California Whitewater Rafting
California whitewater rafting offers a wide variety of rafting trips on several different rivers. California rafting outfitters offer trips ranging from family rafting to extreme excitement.
The Middle and South Fork of the American River and the Lower Klamath River offer outstanding family and beginner rafting trips. California is home to several different intermediate and advanced rivers for the experienced rafter. The Merced River, the Cal Salmon, Tuolumne River and others offer incredible scenery and exciting whitewater. For the experienced rafter that is interested in a challenging Class V rafting trip, California's famous Cherry Creek.
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State California State Idaho State Oregon Salmon River River Tuolumne River RogueTwo popular whitewater rivers in California are the Stanislaus and South Fork of the American, offering Class 3 to 4. To beat the weekend crowds, schedule a trip mid-week if possible. Just south of the Stanislaus drainage is the Tuolumne River, perhaps the fiercest regularly run whitewater on the coast; Clavey Falls is the toughest drop on the Tuolumne, and a clean run in a raft at any water level qualifies you as a real expert. Further south, the Kings River rafting and the Kern River rafting offer challenging whitewater.
Traveling north of San Francisco to run the coastal rivers, one encounters a different scene: fewer actual mountains but more forests, fewer boaters but generally more water, fewer dams but still a very long seasons and great runs. Here we have the Trinity, the Klamath, and the Smith.
California Rivers for whitewater rafting
- Salmon-Northwestern California
- Trinity-Northwestern California
- Eel-Northwestern California
- North Fork Smith-Northwestern California
- Kalamath-Northern California
- Sacramento-Northern California
- Scott-Northern California
- South Fork American-Northern California
- Middle Fork-Central California
- Toulumne-Central California
The Middle Fork of the American River in central California is generally run May to September. The rapids are Tunnel Chute (V), Cartwheel (IV); Murderer's Bar (V) The River is surrounded by beautiful Mountain forestland. Located in the Auburn State Recreation Area in the Sierra Nevadas, you'll travel through a beautiful forested canyon. The water is clear and generally very cool.
The American River's North Fork is one of the few remaining undammed rivers in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Mother Lode country.
The American, South Fork, Northern California runs from Chili Bar to Salmon Falls Bridge for 20 miles during May to September. The American South Fork is classified as Advanced with names for rapids such as Troublemaker Rapids (IV), Hospital Falls (III). Satan's Cesspool (IV) This river has Steep rocky canyons, pine-covered lulls The American North Fork run has some great names for rapids such as Meat grinder, Old Scary, Triple Threat, and Recovery Room and one mistake will indicate why. Permits are required for commercial groups only; BLM asks for a voluntary Kern (Class V): There are several stretches to run both above Lake Isabella and below it, varying in Class from III to V, about 45 miles in all. The upper section in some years is not run¬nable due to low water, and permits are required on both sections.
Kings River Rafting (Class III+): The Kings is the largest wild river in the Sierras with a very popular 10-mile whitewater stretch from Garnet Dike Campground to Kirch Flat. There is a run above the campground that occasionally is attempted (Class V to unrunnable).
