South Fork:
We rate the South Fork of the American River as the best river in California for both first-time and more experienced rafters. As the premier dam controlled river in California, the South Fork is a consistent Class III- beginning whitewater river, and it has become the most popular river for individuals, families, groups of friends and company recreation trips, available daily from April through September. The river offers a wide range of adventures, with over 50 exciting rapids interspersed with calm, slower stretches where we can enjoy the beautiful canyon scenery and each other's company.
View our South Fork Video

Middle Fork:
This river is a great choice for those individuals and groups who wish to experience the adventure of a remote wilderness river trip and enjoy the challenge of many exciting whitewater rapids. An adventuresome first-time rafter in good physical condition, as well as the more experienced intermediate rafter will love the Middle Fork. Isolated from civilization in the Auburn State Recreation Area, this dam controlled river offers spectacular scenery, crystal clear water, great rapids, excellent fishing, and the possibility of a side hike up a picturesque creek to a waterfall.
View our Middle Fork Video

North Fork:
Plummeting out of the Desolation Valley basin near Lake Tahoe lies the free-flowing North Fork American River with some of California's most exciting springtime technical rapids. From the moment we enter the river, the ride is challenging and exciting. The upper stretch of river has an average gradient drop of 50' per mile through a steep and narrow granite canyon for spectacular whitewater and great vistas -- when we have a moment! Turns are tight and technical; Chamberlain Falls is a thrilling drop!
View our North Fork Video

Merced:
This enchanting whitewater river flows out from the western entrance of Yosemite National Park. Centuries of glacial and volcanic action and erosion have created a fascinating deep river canyon for our raft trips. The Merced River descends from the waterfalls of Yosemite Valley in successive leaps, producing stretches of exhilarating whitewater wave trains, technical challenges and steep gradient drops. Yet this river also offers many opportunities for just laying back in the boat, relaxing and enjoying the forest scenery while the current takes us down the river.
View our Merced Video

Kings:
The longed for conditions of heavy snow pack and warm weather combine to create some of the biggest white water in California, not unlike some of the hydraulic (waves, holes, and currents) runs of the Grand Canyon. A big water river without the technical difficulty of the Merced or Tuolumne, the Kings is suitable for both the first time rafter and the experienced paddler. The river bed is wide and not very obstructed, so even at high flows the Kings is not particularly hazardous. Class III (beginning whitewater) rapids roll through the canyon in exciting wave trains (a series of waves), creating a wilderness roller coaster ride of gigantic proportions! The exciting ten mile run rushes through Banzai, Fang Tooth and Sidewinder rapids on the way to our take-out at our base camp.

Kaweah:
Plummeting out of Sequoia National Park just east of Visalia lies the Kaweah, one of America's steepest rivers. In their classic guidebook California Whitewater, Jim Cassady and Fryar Calhoun describe the Kaweah as running "swift, clear, and free through some of the most exciting rapids in the state". In other words, only your adrenaline rushes faster than these waters. The upper stretch of river has an average gradient drop of 70' per mile. Compare that to our Class III South Fork American's 23' per-mile gradient! The torrential whitewater, beautiful scenery, and its short 3 1/2 hour drive from Southern California convinced us to add the Kaweah trips to our offerings.

Tuolumne:
The Tuolumne is California's Class IV+ premier white water river, rushing through one of the most spectacular canyons in the Sierra! Flowing from the high Sierra, the Tuolumne creates the "Grand Canyon" of Yosemite as it spills into the Hetch Hetchy Valley behind the O'Shaughnessy Dam above our put-in at Meral's Pool. Between water control projects the Tuolumne races through the deep granite canyons of a "wild an scenic" river section before flowing into the Don Pedro Reservoir below take-out at Ward's Ferry thereby creating some of the most exciting rapids and breath-taking scenery of the entire Sierra!

Family Rafting