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I'm not sure about going solo but when I've gone we have 4 people usually and we put in at the veterans memorial park in healdsburg and go to steelhead beach. That alone is a full day trip. We have talked about making it in to a 2 day trip and starting higher but haven't done it yet. I would try and find someone to go with you especially since its hard to land a steelie by yourself in a kayak.

A camp trip sounds like fun ....if we get more water. Please note...the rubber dam below Wholer is impassable by kayak. The portage (carry up and around) has been washed out. We found out the hard way....now signs have been posted at Memorial and Wholer to avoid the rubber dam. Keep us posted if it rains.

There is a launch ramp at Cloverdale River Park for put in and another launch ramp at Jenner for take out. The ramp at Jenner is a small public parking lot where I think you could safely leave a vehicle.

Cloverdale to Alexander Valley Rd bridge is ~ 13 miles.

Alexander Valley Rd bridge to Healdsburg Memorial Bridge is ~ 11 miles

Memorial Bridge to Steelhead Beach is ~7 miles

Steelhead Beach to Monte Rio beach is ~13 miles

Monte Rio to Jenner is ~ 10 miles

I can't offer any help as far as camping goes. The river is mostly "private property",  most of it is vineyards. There are a number of nice gravel beaches that you could pull out on.

I have floated the sections from Alexander Valley to Monte Rio a number of times, but I have no knowledge of the Cloverdale to AV section or the Monte Rio to Jenner section.

Fishing wise you have a shot at steelhead during the winter and early spring. Once it warms up you can catch more smallmouth bass that you can count. Most of them are in the 10-12 inch range and feisty. There are largemouth in the lower sections of the river where it is slow moving as well as some large bluegill sprinkled in. You will also catch a bunch of squawfish no matter what time of year you are fishing there.

The Russian is my home water. If you do a scouting trip let me know, I'm always up to get out and do a little fishing. I could maybe be persuaded to make the drive from Jenner to Cloverdale with my truck if you needed a lift when you decide to do the big trip.

Also attached are the average smallmouth and one of the bigger squawfish that I've caught there.

two weeks ago I drift fished from steelhead to johnsons beach, the CF was slow and we worked some spots. took 6 hours..... we worked some spots though. wohler bridge and steelhead beach have a Sonoma county parks key u can get to beach launch or retrieve..

two weeks ago I drift fished from steelhead to johnsons beach, the CF was slow and we worked some spots. took 6 hours..... we worked some spots though. wohler bridge and steelhead beach have a Sonoma county parks key u can get to beach launch or retrieve..

Johnson's has the key access too, right?  How does one get a key?

-Allen

two weeks ago I drift fished from steelhead to johnsons beach, the CF was slow and we worked some spots. took 6 hours..... we worked some spots though. wohler bridge and steelhead beach have a Sonoma county parks key u can get to beach launch or retrieve..

Johnson's has the key access too, right?  How does one get a key?

-Allen

Kings sport and tackle 

yes kings has a key for seasonal access, I heard it is $10? not sure but the Sonoma county key is $15 and good for each season, you can obtain it by going to the Sonoma county parks regional office. 

yes kings has a key for seasonal access, I heard it is $10? not sure but the Sonoma county key is $15 and good for each season, you can obtain it by going to the Sonoma county parks regional office.

The Somoma County key is changed annually and good from Oct1 thru May15th.

yes kings has a key for seasonal access, I heard it is $10? not sure but the Sonoma county key is $15 and good for each season, you can obtain it by going to the Sonoma county parks regional office.

The Somoma County key is changed annually and good from Oct1 thru May15th.

Aren't you supposed to buy the annual fishing access permit ($30 recreational or $60 commercial) also

yes kings has a key for seasonal access, I heard it is $10? not sure but the Sonoma county key is $15 and good for each season, you can obtain it by going to the Sonoma county parks regional office.

The Somoma County key is changed annually and good from Oct1 thru May15th.

Aren't you supposed to buy the annual fishing access permit ($30 recreational or $60 commercial) also

Yes you are supposed to buy the fishing access permit too. Sonoma County key works at memorial beach in Healdsburg, Wohlert bridge, and steelhead beach. A bit off topic, but I have keys and have never used them. The gate seems to be always unlocked.

  I think that last still water stretch to Jenner would be a tough paddle against the wind if you time it poorly.

Your float from Cloverdale down pass Geyserville is gonna be skinny and shallow in spots. Watch those strainers. 
Memorial beach has a seasonal dam that you'll have to portage around. The dam wont be up this year but you'll still have to pass the rocks and fish ladder.
Below Wohler bridge there's construction going at the seasonal dam site.
Sounds like fun

No dam at Memorial this year easy portage just pull to the left of the fish ladder nice concrete ramp maybe 30' long.