its a good river i did drown in it tho so 4 stars

They refuse to clean the debris out of the water.

Nice river! This river is about 26 miles long so if you can't get down to it on one spot there should be another spot.

Great destination! Enjoyed the open trail and peaceful outdoor atmosphere.

A formerly great river that has unfortunately fallen from grace. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the San Lorenzo was as much of a tourist attraction for Santa Cruz as its beaches were, with its gentle curves and forested banks, but after the floods of the 1950s, the Army Corps of Engineers walled in the river with giant earthen levees, restricting the flow to a sterile linear course through the city. This isn't the worst thing by itself though, as there are still nice trees, grasses, and flowers that grow by the slightly less meandering river. No, the real crime here is that the city has taken the river away from the people, restricting the ability of its citizens to even touch the river. For almost its entire run through the city, it's illegal to go to the river's bank, meaning that most people in the city aren't even aware of the natural treasure that runs through its heart. Only by ignoring the legal warnings can you take in the sounds of the flowing water, varying from a stagnant lagoon in late summer to a roaring flood after a storm. If you're walking on the Riverwalk through town, I recommend venturing down the inner faces of the levees, through the grasses, shrubs, and trees (careful not to intrude on anyone's campsite) to enjoy the river that should be yours.