{"id":13153,"date":"2024-10-03T09:39:37","date_gmt":"2024-10-03T16:39:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/?p=13153"},"modified":"2025-04-07T11:12:40","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T18:12:40","slug":"putting-goodwin-canyon-on-california-rafting-map","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/putting-goodwin-canyon-on-california-rafting-map\/","title":{"rendered":"Putting Goodwin Canyon on the California Rafting Map"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Once the California rafting season rolls into its second half and river guides\u2019 Chaco tan lines become as sharp as their lunchtime vegetable-slicing skills, the riverside chatter starts turning toward Goodwin Canyon. Known for its Disneyland-named rapids and unusual canyon views, Goodwin Canyon is a favorite fall rafting river among guests and guides alike. But what or who is this stretch of Class 4+ whitewater named after? Why is October the best time to raft here? It all has to do with the source and the purpose of the water – irrigation and salmon are at the heart of it. Let\u2019s dive in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goodwin Canyon<\/a> is a section of the Stanislaus River located on the border of California\u2019s Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada foothills. The entire Stanislaus River can be divided into two segments. The upper part, which includes the South, Middle, and North Fork of the Stanislaus, and the Lower Stanislaus beginning below the New Melones Reservoir. We will cover the upper section next spring as we prepare to raft our favorite spring run on the North Fork of the Stanislaus<\/a>. Today, we are focusing on the lower portion of the river.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Lower Stanislaus River between New Melones Lake and the town of Knights Ferry.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Lake Tulloch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Lower Stanislaus River flowing out of New Melones Dam barely has a chance to pick up speed before it again comes to a standstill at Lake Tulloch, a smaller downstream reservoir. The Tulloch Dam was constructed in the 1950s as part of the increasingly complex water storage and delivery system, managed by nearby irrigation districts to serve Central Valley farmers. The reservoir is one of the few in the state with private homes built right along its shores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily for visitors interested in Lake Tulloch camping, there is also a private campground and marina offering public water access. Lake Tulloch Campground<\/a> is located on the south shore, not far from the dam and our Goodwin Canyon rafting trips. Besides lakefront RV sites, there are also cabins and tent camping available. The on-site marina offers kayak and paddleboard rentals, so if rafters choose to stay before or after their rafting trip, they can continue their adventure with more water-based activities.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Lower Stanislaus River below Tulloch Lake is tucked away from sight among the golden rolling foothills.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Goodwin Dam Recreation Area<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Below Tulloch Dam, the Stanislaus River enters a dramatic landscape rarely seen elsewhere in California. The river canyon features steep, rocky walls composed of volcanic basalt and limestone, with layers of exposed rock that reveal the geological history of the region. Less than two miles downstream from Lake Tulloch, yet another dam halts the river\u2019s flow. Built in 1913, the relatively small Goodwin Dam is one of California\u2019s oldest projects designed to regulate water deliveries to the growing agricultural community. The diversion dam is named after the first president of the South San Joaquin Irrigation District governing board \u2013 Benjamin A. Goodwin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although parking can be a bit tricky, the Goodwin Dam Recreation Area Trail offers easy access to the photogenic dam. Less than half a mile away from the GDRA signpost, the level path follows the river upstream along an old irrigation ditch. This ditch, along with its counterpart on the north side of the river, is still in use today!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Goodwin Dam Recreation Area offers picturesque views and is also the starting point of our rafting trips.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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