This is a list of crossings of the Eel River

Eel River (California)

The Eel River is a major river system of the northern Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. Approximately 200 miles long, it drains a rugged area in the California Coast Ranges between the Sacramento Valley and the ocean. For most of its course, the river flows northwest, parallel to the...

, a 200 miles (321.9 km) river

River

A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...

 flowing from the Coast Range to its mouth on the North Coast of the U.S. state

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

. It also includes dry crossings and earthfills (culvert

Culvert

A culvert is a device used to channel water. It may be used to allow water to pass underneath a road, railway, or embankment. Culverts can be made of many different materials; steel, polyvinyl chloride and concrete are the most common...

s). Crossings are listed proceeding upstream.

The Eel River begins near Bald Mountain, near Lake Pillsbury

Lake Pillsbury

Lake Pillsbury is an artificial lake in the Mendocino National Forest of Lake County, California, created from the waters impounded from the Eel River by Scott Dam. Elevation is with of shoreline and covering . Activities in the Lake Pillsbury Recreation Area include powerboating, fishing,...

, and flows through that lake and flows north to the ocean near Rio Dell

Rio Dell, California

Rio Dell is a city in Humboldt County, California, United States. Rio Dell is located on the west bank of the Eel River north of Scotia, at an elevation of 161 feet...

, where it spills into a river delta

River delta

A delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river where that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another river. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river...

 and an estuary

Estuary

An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....

. Along its course, it receives the Middle Fork at Dos Rios

Dos Rios, California

Dos Rios is an unincorporated community in Mendocino County, California. It is located east-southeast of Laytonville, at an elevation of 961 feet ....

 from the east, the North Fork also from the east, the South Fork

South Fork Eel River

The South Fork Eel River is the longest and largest tributary of the Eel River, in the north-central part of the U.S. state of California. The river flows north from Laytonville to Dyerville/Founders' Grove where it joins the Eel River on the left bank...

 at Weott

Weott, California

Weott is a census-designated place in Humboldt County, California. It is located 375 km north of San Francisco, California and 40 km due west of the Pacific Ocean. Lower Weott is situated at an elevation of 100m along the Avenue of the Giants and in the flood plain of the South Fork of...

 from the southwest, and the Van Duzen River

Van Duzen River

The Van Duzen River is a river on the north coast of California. It is a major tributary of the Eel River and drains , mostly in Humboldt County, with a small portion in Trinity County. The river travels from its headwaters on the west side of the North Coast Range to its confluence with the Eel...

 shortly downstream from the northeast. In total, the river drains about 3684 mi2. This list describes 37 crossings of the Eel.

Road or railway	Description	Coordinates
Cockrobin Island Road	This bridge actually crosses the river only partway (on the right bank), to a sediment-deposit island of the same name, just above the mouth of the Eel River. It is 234 metres (767.7 ft) long.	40.3811°N 124.1657°W
California State Route 211 California State Route 211 State Route 211 is a California state highway in Humboldt County that connects Ferndale with U.S. 101.This route is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System.-Route description:...	Crosses a narrower stretch of the river above its delta, leading to the town of Fernbridge Fernbridge, California Fernbridge is an unincorporated community at an elevation of in Humboldt County, California, named for an historic bridge, west-northwest of Fortuna.-Town of Fernbridge:... . It is 2408 feet (734 m) long and is a concrete-arch design. The bridge is a National Historic Monument.	40.3646°N 124.1213°W
U.S. Highway 101 (1 and 2)	Crosses the river on twin bridges just downstream of Rio Dell Rio Dell, California Rio Dell is a city in Humboldt County, California, United States. Rio Dell is located on the west bank of the Eel River north of Scotia, at an elevation of 161 feet... . The first built is 1643 metres (5,390.4 ft) long and was built in 1941. The second is 1729 feet (527 m) long and was built in 1973.	40.3035°N 124.0722°W and 40.3036°N 124.0713°W
U.S. Highway 101 (3)	Just upstream of Rio Dell, crosses the river running north-south connecting Rio Dell to Scotia Scotia, California Scotia is a census-designated place in Humboldt County, California. It is located south-southeast of Fortuna, at an elevation of 194 feet . The ZIP Code is 95565. The population was 850 at the 2010 census.... .	40.2933°N 124.0552°W
Wildwood Avenue	This bridge is directly upstream from but does not parallel the third Highway 101 crossing.	40.2929°N 124.0602°W
U.S. Highway 101 (4)	This smaller bridge is shortly downstream of Stafford and a little downstream of the confluence with Stitz Creek. It is 1020 feet (310.9 m) long and intersects both the Eel River and a railroad.	40.2723°N 124.0401°W
Shively Flat Road	Crosses from the steep slope, branching east away from Highway 254, leading to the river terrace that contains the town of Shively Shively, California Shively is an unincorporated community in Humboldt County, California. It is located north-northwest of Redcrest, at an elevation of 144 feet , on the right bank of the Eel River.... . Seasonal railcar bridge.	40.2552°N 123.5858°W
Larrabee Ranch Road (ford)	This is a partially submerged dry crossing that leads east from the town of Holmes Holmes, California Holmes is an unincorporated community in Humboldt County, California. It is located north of Redcrest, at an elevation of 154 feet .... .	40.2501°N 123.5604°W
Railroad bridge (1)	This truss bridge crosses the Eel directly upstream of the South Fork Eel River South Fork Eel River The South Fork Eel River is the longest and largest tributary of the Eel River, in the north-central part of the U.S. state of California. The river flows north from Laytonville to Dyerville/Founders' Grove where it joins the Eel River on the left bank... 's confluence with the Eel.	40.2112°N 123.5502°W
Vinnum Road (ford)	Again, this is a partially submerged dry crossing, just upstream of the Eel River's confuence with the South Fork Eel River.	40.2056°N 123.5454°W
McCann Road	This bridge is located approximately 5 miles (8 km) east-southeast of the South Fork confluence. The road crosses the channel of the river on a short bridge and continues over a gravel bar to the right bank of the river.	40.1935°N 123.5020°W
Fort Seward Road	Crosses the Eel River directly upstream from the community of Fort Seward Fort Seward, California Fort Seward is an unincorporated community in Humboldt County, California. It is located on the Eel River north-northwest of Alderpoint, at an elevation of 328 feet .... . It is a double-span truss bridge that crosses on a downcut stretch of the Eel.	40.1935°N 123.5020°W
Alderpoint Road	Crossing directly upstream of the town of Alderpoint Alderpoint, California Alderpoint is a census-designated place in Humboldt County, California. It is located east-northeast of Garberville. It lies at an elevation of 472 feet . The ZIP Code is 95511. The community is inside area code 707... . It is a beam bridge with two spans. This bridge also crosses a railway.	40.1023°N 123.3613°W
Dos Rios Road	This crosses near the town of Dos Rios Dos Rios, California Dos Rios is an unincorporated community in Mendocino County, California. It is located east-southeast of Laytonville, at an elevation of 961 feet ....  directly downstream of the confluence with the Middle Fork Eel River Middle Fork Eel River The Middle Fork Eel River is a major tributary of the Eel River of northwestern California in the United States. It drains a rugged and sparsely populated region of the Yolla Bolly Mountains, part of the California Coast Range, in Trinity and Mendocino Counties... .	39.4253°N 21.2109°W
California State Route 162 (Covelo Road)	This bridge is directly upstream of the Eel River's confluence with Outlet Creek, about 6 miles (9.7 km) upstream of the town of Dos Rios.	39.3735°N 123.2042°W
Unnamed Road (1)	Crosses near a sharp bend in the Eel, a few miles southeast of the Outlet Creek confluence. This also is a dry crossing, not a bridge.	39.3529°N 123.1756°W
Unnamed Road (2)	Crosses on the other side of that incised meander, on the same road. It is also a dry crossing. Most of the crossing is on gravel, rather than on open water, as the Eel is very narrow at this point.	39.3521°N 123.1759°W
Unnamed Road (1)	This road branches off the previously described road and winds south along the Eel River before making this dry crossing.	39.3311°N 123.1708°W
Unnamed Road (2)	Dry crossing 2 miles (3.2 km) upstream from the one previously described.	39.3152°N 123.1532°W
Hearst-Post Office Road	This is a two span, beam bridge crossing just east of the town of Hearst Hearst, California Hearst is an unincorporated community in Mendocino County, California. It is located south-southwest of Potter Valley, at an elevation of 1378 feet .... . At this point the narrow and rugged Eel River canyon opens out into a broader valley.	39.2939°N 123.1234°W
Unnamed Road	This road drops into the Eel River channel and crosses the river waters on a small bridge before ascending up the west bank of the river.	39.2608°N 123.0838°W
Footbridge	This narrow bridge crosses the river at the point where the previous road bends north in order to descend into the Eel River channel. Judging by its narrowness, it is most likely a suspension-type footbridge.	39.2600°N 123.0834°W
Unnamed Road	This is also likely a ford.	39.2547°N 123.0840°W
Unnamed Road	This is also a ford, upstream of the Tomski Creek confluence.	39.2514°N 123.0812°W
Van Arsdale Road	A ford very near the Hale Creek confluence, just upstream from it.	39.2422°N 123.0729°W
Unnamed Road	A ford upstream of the Hale Creek confluence and downstream of the Salmon Creek confluence, closer to Salmon Creek.	39.2400°N 123.0701°W
Dam	This is a small diversion dam forming a 1.4 miles (2.3 km) reservoir, just downstream of the Mill Creek confluence. It diverts water over a ridge to the south to the valley of the Russian River Russian River (California) The Russian River, a southward-flowing river, drains of Sonoma and Mendocino counties in Northern California. With an annual average discharge of approximately , it is the second largest river flowing through the nine county Greater San Francisco Bay Area with a mainstem 110 miles ...  and is a primary component of the Potter Valley Project.	39.2310°N 123.0659°W
Eel River Road	This is a beam bridge about 1 miles (1.6 km) upstream of Van Arsdale Road, and directly downstream of the Rocky Creek confluence.	39.2255°N 123.0554°W
Forest Road 18N25	This is a ford just downstream of the Eel River's confluence with Soda Creek.	39.2434°N 122.5852°W
Elk Mountain Road/Simmons Road	This is a two-span beam bridge very closely upstream from Forest Road 18N25, and is upstream of the Soda Creek confluence. After crossing the river and proceeding eastwards, it becomes known as "Scott Dam Road".	39.2436°N 122.5844°W
Scott Dam	This dam crosses the Eel River to form Lake Pillsbury Lake Pillsbury Lake Pillsbury is an artificial lake in the Mendocino National Forest of Lake County, California, created from the waters impounded from the Eel River by Scott Dam. Elevation is with of shoreline and covering . Activities in the Lake Pillsbury Recreation Area include powerboating, fishing,... reservoir, which covers 2000 acres (8.1 km²). It generates hydroelectricity and regulates downstream flow for the Potter Valley Project.	39.2426°N 122.5731°W
Forest Route 19N02	Dry crossing 8 miles (12.9 km) upstream from where the Eel River empties into Lake Pillsbury.	39.3129°N 122.5106°W
Forest Road 23N56	Crossing by an earthfill, 2 miles (3.2 km) upstream from Forest Road 19N02.	39.3309°N 122.5146°W
Forest Road 20N05	Dry crossing upstream from where the Eel River spills downwards and loses nearly 1600 feet (487.7 m) in elevation in a run of about 2000 feet (609.6 m).	39.3503°N 122.5449°W
Forest Road M61 (1)	About 1 miles (1.6 km) upstream from Forest Route 20N05.	39.3532°N 122.5618°W
Forest Route M61 (2)	Although not technically a crossing, the road crosses directly upstream from the rocky ravine where the Eel River begins.	N/A; not a crossing