O.A.R.S. Whitewater rafting adventures in California
are all about sunshine, excitement and diversity. While many choose California rafting for the adrenaline-infused paddles on the rousing Merced River just outside of Yosemite National Park, the something-for-everyone Forks of the American River, rich with gold-rush history, breathtaking Wild and Scenic Tuolumne River and thrilling springtime runs on the high-Sierra-based Stanislaus River through Calaveras Big Trees State Park; O.A.R.S. offers a gentler side too, with family rafting adventures on the warm and gentle Lower Klamath River and Oregon’s Wild and Scenic Rogue River in the Siskiyou National Forest to the north.
If a variety of activities is on your California vacation agenda, then O.A.R.S. offers something for everyone! On our California Multi-Sport adventure, which begins in the charming gold rush-era town of Murphys in historical Calaveras County, you’ll enjoy a diverse mix of hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing in Bear Valley, sea-kayaking on a beautiful alpine lake, and whitewater rafting on the Tuolumne River through the Sierra Nevada foothills. O.A.R.S. also offers the ideal family adventure getaway! Our Sierra Nevada Family Adventure Camp is four days of exciting California whitewater rafting, inflatable kayaking, lake kayaking, hiking and camp activities at our campground resort on the banks of the South Fork American River in the historic town of Coloma, where gold was first discovered in 1848 by James Marshall.
Additionally appealing is the fact that most of these California rafting and family adventure vacation trips are just a stone’s throw from other amazing attractions including the Ashland Summer Shakespeare Festival in Oregon and Yosemite National Park, San Francisco and the vineyard-cloaked Napa Valley in Northern California.
Comparison of California Rafting and Multi-Sport Adventures
This trip is for the experienced rafter only! California’s Salmon River, surging with icy melt from Sawtooth, the only glacier in California’s Coast Range, is one of the finest whitewater rivers in the West. The most popular run is below the confluence of the North and South Forks, through an intimate, steep-walled canyon where sparkling green waters splash through a series of rapids separated by deep quiet pools. Powerful whitewater produces Class IV and V rapids that are sure to thrill.
DETAILS:
RIVER RATING: Class V (Advanced only)
MILES COVERED: 14 river miles with 7 recognizable rapids
AGE LIMIT: Minimum age is 16
LENGTH OF TRIP: 2 Days
BOAT TYPE: Paddle or Oar Raft with paddle assist
This lodge-based adventure, with one night of pristine wilderness camping, also offers mountain biking in the spectacular Sierra Nevada Mountains, rock climbing in granite canyons, sea kayaking on a beautiful alpine lake, and rafting on the Tuolumne River, the elite California whitewater rafting destination. From rolling golden hills of poppies, quaint Sierra wineries and giant Sequoias to some of the best single-track riding and whitewater rafting in the state, this is quintessential California at its absolute finest.
DETAILS:
RIVER RATING: Class IV
ACTIVITY RATING: Moderately Challenging to Challenging
AGE LIMIT: Minimum age is 12 years old (15 at high water levels)
TRIP LENGTH: 5 Days/4 Nights
ACTIVITIES: Hiking, mountain biking, sea-kayaking, rock climbing, and rafting
BOAT TYPE: Paddle Raft, Sea Kayak
This trip is ideal for families with young children and beginner rafters. You will be rafting on a warm, gentle section of the Klamath River with rapids that are small, yet exciting, and are ideal for challenging the new skill of inflatable kayaking. Some other fun family activities include exploring side creeks, swimming or floating in the warm river, watching for a great variety of birds making their way along the Pacific Flyway, and spotting deer and turtles along the riverbank. This is truly a special family adventure vacation not to be missed.
DETAILS:
RIVER RATING: Class II (Suitable for young children, families, & beginning rafters)
MILES COVERED: 18-22 miles
AGE LIMIT: Minimum age is 4
TRIP LENGTH: 3 Days
BOAT TYPE: Oar Raft, Inflatable Kayak
Upon leaving Yosemite National Park, the Merced River explodes into a flurry of California whitewater, leaving its gentle nature behind at the park boundary. The Merced River features mile after mile of huge wave trains and long staircase drops, delivering nearly non-stop whitewater thrills, however, it is still accessible for aggressive beginners. This recently designated Wild & Scenic River offers a quietly beautiful yet wildly exciting California river rafting trip.
DETAILS:
RIVER RATING: Class III/IV (Suitable for aggressive beginners and intermediates)
MILES COVERED: 15 river miles with 6 recognized rapids
AGE LIMIT: Minimum age is 9 (15 in high water conditions)
TRIP LENGTH: 1 Day
BOAT TYPE: Paddle Raft
The Middle Fork of the American River rushes through a lovely, secluded canyon where a melee of pounding whitewater and the beauty of the Sierra Nevada foothills combine to offer an incomparable river trip. The highlight of the Middle Fork American is Tunnel Chute, a long, roiling rapid created by gold miners who diverted the river, which concludes in a stretch of river flowing underground. There are also numerous Class III-IV rapids which crash down between calmer pools of glassy water, challenging rafters with constant technical maneuvering and aggressive paddling in both raging whitewater and flatter stretches.
DETAILS:
RIVER RATING: Class IV (suitable for intermediate rafter)
MILES COVERED: 16 river miles with 9 recognized rapids
AGE LIMIT: Minimum age is 14 (15 at high water)
TRIP LENGTH: 1 Day
BOAT TYPE: Paddle Raft
The North Fork American River is the most challenging fork of the American – rapid after Class IV rapid deliver a 5-mile, early-season California whitewater rafting adventure packed with nearly non-stop, white-knuckling whitewater, followed by a stretch of more gentle Class II-III rapids. Intricate boulder gardens, rushing falls, and staircase drops promise intense paddling and plenty of adrenaline-inspiring thrills for the experienced California whitewater rafting enthusiast. From April through June, snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada thunders with a vengeance through the towering canyon of the North Fork – a beautiful gorge with 2000-foot cliffs, blankets of green grass, colorful wildflowers and black oak and pine forests.
DETAILS:
RIVER RATING: Class IV (Suitable for aggressive beginners to intermediate)
MILES COVERED: 10 river miles with 8 recognizable rapids
AGE LIMIT: Minimum age is 14 (15 at high water)
TRIP LENGTH: 1 Day
BOAT TYPE: Paddle Raft
The North Fork of the Stanislaus River is a unique high sierra run that thunders through five miles of scenic granite gorges and deep alpine forest glens, carpeted with endless wild azaleas, before ending amidst the Giant Sequoia Redwoods in Calaveras Big Trees State Park. The “North Stan,” with its 70 foot per mile gradient, cascades over massive drops and holes, creating huge adrenaline-pumping rapids. This river trip is recommended for paddlers with previous whitewater rafting experience or very aggressive first-time rafters.
DETAILS:
RIVER RATING: Class IV (Suitable for intermediate to advanced rafters)
MILES COVERED: 6 river miles with 8 recognizable rapids
AGE LIMIT: Minimum age is 14 (15 during high water)
LENGTH OF TRIP: 1 Day
BOAT TYPE: Paddle Raft
Sierra Nevada Family Adventure Camp
The ideal family adventure vacation! The four-day Sierra Nevada Family Adventure Camp is sure to delight families, with miles of thrilling California whitewater rafting on the South Fork American River, lake kayaking on Silver Lake amidst alpine peaks dotted with Red fir and Lodgepole pines, hiking through the golden foothills and panning for gold along the banks of the American River in Marshall Gold Discovery State Park. River's Bend, our riverside campground on the South Fork American River, is the ideal place to relax after a day of family vacation fun, with a volleyball court, horseshoe pits, swimming, showers and delicious evening meals prepared by our guides.
DETAILS:
RIVER RATING: Class III (Suitable for beginner to intermediate rafters) with optional Class IV
AGE LIMIT: Minimum age is 7 (12 at high water)
TRIP LENGTH: 4 Days
ACTIVITIES: Lake Kayaking, Rafting, Gold Panning, Inflatable Kayaking
BOAT TYPE: Paddle Raft, Sea Kayak
The South Fork of the American River is the most popular California whitewater rafting destination, with exciting rapids tumbling through rolling, grassy hills sprinkled with deep green oak and pine trees, rocky gorges and early-season wildflowers. Paddle through miles of thrilling, non-stop whitewater that’s ideal for rafters of any experience level. Our South Fork American River rafting trip is perfect for families, groups, or anyone who wants to have a rousing fun time on the river.
DETAILS:
RIVER RATING: Class III (Suitable for beginning to intermediate rafters)
MILES COVERED: 13 river miles with 12 recognizable rapids
AGE LIMIT: Minimum age is 7 (12 at high water)
TRIP LENGTH: 1/2, 1 & 2 Days
BOAT TYPE: Paddle Raft
The Wild & Scenic Tuolumne River is considered THE best California whitewater rafting trip! Its glacier-fed headwaters originate near Yosemite National Park and flow through a remote wilderness canyon. Its steep, spring-green and summer-golden hills are forested with oak and pine and flanked by rocky terraces and sandy beaches – a natural habitat for eagles, ring-tailed cats, river otter and other wildlife. A spectacularly painted canvas of early season wildflowers blankets the canyon in vibrant color. Tumbling creeks, waterfalls, and glassy pools adorn the river corridor and its side canyons – perfect for hiking, fishing, and swimming during your off-river time. We offer a variety of trip length options during the season. Our one day trips are offered in the spring when the water is flowing high and fast, providing 18 miles of non-stop, Class IV rapids with intricate boulder gardens, rushing cascades, and churning holes that promise action-packed paddling. In spring and early summer we offer two day trips, while later in the summer we offer three-day trips once the Tuolumne River flows have slowed down enough to be dam controlled. O.A.R.S. is also excited to offer our gourmet Wine on the River adventures with five-star riverside dining paired with an exceptional variety of California wines tastefully presented by local wine experts.
DETAILS:
RIVER RATING: Class IV+ (Suitable for intermediate to advanced)
MILES COVERED: 18 river miles with 15 recognizable rapids
AGE LIMIT: Minimum age is 12 (15 at high water levels)
TRIP LENGTH: 1, 2, 2 ˝ or 3 Days
BOAT TYPE: Paddle Raft
California whitewater rafting fans will find this one of the toughest rivers in the west. Accordingly, this trip is not recommended for first time rafters as it has some of the most consistently BIG whitewater in California. The Upper Klamath River cuts through volcanic rock in a high desert canyon spanning two states, Oregon and California. This rigorous test of whitewater rafting skill has only been run commercially since 1979. Class IV+ rapids such as Caldera and Hell’s Corner have been challenging rafters and elevating pulses ever since. This thrilling California whitewater rafting adventure is one of the best Class IV runs during late summer, with gradients up to 75 feet per mile in some sections with over 30 major rapids in the 24-mile course!
DETAILS:
RIVER RATING: Class IV+ (suitable for intermediate or advanced rafters)
MILES COVERED: 24 river miles with 30 recognizable rapids
AGE LIMIT: Minimum age is 14 (15 years old at high water conditions)
TRIP LENGTH: 2 Days
BOAT TYPE: Paddle or Oar Raft with paddle assist
