RAFTWEB: Mission Creek, San Francisco County, State of California: USA

Mission Creek to SFBay

Stretch:	I280 to San Francisco Bay
Difficulty:	Class I
Distance:	1+ mile of class I, one or more hours
Flows:	kayaks low to high tide, high tide must go through southern bridge supports
Gauge:	flow measured near confluence (No gauge) or (-)
Gradient:	0 fpm for class I
Put-in:	6th & Berry, new boat launch built for 2007 All Star Game Inflatable / Kayak Launching Around AT&T Park Just click on one of the blue placemarks on the map to get a full description of a put-in/take-out spot.
Take-out:	Boat Club, 515 Terry Francois, San Francisco, CA
Access:	South Beach Harbor, near City Kayak
Shuttle:	2 miles by car, no public shuttle available other than taxi
Maps:	San Francisco, California
Season:	Year round, or mainly Baseball (April through Orange October)
Agency:	San Francisco Port Authority, SFPD, SFFD, US Coast Guard
Photos:	RAFTWEB:: Mission Creek, McCovey Cove Archive
Notes:	© 2003-2010 RAFTWEB, www.raft.org, raft.ws, raft-ik.com, Martin Wong RAFTWEB

Mission Creek makes a great float if you're sitting around and want to party or catch a Giants game. This creek run has special hazards unique to this waterway, perhaps only the Allegheny R. near Pittsburg's ballpark is close to this.

Unique Hazards

During SFGiants Games or Batting Practice:

MLB Official Balls may be hit out into Mission Creek beyond the ballpark's right field, even the foul zone beyond 1st base.
Batting Practice is even more likely when MLB Official Balls, Training Balls, and Practice Balls may be hit out of the park and into Mission Creek.
Special Warning during LA Dodgers Games, boaters should not wear anything Dodger Blue or you may find beer bottles, fruit (especially lemons and oranges), and souvenir baseballs or skunk balls thrown at you.

SFPD Marine Rules

SFPD presence is fairly minimal, they are not out for most regular season games and are more likely to be visible for day games. During special games like NLDS, NLCS, World Series, All Star Game they may be much more stringent about enforcing special maritime rules around the ballpark and controlling access to the McCovey Cove area. Regular games the rules are usually lax, but the more significant the game or turnout in the cove will bring out SFPD Marine units and stricter enforcement.

No put-in or take-out along the shores of McCovey Cove
Boaters may be restricted from going underneath the portwalk
Stay away from the ferries and ferry docks, do not go underneath ferries
Boaters may be required to carry:
Carry flotation device or PFD
No motorized boats between buoyed area and portwalk (even a boat with motor off and out of the water may be considered motorized)
Additional carry requirements after dusk:
- All around lights, flashlights are not considered all around lights
- Siren or blowhorn, but a good whistle will be acceptable
Helmets ok, especially if you don 't pay attention to the game or BP.

Observable Fauna & Flora

Birds: Cormorants, Seagulls, Ducks, Pelicans, Pigeons
Sealife: Harbor Seals, Sea Lions, Stingrays, Jellyfish, Harbor Porpoises(returned in 2010 first time since 1940), Bass, Silver Mackeral, Anchovies

Additional Recommendations

Helmet
Potable Water
Some feel a fishing net can be handy
Food in waterproof container
Thermos for hot drinks

Mission Creek is inundated by bay water so be aware that saltwater is much harsher on boating equipment, especially metallic surfaces and electronics are easily effected. Zippers even with special coatings can carode. Buckles in cam straps can quickly rust and become inoperable. Moisture from seawater seaps into electronics and cause them to work poorly or not at all.

Records in Mission Creek

Largest FishKill: January 17, 2011
Largest Seagull Turnout and Concentration: January 17, 2011
Largest Harbor Seal Turnout and Concentration: January 20, 2011
Largest Crowds: 2010 World Series Game I, 2010 World Series Game II, 2007 All Star Game, 2010 NLCS Game III, 2010 NLCS Game IV, 2010 NLCS Game V, 2010 NLDS Game I, 2010 NLDS Game II
Most Small Boats: 2007 All Star Game, August 7, 2007

History of Mission Creek

First navigable waterway in Northern California to be filled and became a rally point for "Save the Bay", supporters can sometimes be observed in McCovey Cove during Giants games.

Mission Creek was first filled in 1849-1860 period when many sailing vessels were abandoned for the gold fields and 49ers Gold Rush. Later following the 1906 earthquake, much debri was dumped into Mission Creek.

The South Fork Gualala contains the most interesting rapids, a class II+ run starting at Houser Bridge. An undocumented run above that bridge seems 18+ miles of 35 fpm gradient with steep sections exceeding 50 fpm. The first known run starts at Houser Bridge. Fun class II rapids taper off after the first few miles, but there is a currently log-jammed class II+ around mile 8 (see picture). At 9 miles comes a difficult take-out at Stewart's Point road. Or preferably, continue another 5 miles to an easier (more secure) take-out on Annapolis Road just east of Sea Ranch, near the Wheatfield Fork confluence.

The best way of reaching the South Fork from Marin County is to turn off 101 at Petaluma on Bodega Avenue, drive 8 miles to a Y-right onto Petaluma Valley Ford Road, which meets Highway 1 after another 8 miles. Highway 1 is slow, though, for 32 miles. About 9 miles past Fort Ross, just after Salt Point, turn sharp right onto Kruse Ranch Road. After 4 miles on dirt, turn left onto Houser Bridge Road. (On maps it appears that Meyers Grade to Seaview Road would be faster.) The shuttle is easier on the east side, river right, on Tin Barn Road past a Buddhist temple, then left on Stewart's Point Road. To reach Annapolis Road, continue on Stewart's Point Road to highway 1, then drive north to Sea Ranch.

Warning: If you do the run pictured below, I strongly recommend having a dedicated shuttle driver. Vandalism and law-enforcement hassles have been reported at the Stewart's Point Bridge, and to a lesser extent at Houser Bridge.


Entering rapid shortly below put-in bridge	One of the early class II+ rapids from below


One kayak enters rapid as another turns corner	Zach creates extra whitewater near a waterfalls


Beautiful redwood forests line both banks	Final class II+ around mile 8, now logjammed