Santa Ana River

Description

he Santa Ana River is the largest river in all of Southern California in the United States. Rising in the San Bernardino Mountains, it flows primarily through San Bernardino and Riverside counties before cutting through the northern Santa Ana Mountains via the Santa Ana Canyon and flowing southwest through urban Orange County to empty into the Pacific Ocean. The Santa Ana River is 96 miles (154 km) long, and its watershed covers 2,650 square miles (6,900 km2). There are many recreational opportunities along the Santa Ana River. The watershed includes parts of the Cleveland National Forest, San Bernardino National Forest, Angeles National Forest, San Jacinto Mountain State Wilderness, Chino Hills State Park, and Lake Perris State Recreation Area. Big Bear Lake, Lake Elsinore, and Irvine Lake are popular recreational lakes within the watersheds. The river itself never actually flows through any of these lakes, but each of them has drainage into the river through tributaries. As for fishing, the Santa Ana River does offer fishing opportunities, particularly in sections where it is accessible and stocked with fish. Common species found in the river include trout, bass, catfish, and carp.