Santa Ana River

Santa Ana River Mouth - Orange County California - Between Newport Beach California and Huntington Beach California

The Santa Ana River Mouth often has some extremely dangerous conditions.

There is a large flood gate that connects the Santa Ana River to the Newport Shores Wetlands that can create an extreme danger - especially if you are on the Santa Ana River side of the flood gate - don't get sucked into it on a rising tide!   (Update 9/20/2024:  large grates are now installed over the floodgate so there is probably less danger here - however the giant bat rays are no longer present in Newport Shores because they can't get through the grates) 

The Surf on the open ocean outside of the river mouth is often some of the largest in Orange County (especially on a South Swell).

Strong currents go in and out of the river mouth.  Currents even occur in the dry season because of the incoming or outgoing tide.  After winter storm the currents can be even stronger and there is polluted water runoff.

Runoff and occasional sewage spills can create a health hazard.  Avoid paddling here or near here after rains due to runoff pollution and swift river currents.

Actually, I'm not sure it is legal to paddle in the river / flood channel - though it is a navigable body of water and part of a river so article 10 of the California constitution should allow paddling here.  I have navigated the Santa Ana river on a SUP all the way from Hamilton Avenue to the Ocean.

The Santa Ana River Mouth is where a channel has been cut to empty the Santa Ana River into the Pacific Ocean.

The wetland area of Newport Shores was previously part of the Santa Ana River that used to empty into Newport Bay.   Now the Santa Ana River has been redirected and enters directly into the Pacific Ocean on the North West end of Newport Beach.

There is an abundance of marine life that lives in the river and enters the connected wetlands of Newport Shores.

Scroll down the page for pictures, video and more information!

Note:  Santa Ana River Mouth paddling information - still a work in progress

I took a  Santa Ana River High Water video that shows the huge volume of water flowing down the Santa Ana River after a large rain storm:

Items covered in this article include - SUP Santa Ana River Mouth - Kayak Santa Ana River Mouth - Kayaking Santa Ana River Mouth - stand up paddle board Santa Ana River Mouth - Stand Up Paddle Boarding Santa Ana River Mouth

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