I had an amazing time with Whitewater Adventures. This was honestly one of the most fun and…read morememorable group trips I've done. I went with a group of 10, last July, and it ended up being such a chaotic (in the best way) and bonding experience. We still talk about it to this day. They also offer a group discount, which is worth looking into and made it feel like a really good value for everything included. All of us were first-timers, so we were definitely a little nervous going in, but the staff made it feel really welcoming right away. They gave a quick crash course/overview on how to navigate the water and what to expect, which helped ease a lot of the nerves. I'd say it's very beginner-friendly, just keep in mind it is a Class 2-3 course, so there are still some rocky and more exciting sections. The rafting is self-guided, so there's no guide on your raft, but there is a sweeper raft at the end making sure everyone gets through safely. There was also one section where the rapids got pretty wild, and staff were there helping anyone who got stuck, which I appreciated. Overall, everything felt organized and ran smoothly. We did the 2-day experience, and I'd recommend it if you're comfortable with camping. The overnight stay is outdoors, so just something to keep in mind if you're not used to that. The campsite had a really social vibe with a happy hour, group activities, and just people hanging out, which made it even more fun. The food was honestly better than I expected. We had steak and baked potatoes for dinner, and a breakfast burrito station in the morning. During the rafting, there were also a lot of scenic spots along the way where you could rest and take everything in. I remember passing by what used to be a volcanic site, which was really cool to see. Each raft comes with a waterproof bag for your belongings and lunch, but I'd recommend bringing extra snacks, water or electrolytes, sunscreen, and good water shoes. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this for friend groups, especially if it's your first time rafting. It's a great mix of fun, a little bit of challenge, and just a really unique experience. My friends and I are already planning to go again this year.

This was my first time white water rafting and it was so fun. We were well taken care of from our…read moreinstructors and they cooked us some hearty meals to get us through the day. Made so many new memories here I won't forget.

We camped at the American River Resort and took part in the river rafting. It's $120/person for 4…read morehours session. The first two hours were kind of boring, we were just floating around the river, the last 45 minutes were really fun with lot of adrenaline. Our captain Luke from South Africa was fun and he even brought his speaker to entertain us with songs. The pictures taken by the prof were amazing, we're having fun.

It needs new management. We ask them , prior to paying for…read more2 days , if they had a swimming pool for the 3 kids that we had with us , and they said "YES", then after we set up our trailer we all went to the pool and they said that it's closed for the season , so we asked for our money back so that we could move to a place with a pool and they said , "NO REFUNDS", even though we had only been there for 2 hours. Also , the spots are small , poorly equipped and mosquito infested. I would not recommend this place to anyone.

This was our third time rafting. We've used other companies in the past; first time with River Rat;…read morewhich turned out to be a great decision. We had a group of 24 and used 3 rafts that were spacious enough to accommodate everyone, extra belongings and coolers. The staff were friendly and the price was reasonable. Key takeaways - *These guys have a farther drop zone than their competitors which means longer rafting time. *Unlike their competition, you DON'T have to CARRY YOUR RAFT HALF A MILE TO THE WATER. *Your raft is loaded onto your car by River Rat. *You drive your raft down to the River on a seemingly private road (wasn't an issue at all for us). *Bring $6.00 cash for each vehicle using parking as no cards are accepted at River parking pay booth which is usually manned by someone. *Shuttle time back is approximately 20 minutes give or take. *Shuttle fee is $8.00 per person. Overall, had a great time and am going to continue using them as we've used the others and River Rat proved to be the easiest for us as we work hard and want to relax on the River; not work hard @ hiking to the River carrying a raft

Was part of a huge group -- easy, no frills or too many rules, and lots of fun! It's a good 7 or 8…read moremile stretch down the river.

Had so much fun! Our guide Matt was an expert and ensured we were safe and had a blast. It was a…read moreperfect time to go if you want to avoid crowds as there was just one other group and weather was perfect. The bathrooms and changing rooms at the base were very clean. It was very easy to get our pictures from the third party company afterwards! 10/10!!

We had an 18 person group that did a Riverraft trip with Whitewater excitement. We had a fantastic…read moretime. It was by the book, safe, great fun and well organized. We will do this again. Norm, what a fantastic time. You guys are tops!

friendly, chill, professional, great guides, convenient, excellent lunch. wonderful hands on ownerread more

My party of four signed up to raft the full day south fork July 31, 2025. Three of us had at least…read moresome rafting experience prior to this "beginner" course. We were assigned a guide who, once we were in the raft and on the river, announced that he had limited white water experience and was mostly familiar with float trips. This raised some red flags but we brushed it off thinking Sierra would never put someone ill equipped in a raft, alone with guests. Wrong. We made it through the first few rapids mostly unscathed. We did end up running into other rafts accidentally (the guide admitted to this). He also inadvertently took us through rapids at the same time as other rafts; this happened twice. He also mentioned that he got the raft stuck on a rock the day prior and it took multiple guides and thirty minutes to free it. About an hour in we went through a rapid that all the other rafts traversed with no issue. We slammed into a rock and I went flying out of the raft a slammed into a rock, tumbling down the rapid and hitting multiple rocks along the way. I was able to grab my paddle AND the guide's paddle and swam my way back to the raft. I had multiple scrapes on my left leg and moderate pain in my right lower leg. The guide apologized and said he "forgot there was a rock there." We made it to camp about half an hour later for lunch. I could barely put any pressure on my right leg. I hobbled to a picnic table, hoping a brief rest period would stop the pain. Wrong again. The guide alerted Sierra leadership, who was present at camp, about the incident. NOT A SINGLE REPRESENTATIVE CAME BY TO ASK HOW I WAS FEELING. I could not continue with the trip and had to use a lawn chair found at camp as a make shift walker to get back to the parking lot. Once again, no assistance was offered from Sierra. I picked up a pair of crutches in Sacramento. After flying home and visiting the orthopedist, I was scheduled for surgery a week later because it turned out that the collision with the rock fractured my tibia. I was on crutches for three months, out of work for 7 weeks, and out thousands of dollars. At this point, about four months later, I can barely walk any sort of distance and still have to attend physical therapy. We called Sierra to let them now what happened. They offered to refund my trip but did not follow through until we called back a week later. I trusted Sierra to provide us a good experience with a qualified guide. Could this have happened even with a qualified guide? Yes, but not likely especially on this beginner course. No one else on the trip even fell out of a raft. No one from Sierra ever asked how I was or if I needed assistance. In fact, one gal was rude and indifferent when my husband told her I was injured. If you choose to raft with Sierra make sure you proactively request a seasoned guide. Ask the guide about their credentials BEFORE you get on the river. Do not accept someone with limited experience! It is dangerous and you could end up with a broken leg or worse... To add insult to injury, the lunch sucked.

We had an amazing experience on the south fork of the American river. Our guide was knowledgeable…read moreand friendly, the weather was beautiful, and the river itself is gorgeous. They do a very good job of organizing the day, with a lunch spread that is surprisingly edible. I loved being able to swim a bit in the river, and wish there was more time to do that. The rafting itself was fun, the class 3 rapids were exciting and our group managed to not fall out of the raft due to the expert navigation of our guide. I am looking forward to going back and experiencing some class 4 rapids.

My family of 3 booked a 2-day South Fork trip and it was absolutely fantastic. Alec, our guide, was…read moreinformative, professional, personable, friendly, and lots of fun. He had lots of knowledge about the California gold rush and it was nice to learn about it as an adult who didn't grow up in CA (I'm sure my 12yo loved learning about it too). While we camped at Earthtrek, it was super helpful that our trip included breakfast, 2 lunches (one lunch mid-rafting trip), and dinner. All meals were delicious and it was nice that there were gluten free options. The OARS site is spacious, with clean facilities, and a small shop for items. Now on to the rafting experience! For some background, my husband was the only one who had ever done it so my kiddo and I were newbies. Along with another kiddo and adult, we rafted through class 1-3 rapids and I never felt that we were not safe (despite me being the weakest swimmer in the family). Alec was truly a guide in every sense of the word. He prepped us before taking on the rapids - gave us the route we would take, what to expect in terms of how we were to paddle and what we had to do. We played some fun boat games and spent some time floating in the river which my husband and son loved. Also included were the always fun brain teaser riddles that had all of us entertained during the floating portions of our trip. After completing the class 3 rapids and all staying in the raft, we felt on top of the world and wanted to do more! If you have ever thought about trying white water rafting, do it - you won't regret it! It's truly an experience and a great time in nature with the family. OARS is a professional and inclusive company, with great guides!

A great spot for kayaking. A was a first timer. We called to make reservations. Was told they…read morefilled up quickly. We went at 10am on a Thursday. We were the only ones there, which was nice. Melissa helped us launch and gave us pointers. Clean bathrooms, parking across the street. Will come again.

My boyfriend and I both had no kayaking experience prior to renting a tandem kayak for two hours…read morefrom Suzie. We started first thing in the morning at 10am, so we were able to enjoy the Delta breeze before the heat of the afternoon arrived. Prior to arriving, we made a reservation online: we requested the time and date we wanted to kayak two days prior to our actual date, put a $25 deposit down, and also noted that we wanted to pick blackberries (the website says blackberries are in season from now 'til end of August-ish). Upon arrival, we turned into the wrong area -- look for the tiki-looking hit floating next to the Lighthouse Bar & Grill! We caught onto the mechanics of kayaking fairly quick for absolute beginners -- the still waters in the route she gave us did help -- and spent a lot of time maneuvering to get the kayak close enough to the blackberry vines. To protect your hands further, bring gloves. Suzie gave us a drawn map of where to kayak for the blackberries and, if we had enough time aside from picking, to kayak to a private beach area of some sort. We didn't have enough time, but I'd highly consider renting for 3 hours instead for more time to enjoy the Delta, pick, and make it to the beach and back. You can also bring a sandwich or lunch if you make it to the beach area or take a break in the more still waters, just pack it in a waterproof container. Suzie was sweet and very helpful for us newbies -- we also called her when we made a wrong turn to clarify that we were in the right area. Will happily come back again to rent from Suzie!

We've rafted twice more with All-Outdoors since my last review - Goodwin Canyon in October 2022,…read moreand then Middle Fork American River again this past month (both 1-day trips). The last time we rafted Middle Fork American was on a cold, gloomy, drizzling day in October 2019 - so we had to give it another go in warmer weather. This time around was just as memorable. Two of us in the boat ended up falling out in the water at Tunnel Chute, which happened so fast that I barely knew what had happened - thankfully, there was a nice calmer stretch of water right after through the river tunnel, so we were easily able to get back into the raft. (Thank you to our guide, Troy, for hauling me back in, and for being an awesome guide in general!) Plus this was one of the photographer spots, so the action was all captured for us to laugh about later. Later, after our tasty sandwich picnic lunch, we had a few unexpected events happen, starting from the portage down Ruck-a-Chucky Falls. Shout-out to all three guides in our group - Troy, Shea, and AJ - for handling things so calmly and getting us all back where we were supposed to be! We had plenty of calm stretches floating down the river as well. The canyon is beautiful and quite peaceful. We saw a ton of dragonflies flying above our heads, masked ducks chilling on rocks and diving underwater, and wild grapes and blackberries growing alongside the river. We'll be back again for another trip with All-Outdoors! Maybe we'll try a 2-day or 3-day trip next time.

This rafting company is the best! We did the South Fork of the American River and had a blast. I…read morehighly recommend this trip and company. Ask for Markus to be your guide. You won't be disappointed.

I'm so glad I found H20 Adventures! We had so much fun on the half day South Fork lower gorge run…read more This is rated class 2/3 and perfect for the beginner like myself. I was really nervous at first and honestly wanted lazy river rafting with zero rapids, but after the experience with H20, I'm excited to plan another trip with them. The scenery was amazing, the late March weather was warm and as expected freezing water. We were provided with helmets, wetsuits, and splash jackets, this kept us warm and comfortable. You should bring water bottles and sunblock on the raft. Your other belongings are safely locked up prior to launch. You can also bring waterproof cameras or phones, be sure they are securely strapped to you (like chest or wrist strap, or helmet mount) they do have a professional cameraman kayaker Kevin taking amazing shots along the way so don't worry about not bringing your own camera. Nico, our tour guide was skilled, knowledgeable, and entertaining, and incredibly nice. We also had the opportunity to interact with the other tour guides Kyla and Martina who led the other two rafts on our 3 craft convoy down the river. If you are looking for something to do with your family this summer, I highly recommend H20. Get your reservations asap.

Went on a late April trip on the Yuba river and had a great time! Devin was an amazing raft guide…read moreand it was cool listening to him talk about the area and how to navigate each part of the river. The whole staff is really fun to be around and good at what they do would definitely recommend them and the Yuba trip