Mad River (California)

Mad River
The Mad River about 4 miles (6.4 km) above the mouth
Map of the Mad River watershed
Location
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountiesHumboldt, Trinity
CityMcKinleyville
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationKlamath Mountains
  coordinates40°12′20″N 123°9′23″W / 40.20556°N 123.15639°W / 40.20556; -123.15639
  elevation4,845 ft (1,477 m)
MouthPacific Ocean
  coordinates
40°56′31″N 124°8′6″W / 40.94194°N 124.13500°W / 40.94194; -124.13500
  elevation
0 ft (0 m)
Length113 mi (182 km)
Basin size497 sq mi (1,290 km2)
Discharge 
  locationMcKinleyville
  average1,573 cu ft/s (44.5 m3/s)
  minimum17 cu ft/s (0.48 m3/s)
  maximum81,000 cu ft/s (2,300 m3/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
  leftSouth Fork Mad River, Blue Slide Creek, Littlefield Creek
  rightBarry Creek, Pilot Creek, Bug Creek, Graham Creek, Boulder Creek, Maple Creek, Canõn Creek, North Fork Mad River, Lindsay Creek, Mill Creek
Mad River
Six Rivers National Forest
Three Forks
South Fork Mad River
Barry Creek
Ruth Airport
Littlefield Creek
Ruth
Ruth Reservoir
R.W. Matthews Dam
SR 36
Mad River
Pilot Creek
Deer Creek
Bug Creek
Graham Creek
Blue Slide Creek
Boulder Creek
Maple Creek
Butler Valley Road
Canõn Creek
North Fork Mad River
Blue Lake
Mill (Hall) Creek
Lindsay Creek
Essex
SR 299
Arcata
US 101
Tyee City
McKinleyville
Pacific Ocean

The Mad River (Wiyot: Baduwa't) is a river in upper Northern California. It flows for 113 miles (182 km) in a roughly northwest direction through Trinity County and then Humboldt County, draining a 497-square-mile (1,290 km2) watershed into the Pacific Ocean north of the city of Arcata near Arcata–Eureka Airport in McKinleyville. The river's headwaters are in the Coast Range near South Kelsey Ridge.