page_title: Rice Fork
section_title: Tributaries
hierarchical_section_title: Rice Fork / Tributaries
caption_attribution_description: English: Crabtree Hot Springs, Mendocino National Forest, Lake County, California
context_page_description: The Rice Fork is a 22.7-mile-long tributary of the Eel River in Lake County, California. The Rice Fork begins on the upper northwest side of Goat Mountain, on the Colusa-Lake County line, at an elevation of over 6,000 feet. It quickly descends the steep western slope of the mountain, then bends northward, and flows northwesterly down a narrow winding steep walled canyon for about 18 miles, crossing two forest roads and adding many tributaries, ending its journey at the southern tip of Lake Pillsbury, at a varied elevation around 1,800 feet, depending on the lake level. Before the construction of Scott Dam in the 1920s, which formed Lake Pillsbury, the Rice Fork ran directly into the Eel River. It is one of Lake County's longest streams.
  The many tributaries to Rice Fork are Salt Creek, French Creek, Parramore Creek, Bevans Creek, Bear Creek, Packsaddle Creek, Willow Creek, Deer Creek, Rice Creek, and Soda Creek.
context_section_description: Salt Creek is one of the larger tributaries, and flows from Fir Root Spring. Beginning at about 4,400 feet (1,300 m) above sea level, on the west slope of Goat Mountain's northwest ridge, it travels southwesterly down a steep canyon for about 3.4 miles (5.5 km), going over a 25-foot-high (7.6 m) falls and crossing a forest road, entering Rice Fork on the right at around 2,300 feet (700 m), about 11.9 miles (19.2 km) upstream from the lake, and around a quarter mile upstream from Crabtree Hot Springs.
  French Creek begins at about 3,800 feet (1,200 m) above sea level near the top of French Ridge, and flows north down a steep canyon for about 3.9 miles (6.3 km), adding its tributary, entering Rice Fork on the left at around 2,200 feet (670 m), about 10.9 miles (17.5 km) upstream from the lake, and about a mile downstream from Crabtree Hot Springs. Rock Creek (tributary to French Creek) begins at about 3,600 feet (1,100 m) on Elk Mountain and flows northeasterly for about 3.6 miles (5.8 km) down a steep canyon, entering French Creek on the left about 0.4 miles (0.64 km) upstream from its confluence with Rice Fork.
  Soda Creek begins at about 3,800 feet (1,200 m) on Elk Mountain and flows east down a steep canyon, entering Rice Fork on the left a short distance upstream from Parramore Creek, as indicated on the USFS 2008 map.
  Parramore Creek begins at about 3,800 feet (1,200 m) on Elk Mountain and flows east for about 4.6 miles (7.4 km) down a steep canyon, crossing a forest road at Three Crossings, entering Rice Fork on the left about 8.1 miles (13.0 km) upstream from the lake.
  Bear Creek flows from a spring at about 6,500 feet (2,000 m) on the southwest side of Snow Mountain-West. It drops rapidly down a steep canyon and flows southwesterly for about 9.1 miles (14.6 km), adding its tributary, passing underneath a concrete bridge and crossing a forest road, entering Rice Fork on the right about 7.2 miles (11.6 km) upstream from the lake. Blue Slides Creek (tributary to Bear Creek) begins at about 4,400 feet (1,300 m), on the west slope of Goat Mountain's northwest ridge, and flows west for about 4.2 miles (6.8 km) down a steep canyon, finally paralleling the south side of Forest Road M-10 (county road 301-C), as it enters Bear Creek on the left just after the bridge.
  Bevans Creek begins at about 3,200 feet (980 m) above sea level on Horse Mountain and flows northeasterly for about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) down a steep canyon, entering Rice Fork on the left about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) upstream from the lake.
  Rice Creek begins at about 6,100 feet (1,900 m) on the west ridge of Snow Mountain-West. It swiftly descends the steep west slope of the mountain, flowing southwesterly for about 8.1 miles (13.0 km) down a steep canyon, crossing a forest road and passing through Rice Valley, entering Rice Fork on the right about 4.3 miles (6.9 km) upstream from the lake.
  Deer Creek begins at about 5,400 feet (1,600 m) on the west ridge of Snow Mountain-West, and flows west for about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) down a steep canyon, crossing a forest road, entering Rice Fork on the right about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) upstream from the lake.
  Willow Creek begins at about 3,400 feet (1,000 m) on Horse Mountain and flows northeasterly for about 5 miles (8 km) down a steep canyon, entering Rice Fork on the left about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) upstream from the lake.
  Packsaddle Creek begins at about 3,600 feet (1,100 m) on Pine Mountain and flows northeasterly for about 3.1 miles (5.0 km) down a steep canyon, entering Rice Fork on the left near Swallow Rock, at the southern tip of the lake.
caption: Rice Fork at Crabtree Hot Springs
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