willow Creek
- Stevenson Creek
  - Shaver Lake
- Big Creek
  - Huntington Lake
- Rock Creek
- Mammoth Pool Dam, Mammoth Pool Reservoir
- Kaiser Creek
- Jackass Creek
- South Fork San Joaquin River
  - Mono Creek
    - Vermilion Valley Dam, Lake Thomas A. Edison
  - Bear Creek
  - Florence Lake Dam, Florence Lake
  - Piute Creek
  - Evolution Creek
- Granite Creek
- North Fork San Joaquin River
- Middle Fork San Joaquin River
  - Fish Creek
  - Minaret Creek
  - Thousand Island Lake (San Joaquin River source)

Mokelumne River

Mokelumne River
- Snodgrass Slough
- Cosumnes River
  - Skunk Creek
  - Badger Creek
  - Deer Creek
  - Arkansas Creek
  - Little Indian Creek
  - Big Canyon Creek
  - Big Indian Creek
  - North Fork Cosumnes River
    - Camp Creek
      - Sly Park Creek
    - Steely Fork Cosumnes River
  - Middle Fork Cosumnes River
    - Scott Creek
    - Dogtown Creek
- Dry Creek
  - Coyote Creek
  - Jackson Creek
  - Sutter Creek
  - Rancheria Creek
  - North Fork Dry Creek
  - South Fork Dry Creek
- Camanche Dam, Camanche Lake
- Pardee Dam, Pardee Reservoir
- North Fork Mokelumne River
  - Tiger Creek
  - Blue Creek
  - Bear River
  - Salt Springs Dam, Salt Springs Reservoir
  - Summit City Creek
  - Pacific Creek
- Middle Fork Mokelumne River
  - South Fork Mokelumne River
    - Licking Fork
  - Forest Creek

Note: In the Delta the Mokelumne River divides into two short branches, also called the "North Fork" and "South Fork", which recombine before reaching the San Joaquin River.

Calaveras River

Calaveras River
- New Hogan Dam, New Hogan Lake
- North Fork Calaveras River
  - Murray Creek
  - Jesus Maria Creek
  - Esperanza Creek
- South Fork Calaveras River
  - Calaveritas Creek
  - San Antonio Creek
  - San Domingo Creek
  - Cherokee Creek

Tulare Basin

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. Streams are listed clockwise around the Tulare Basin, starting at the Kings River:

Kings River (jump to tributaries)
Sand Creek
Cross Creek
- Mill Creek
  - Kaweah River (jump to tributaries)
- Elbow Creek
  - St. John's River (distributary of Kaweah River)
- Cottonwood Creek
Lewis Creek
Tule River (jump to tributaries)
Deer Creek
- Pothole Creek
- Gordon Creek
- Tyler Creek
White River
- Coarse Gold Creek
- Arrastre Creek
- Chalaney Creek
Rag Gulch
- Five Dog Creek
- Willow Springs Creek
Deer Creek
Poso Creek
- Little Creek
- Rattlesnake Creek
- Little Poso Creek
- Cedar Creek
  - Lumreau Creek
- Von Hellum Creek
- Spear Creek
Kern River (jump to tributaries)
Caliente Creek
- Walker Basin Creek
  - Rancheria Creek
- Tehachapi Creek
- Indian Creek
Tejon Creek
El Paso Creek
Pastoria Creek
Grapevine Creek
Tecuya Creek
Salt Creek
Pleito Creek
San Emigdio Creek
Los Lobos Creek
Santiago Creek
Bitter Creek
Bitterwater Creek
Sandy Creek
Buena Vista Creek
Salt Creek
Chico Creek
Santos Creek
Media Agua Creek
Bitterwater Creek
Avenal Creek
Baby King Creek
Canoas Creek
Los Gatos Creek
- Zapato Chino Creek

Kings River

Kings River (Divides into the North Fork, South Fork and Clark's Fork distributaries in the San Joaquin Valley, not to be confused with the North and South Forks in the Sierra Nevada headwaters. North Fork 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.)
- 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
  - Wishon Dam, Wishon Reservoir
  - Woodchuck Creek
  - Short Hair Creek
  - Sharp Creek
  - Helms Creek
    - Courtright Dam, Courtright Reservoir
    - 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
    - South Fork Woods Creek
  - Arrow Creek
  - Kid Creek

Kaweah River

Kaweah River (Divides into the St. John's River, Mill Creek, Packwood Creek and other distributaries in the San Joaquin Valley. Some of these distributaries eventually rejoin to form Cross Creek, which continues southwest to the Tulare Lake bed.)

Tule River

Tule River
- Deep Creek
  - Elk Bayou
- Success Dam, Lake Success
- South Fork Tule River
  - Rocky Creek
  - Bear Creek
- North Fork Tule River
  - Bear Creek
  - Backbone Creek
  - Pine Creek
- Middle Fork Tule River
  - North Fork Middle Fork Tule River
    - Alder Creek
  - South Fork Middle Fork Tule River

Kern River

Kern River

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.

Pajaro River

Pajaro River

Salinas River

Salinas River
- Gabilan Creek
- Chualar Creek
- Arroyo Seco
  - Reliz Creek
  - Vaqueros Creek
  - Santa Lucia Creek
  - Tassajara Creek
  - Lost Valley Creek
- Chalone Creek
  - Topo Creek
- Monroe Creek
- San Lorenzo Creek
  - Lewis Creek
- Pine Creek
- Pancho Rico Creek
- Sargent Creek
- San Antonio River
  - San Antonio Dam, San Antonio Lake
  - Jolon Creek
  - Mission Creek
  - North Fork San Antonio River
- Nacimiento River
  - Nacimiento Dam, Lake Nacimiento
  - Las Tablas Creek
  - Little Burnett Creek
  - Los Bueyes Creek
  - Gabilan Creek
  - Stony Creek
  - San Miguel Creek
  - Negro Fork
- Big Sandy Creek
- Estrella River
  - Huerhuero Creek
  - Cholame Creek
    - Little Cholame Creek
  - San Juan Creek
- Paso Robles Creek
- Atascadero Creek
- Santa Margarita Creek
- Rinconadas Creek
- Pilitas Creek
- Salinas Dam, Santa Margarita Lake
- Alamo Creek
- Toro Creek
- Pozo Creek

Santa Maria River

Santa Maria River
- Nipomo Creek
- Orcutt Creek
- Cuyama River
  - Twitchell Dam, Twitchell Reservoir
  - Huasna River
    - Huasna Creek
    - Arroyo Seco
    - Stony Creek
    - Trout Creek
  - Alamo Creek
    - Jollo Creek
  - Aliso Creek
  - Santa Barbara Canyon
  - Quatal Canyon
  - Apache Canyon
  - Alamo Creek
- Sisquoc River
  - Tepusquet Creek
  - La Brea Creek
    - North Fork La Brea Creek
    - South Fork La Brea Creek
  - Manzana Creek
  - Water Canyon
  - Abel Canyon
  - South Fork Sisquoc River

Santa Ynez River

Santa Ynez River
- Salsipuedes Creek
  - El Jaro Creek
- Zaca Creek
- Nojoqui Creek
- Alisal Creek
- Alamo Pintado Creek
- Calabazal Creek
- Santa Agueda Creek
- Bradbury Dam, Lake Cachuma
- Cachuma Creek
- Santa Cruz Creek
- Mono Creek
  - Indian Creek
- Agua Caliente Creek
- Juncal Creek

South Coast

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

Point Arguello to Santa Monica

Santa Clara River

Santa Clara River
- Santa Paula Creek
  - Sisar Creek
- Boulder Creek
- Sespe Creek
  - Little Sespe Creek
  - Tar Creek
  - West Fork Sespe Creek
  - Alder Creek
  - Park Creek
  - Timber Creek
  - Trout Creek
  - Piedra Blanca Creek
  - Rose Valley Creek
  - Rock Creek
  - Potrero John Creek
  - Munson Creek
  - Cherry Creek
  - Adobe Creek
  - Abadi Creek
- Hopper Canyon Creek
- Piru Creek
  - Santa Felicia Dam, Lake Piru
  - Devil Canyon
  - Canton Canyon
  - Agua Blanca Creek
  - Fish Creek
  - Pyramid Dam, Pyramid Lake
  - Gorman Creek
  - Buck Creek
  - Snowy Creek
  - Smith Fork
  - Dry Creek
  - Lockwood Creek
  - Mutau Creek
    - Alamo Creek
    - Little Mutau Creek
  - Sheep Creek
  - Cedar Creek
- Castaic Creek
  - Charlie Canyon
  - Violin Canyon
  - Castaic Dam, Castaic Lake
  - Elizabeth Lake Canyon
    - Pine Canyon
  - Fish Canyon
  - Salt Creek
- Bouquet Canyon
- South Fork Santa Clara River
  - Placerita Creek
  - Newhall Creek
- Mint Canyon
- Agua Dulce Canyon
- Mill Canyon
- Acton Canyon
- Aliso Canyon
- Kentucky Springs Canyon

Ventura River

Ventura River
- Manuel Canyon
- Cañada Larga
- Cañada de Alisos
- Coyote Creek
- Matilija Creek
- North Fork Matilija Creek (This and Matilija Creek form the Ventura River's headwaters.)

Santa Monica to San Clemente

Los Angeles River

Los Angeles River

San Gabriel River

San Gabriel River

Santa Ana River

Santa Ana River

San Clemente to Mexican border

San Mateo 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 (jump to tributaries)
San Luis Rey River (jump to tributaries)
Loma Alta Creek
Buena Vista Lagoon
- Buena Vista Creek
Agua Hedionda Lagoon
- Agua Hedionda Creek
  - Buena Creek (San Diego)
  - Escondido Creek
San Dieguito River (jump to tributaries)
San Diego River (jump to tributaries) - 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)
San Diego Bay outlet (jump to tributaries)
Tijuana River

Santa Margarita River

Santa Margarita River

San Luis Rey River

San Luis Rey River
- West Fork San Luis Rey River

San Dieguito River

San Dieguito River
- Santa Maria Creek (San Diego)
- Santa Ysabel Creek
  - Temescal Creek (San Diego)

San Diego River

San Diego River

San Diego Bay

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

Gulf of California

Rivers that empty into the Gulf of California:

Colorado River

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
- North Fork Whitewater River
- Middle Fork Whitewater River
- South Fork Whitewater River
- San Gorgonio River
  - Portrero Creek
  - Smith Creek
    - Montgomery Creek
  - Hathaway Creek
  - Twin Pines Creek
    - Brown Creek
  - One Horse Creek
  - Snow Creek
    - West Fork Snow Creek
      - East Branch Snow Creek
    - East Fork Snow Creek
    - Falls Creek
- Garnet Wash
  - Super Creek
- Mission Creek
  - North Fork Mission Creek
  - South Form Mission Creek
  - West Fork Mission Creek
- Morongo Wash
  - Dry Morongo Wash
    - Dry Morongo Creek
  - Big Morongo Wash
  - Little Morongo Wash
- Chino Canyon Wash
- Palm Canyon Wash
  - Tahquitz Creek
    - Tahquitz Falls
- Cathedral Canyon Wash
- Deep Canyon Stormwater Channel
  - Dead Indian Creek
    - Grape Vine Creek
    - Ebbens Creek
    - Carrizo Creek
    - Cat Creek
    - Ramon Creek
  - Deep Canyon Creek
    - Sheep Creek
    - Coyote Creek
- Thousand Palm Canyon Wash
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
- Borrego Sink Wash
New River
- Coyote Wash
- Pinto Wash
Alamo River

Great Basin

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

Tule Lake

Lost River
- Rock Creek
- Clear Lake Reservoir
- Willow Creek
  - North Fork Willow Creek
  - Boles Creek
    - Fletcher Creek

Honey Lake

Susan River
- Willow Creek
  - Petes Creek
  - Balls Canyon
    - Snowstorm Creek
    - Secret Creek
- Piute Creek
- Willard Creek
Skedaddle Creek
Long Valley Creek
- Dry Valley Creek
Baxter Creek

Pyramid Lake (in Nevada)

Truckee River
- Little Truckee River
- Martis Creek
- Prosser Creek
- Trout Creek
- Cold Creek
- Lake Tahoe (tributaries clockwise from Lower Truckee River)

Carson Sink (in Nevada)

Carson River (in Nevada)
- East Fork Carson River
  - Markleeville Creek
    - Hot Springs Creek
    - Pleasant Valley Creek
  - Monitor Creek
  - Silver Creek
  - Wolf Creek
  - Silver King Creek
- West Fork Carson River
  - Willow Creek
  - Red Lake Creek

Walker Lake (in Nevada)

Walker River (in Nevada)
- East Walker River
  - Buckeye Creek
    - Swauger Creek
  - Robinson Creek
  - Green Creek
- West Walker River
  - Mill Creek
    - Lost Cannon Creek
  - Deep Creek
  - Little Walker River
    - Hot Creek
    - Molybdenite Creek
  - Silver Creek
  - Wolf Creek
  - Leavitt Creek
  - West Fork West Walker River

Mono Lake

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

Owens Lake

Owens River

Death Valley

Streams terminating in the Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park.

Salt Creek
- Furnace Creek Wash
- Emigrant Wash
- Death Valley Wash
Amargosa River
- Wingate Wash
- Salt Creek (may carry overflow from the Mojave River basin in extremely wet years)
- Rock Valley Wash
- Fortymile Wash

Antelope Valley-Fremont Valley watersheds

Streams terminating in various dry lakes in the Antelope Valley and Fremont Valley (Koehn Lake, Rosamond Lake, Rogers Dry Lake and others), draining from the southeastern Tehachapi Mountains and northern San Gabriel Mountains, listed counterclockwise starting from north:

Cottonwood Creek
Cache Creek
- Sand Creek
Oak Creek
Cottonwood Creek
Pescado Creek
Los Alamos Creek
Amargosa Creek
- Pine Creek
Anaverde Creek
Little Rock Creek
- South Fork Little Rock Creek
Big Rock Creek
- Pallett Creek
- Sandrock Creek
- South Fork Big Rock Creek
Mescal Creek
Le Montaine Creek

Soda Lake (Mojave River drainage)

References

^ Klamath Resource Information System (KRIS), KRIS Humboldt Bay, URL retrieved November 11, 2007
^ Humboldt Bay Harbor District, Wetlands, Streams, Riparian Areas, and Watershed Areas, URL retrieved November 12, 2007 Archived November 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine