San Joaquin River, River system in Central California, United States.
The San Joaquin River is a river system in California that flows from the Sierra Nevada mountains to the bay near San Francisco. It crosses wide plains and forms tributaries that together water a large catchment area.
Native groups inhabited these banks for thousands of years before Spanish travelers arrived in the late eighteenth century. Later the waterway was rerouted and its flow controlled by large dams to expand farming.
The name honors Joaquin, an early California saint, while settlements along its banks have long depended on the water it carries through the valley. At certain stretches you can spot small landings or pumping stations that serve farms today.
Most stretches of the waterway have paths along the banks that can be used for walks or cycling. The wide valley floor makes orientation easy, and the flat terrain suits less experienced hikers as well.
Seven major mountain tributaries feed the system and make it a key waterway for the continent. At some riverside spots you can still find old bridge foundations from the early railroad era.
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