Plan Your Own Russian River Lazy Float Trip

Updated July 2022: I’ve been making this trip pretty much every year since I originally wrote this post back in October 2015. During the pandemic, it was tricky to plan out logistics with the crowds, but it’s still very possible to make this an easy day trip – read on for some helpful pro-tips!

Living and working in San Francisco means being in the midst of a constant flurry of activity. As fun as it can all be, sometimes it’s nice to get away for a weekend and just relax.

This past weekend, I went on a trip with a group of good friends to Russian River, about an hour and a half north of the city. We spent a day floating down the river among the greenery and trees, sunbathing and enjoying good food, good beer, and good conversations. It was not only relaxing and beautiful, but also a truly wonderful way to spend quality time with some amazing folks in my life.

There’s no need to write an essay on what we did on our Russian River floating trip – I think the above description captures the trip perfectly. So instead I’ll write a quick post on how you can plan your own Russian River lazy float trip. What better way to enjoy a weekend without extended travel or breaking the bank? Read on for the details.

How It Works

Floating on the Russian River is easy. There are no fees, no lines, and no guides. You really just need a flotation device (usually a nicer inner tube) and make the trip during the summer and fall months. There are a bunch of small beaches where you can start and end your trip, and if you do a quick 5 minute search online you’ll find some popular routes.

Our group had originally planned the Steelhead Beach to Sunset Beach stretch. After talking to the ranger and figuring out when we’d need to be back at our house, we decided on the Steelhead Beach to Mom’s Beach stretch, a slightly shorter route that still took about 2.5 hours. Depending on time of year and river current speed, Steelhead to Sunset Beach can easily take 3+ hours.

Regardless of how long you plan to float, Steelhead Beach is an excellent starting point because it has a large parking lot and loading zone. Mother’s Beach is a smaller beach in a more residential area, so parking may be tougher to find. Sunset Beach has a larger parking lot, but it’s more commonly an end point unless you plan to float down to Drake’s or Johnson’s Beach.

How to Get There

Max Baker has a helpful blog post that maps out beaches and landmarks along the Russian River. I’ll include his map in my post – be sure to check out his page for additional info and helpful comments on the water levels, current, and routes.

Most of the larger beaches have addresses and pay parking, and some even have restrooms. Doing online research before the trip should ensure a hiccup-free day on the river. If you’re curious about water and current conditions before the trip, you can also give the ranger a call to get real-time info and even route suggestions based on the time of year.

During the COVID pandemic, it was much harder to find parking because of the crowds. When we did the trip in August 2020, Steelhead Beach was already filled by 9:30am. If you do get there after the lot is filled, you can use the loading zone to drop everything off and park in the overflow lot on Mirabel Road. From there, it’s a 5-minute walk back to the Steelhead parking lot. Please be respectful of the neighbors if you park in the overflow lot since it’s a more residential area.

Day Of Logistics

Once you figure out your route, drive to your starting point and unload your inner tubes and gear. If you have at least two cars in your group, you can create your own shuttle system, leaving a car at the end point that can take all the drivers back to the starting point once the trip is over. If you have fewer than two cars, you may need to hitch a ride. It’s also a good idea to download the general map area for offline use on Google Maps, so you can easily navigate even if signal isn’t great and also track how close you are to the endpoint.

Given the parking situation, starting early is advised. Another good reason to start early is because the headwind picks up later in the afternoon and can slow you down even more. I would aim to start the float no later than 11am, or you may end up having to do some swimming to get to the endpoint. In my experience, it takes about an hour to set up the shuttle parking system, inflate the tubes, and get everything ready for the float.

What to Bring

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Here’s a list of things that may be useful for your float trip. They definitely were for me!

• Inner tube – we picked up some nicer models on Amazon beforehand and ended up saving money versus buying them at a shop near the river
• Air pump – electric ones that plug into your car work well, or a handy manual pump also does the trick
• Telescoping paddle – look like a pro with a telescoping paddle. Useful if the water current is slow or the headwind picks up
• Waterproof phone case – keep your phone waterproof and handy (great for pictures and tracking where you are)
• Sunblock/sunglasses/hat – it’s really sunny, especially during the summer months
• Cooler – if you bring them make sure you have space to stow them, or get a floating one!
• Food – we packed sandwiches and brought chips and other snacks
• Beer – canned beer, no glass
• Water – stay hydrated, it can get quite hot
• Sturdy bags you don’t mind getting wet – to store food & drinks (tie food away from water and submerge beer bag in water)
• Water shoes – helps with walking on rocky beaches
• Thin rope – to tie tubes together and form tube islands

What to Do

For any lazy float trip, the key word is lazy. There are no rapids. You’re not rushing to get to the end. The currents move about a mile an hour, so there’s plenty of time to chat with friends, eat good food, and look at the scenery. The point is to enjoy the moment and relax. Take in the surrounding nature and wildlife. After a while, you start to lose track of time, and by the end of the trip you’ll be smiling ear to ear.

Life is good, and floating on the river might just be one of my new favorite nature-themed trips. And the best part about buying a tube is that I can use it again and again. Russian River, I’ll be back!