Cosumnes River Fall Paddle

Yesterday was one of the best days I've ever had paddling the Cosumnes River Preserve. My daughter and I led a wonderful group of five paddlers on a tour exploring the preserve. It was unbelievably warm for November, making it hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner!

The foliage along the river displayed its' fall colors loudly as we paddled quietly through the water. We traveled up the Cosumnes, entered Tihuechemne slough  and paddled as far as possible before we had to turn around at the pumping station. Back on the Cosumnes River, we paddled east to the "Tall Forest" where we stopped for a stretch and a snack.

We continued our exploration into Woodchuck Slough where it soon was choked off by overgrown trees and other plants of this riparian forest. As we exited Woodchuck slough I witnessed the largest fish I have ever seen personally, leap out of the water and nearly land in a kayak! I'm not sure what type of fish it was but it had a reddish tint which makes me think it may have been a salmon but I'm not sure if they're known for leaping out of the water like bass.

We all were reluctant to return to the put in after such a lovely day on the water so we meandered at a leisurely pace soaking in our surroundings. I'm amazed each time I finish a paddle at how refreshed and rejuvenated I feel. I'm truly blessed to have the opportunity to share my passion for paddling with others and meet some extraordinary people at the same time.

Photo by Amanda Bunton

If you would like to paddle the Cosumnes River Preserve or other parts of the California Delta, contact Delta Kayak Adventures as we would be happy to guide you!