Kayak the Santa Ana River

*actual photo of kayakers on the Santa Ana!

The Santa Ana River Kayak Connection provided the public with a quality outdoor adventure experience that helps connect them with the Santa Ana River and its watershed. The Santa Ana River is an untapped jewel for kayakers right here in Orange County. Unlike what most people tend to believe, the area is a rich flowing river with an abundance of natural reaches, and not just water in a concrete channel. This is the first time in over 30 years the public was able to legally recreate in the Santa Ana River. Trips for this program concluded on 9/16 and there are no more available for this year. Stay in touch with us on whether we will be able to run this program again next year.

Coastkeeper’s Santa Ana River Kayak Connection provided a limited number of guided tours in the area of Featherly Regional Park, between the Gypsum Canyon and Yorba Linda bridges, approx. 2 miles.  Due to permit limitations, trips were only able to take place sometime between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30. Participants must know how to swim, have intermediate level river/whitewater kayaking experience, and been able to provide their own gear.

It has taken Coastkeeper about a year and a half to receive permission to run this program. In May, the Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the request for a permit exemption, which is needed because an Orange County ordinance prohibits the public from boating, swimming or performing other water-related activities in rivers and channels owned by the Orange County Flood Control District.

This program is intended to demonstrate that public access to the river can provide recreational and educational opportunities to the public while protecting other uses, such as wildlife habitat. Over time, we expect that the public will be able to access the river in a less formal manner and this project will eventually become just one of many ways to enjoy and learn from the river. The project was managed by Orange County Coastkeeper as part of our mission to protect and preserve the region’s marine habitats and watersheds through education, advocacy, restoration, research and enforcement.

There are no more trips available for this season. The final trip this season took place on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 8am. For more information, please email ray@coastkeeper.org, or call 714-850-1965.

• View photos from the 9/9 kayak trip here!
• Read the press release here.

The pilot run of the Santa Ana River Connection was made possible by charitable grants from the Wells Fargo Foundation and the Employees Community Fund of Boeing California.