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    Whitewater Voyages

    4.8 (284 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Fun down the Lower Kern: Jungle Run.
    Brad T.

    Wonderful trip down the Lower Kern: Jungle Run. We had a group of 20. Guides made our trip fun, safe and enjoyable. Most of the boys hadn't been rafting before and everyone made our run down the river fun. We will be back.

    Kiddo's scouting the rapids! They loved it!!

    An Unforgettable Ride with Whitewater Voyages -- More Than Just a River Trip From the moment we arrived in Kernville, it was clear we were in the hands of masters of the river--but what truly set Whitewater Voyages apart was their blend of expert professionalism, deep local knowledge, and a genuine, joyful passion for the Kern. Every guide on our trip was not just highly trained and safety-conscious (which they absolutely were), but also incredibly human--sharing river lore, teaching paddle techniques with patience and humor, and creating a kind of floating camaraderie that's rare to find anywhere, let alone on a raging Class IV rapid. The Kern River itself is pure magic: rugged, raw, and untamed in the best way. But with Whitewater Voyages, it became something more--a living classroom, a thrill ride, and a spiritual experience all in one. Whether we were navigating churning whitewater or floating through quiet granite canyons, our guides knew when to amp up the energy and when to let the stillness speak. Shoutout to the entire crew for creating not just a trip, but a memory--one of those rare experiences that pulls you out of daily life and reminds you you're alive. If you're looking for a river trip that's equal parts adrenaline, beauty, and soul, this is it. I've rafted in half a dozen places across the U.S. and nothing touches the heart of the experience like Whitewater Voyages on the Kern.

    Steve T.

    Great trip with my kids rafting down the Kern River for my 82nd birthday. Steve our guide was amazing. If you ever need an expert rafting guide, he's your man. The company was well organized and equipment was in very good condition. Nice array of cloths to purchase. Only knock was the photographer took poor photos and wasn't in a good location. Needed to be by class 3 rapid.

    Our crew on the Kern River
    Scott B.

    Great experience overall We had 4 families on the 2 day with overnight camping trip on the Kern River trip. EB and Maxim were our guides on subsequent days. The were fun, informative and made the overall experience great!

    Great time going down river!

    Our Group of 9 were split between 2 rafts and we did the full day "Big Water" trip. We had 5 adults and 4 adolescents between ages of 14-17. Our guides KP and Steve were outstanding, they did an excellent job of communicating with us, providing safety, and reassurance for several beginners in our group. They had such an awesome first experience thanks to them, they are already talking about doing it again soon. The whole crew at Whitewater Voyages were down to earth and professional. The lunch that was provided was excellent and prepared well with snacks, drinks, and a sandwich spread that amazing! Can't thank them enough for the wonderful exp

    Shadi R.

    We have been going on white river rafting tours with this amazing company for the past two years, and each experience has been nothing short of incredible! From the moment you call to book your trip, the kindness and professionalism of the staff shine through. They take the time to explain everything thoroughly, ensuring you feel completely prepared and excited for the adventure ahead. The guides are a perfect blend of fun and responsibility. They make safety a top priority while still ensuring that the entire experience is an absolute blast. My 10-year-old daughter had the time of her life, and the guides were fantastic with her, making her feel confident and involved throughout the trip. Not only are the rafting trips exhilarating, but the guides also take the time to educate you about the river, its ecosystem, and the surrounding nature. This added layer of learning makes the adventure even more enriching and memorable. A special shout-out to the photographer who captures the most wonderful moments of the trip. The photos are stunning and truly worth every dime. They provide us with beautiful memories that we can look back on and cherish forever. We've decided that this will be a yearly tradition for our family, thanks to the exceptional experiences we've had. I highly recommend this rafting tour company to anyone looking for an unforgettable, fun, and educational adventure. Thank you to the wonderful team for making our trips so special! Chase was our instructor last year and he was so incredible so fun and kept us safe

    Courtney D.

    Another amazing experience with Whitewater Voyages ! Kata was an amazing knowledgeable guide! We had such a great time and will never forget our trip! Highly recommend this business for your white water rafting.

    Rafting down the river
    Kirill G.

    Was my friends birthday and we booked online rafting in advance. What I recommend other to do. They always busy. I'll be honest what I didn't like is that the didn't mention that we need to have some shoes on to go rafting. We had to purchase special water shoes next door since they didn't have right size for rental. Sam was excellent instruction and it was fantastic experience to ride with him in the boat. Would defiantly come back for more rafting. PS, make sure to have sunscreen, water and some snacks. The price for the pictures is $75. I wish they can make videos from them boat. Maybe in the future they will. Overall, awesome!

    It's called whitewater for a reason!!
    jules f.

    I took my family of adults on the Big River tour with Mike as our guide. This program is very professionally run, with excellent equipment and guides. I was impressed with the entry speech from one of the land staff. She looked us over carefully and warned us what we'd be losing in the river if we didn't leave it behind so we headed out with just the clothes on our bodies and grins on our faces. Because my sons are all in their early 20s, we opted for the Big River Class IV trip and HOLY #*%$&! that is a fast, spooky tour! On the bus ride to the put-in, the lead guide introduced herself and the other guides and once we arrived, she gave explicitly detailed instructions. We had been on Class II and III before, and thought we would be prepared. This river is seriously fast. And we went overboard (had an "out of boat experience") during one of the early, larger rapids. We all got back into the boat relatively quickly but we're very able-bodied adults. There was another group with several minor children - having been under that angry, churning water, there is NO WAY I would take this tour with anyone under 18 for safety's sake. The lunch was pretty good for my meat eaters. I stated on the form that I'm vegan so my option was peanut butter and jelly (there was no world of safety from cross-contamination as everyone just went through the lineup and grabbed food bare-handed to create their own sandwiches - it's a post-covid world, folks.) They put out a bag of baby carrots and a small container of hummus and passed a tray of cut oranges and apples as the guides worked on setting up lunch. There was ample water, lemonade, and a bag of trail mix, but we were told we got one paper cup and that was it. A little better lunch planning would improve this tour. It would have been more efficient and sanitary if they had taken sandwich orders at registration and prepared them so they could quickly hand them out instead of trying to set up a self-serve sandwich bar. And for those with dietary restrictions, it's far safer. The little area we had lunch in was charming, with a flow of quicker water that you could float through without getting swept into the river. After lunch, there was a jump-off cliff that many of the rafters tried - made for a cool photo op but for some reason , none of the 5 people who tried it in our group were photographed so I have no proof, just memories. When we hit the Big Five I was so seriously spooked I feel like I dissociated. All I know is that when Mike said we were heading into the last one, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Folks, it's a lovely river when it's flat but once those rapids hit, it's scary out there - this is not a trip for the timid or even the mild adventurer. When you're underwater in that river, you could die. There's a reason you sign a waiver. Each of my group of 6 had their own tale to tell from our time underwater, and we made indelible memories. I'm glad we did it but we're staying out of Class IV from here on out. Special shout out to Mike, our awesome guide. He kept us in check and after that first flip we remained super solid with his strong guidance. He's so knowledgeable about the area and has been doing this for over a decade so I truly felt we were in good hands. Thanks, Mike and thanks, Whitewater Voyages!

    Linda M.

    The crew was so nice and fun, we had a great time! Water was perfect and the run was easy enough for us first timers

    rafting trip (on the water)
    Sasha T.

    had a fantastic first time rafting with this company! I initially felt like it was a little pricey per person but for how long the trip is (we did half day, 8 am to about noon) and for everything that's included (gear, bus over to the location etc) I think it's fair! We went end of July, the day was HOT but water was still pretty cold, refreshing. We got a chance to float off the raft a bit and jump off a little cliff as well :) Actual trip was super fun!!! We had an awesome cutie guide named Isaac (unsure of spelling) who did an amazing job leading us, very friendly, sweet, and told us some fun stories about the river / the area / the job etc. We all felt very safe being led even through the trickier more intense rapids, I'm an anxious person at times and I felt very comfortable! Would definitely go again and maybe even try a harder class Route. Only cons I would say, is im assuming because the company doesn't want to hold responsibility, we couldn't really bring our phones and I feel like I totally missed out on photo opportunities. Photo I uploaded was taken by my friend, who DID bring her phone. I wasn't really clear on exactly what to expect in terms of where our stuff will be etc while rafting but now that I know, I would definitely have been fine bringing my phone in a little waterproof bag thing. Now the only photos would be the expensive ones they sell. Oh well. Next time! :)

    Jazelyn W.

    Went rafting today with Whiskey Flats Mayor/River Rat Ryan Merckle and our Tater Michelle as our guides and couldn't have asked for a better time!! It was my very first time rafting as well as my nieces and they took great care of us.. if rafting is something you're even just considering, this is your sign to do iiiiitt!!! Thank you Whitewater Voyages, thank you Merckle and thank you Michelle!! And for the life of me I cannot remember our bus drivers name (I'm sooorry) BUT thank you too!! You were fantastic and we appreciate the cold beverages at the end of our adventure... 10000000% would recommend this company to anyone and everyone!!

    our group on the kern river 7/2023
    Anwat S.

    1st time rafting. Had a great experience. Everything was very organized, groups were small and each guide took care of their own people. It was very personal, you got to know the other folks in your boat over the day, since you're all depending on each other. Our guide, Kirk, knew what he was doing and kept us all on the boat. He knew a lot about the river and the surrounding area, he lives just across the mountain from the river. It was a great experience and I highly recommend it to anyone interested. When we pulled out, the owner of the company was there to greet everyone and actually drove the bus back to the starting point. Great group of people working there! One thing I should warn you about: As you drive there, you will be looking at the river. Don't worry, the section you run is not the section you see driving up. We almost chickened out based on the water we saw driving there. We were later told that section is considered impassible by raft. Which I believe!

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    The entire experience was well organized , our guide Luther was patient and amazing and we had so much fun! Our kids enjoyed it did we

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Whitewater Voyages

    Hi what are the rates and how long is the trip? Are there any group deals?

    Group deals for 12 or more. $167.96 per person for 1 day Big Water Trip. Saves approx $30 per person.

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    Review Highlights - Whitewater Voyages

    We originally booked the upper Kern but the water level was too low and switched to Day 2 of the lower Kern.

    Mentioned in 41 reviews

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    Kern River Outfitters - Kern Glamping Tents

    Kern River Outfitters

    4.9(360 reviews)
    3.9 mi

    We had a BLAST rafting with Kern River Outfitters. We were a party of 12 with kids ranging in age…read morefrom 10-15 plus adults and the whole experience was perfect for all ages! The guides were exceptional - we were led by Jackson and our guides on the rafts were Scott and Anneke. They gave us all of the important safety information (in a fun, engaging way) and once we were on the rafts they gave us clear direction (forward 1! Back 1!), talked about the rapids and local points of interest while making the trip super fun for everyone. The first time down the rapids helped our group get comfortable with what to expect. And on the second trip down the fun really increased! They let the kids "ride the bull" and get silly (all while feeling super safe!). We're planning to come back for a 2- day trip once all of our kids are old enough. Highly recommend!!!

    If you're looking for a great time, this is the place! Get going while the river water is flowing!…read more This place has great guides and they put your safety first. I went for a full day of rafting and it was great. We rode the upper Kern. The cold water felt great on such a hot day. John was our guide. He was great. You'll have a great time with any of the guides! They're all really fun. It would have been great to be able to jump off your raft and swap to another raft just for fun. The lunch provided was not bad. Sandwiches, cookies, fruit, and lemonade. Definitely would come back to raft with them again!

    Photos
    Kern River Outfitters - Riverside Glamping

    Riverside Glamping

    Kern River Outfitters
    Kern River Outfitters

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    Kern River Tours - After pic, thanks Chris for the ice cold bath!

    Kern River Tours

    4.7(55 reviews)
    10.4 mi

    Wow! What an amazing find. This place totally exceeded my expectations. From the moment we walked…read morein, the staff was super friendly and attentive.

    So this trip was definitely a spontaneous one - we planned it on Monday to go Saturday (today) and…read moreI am saying "spontaneous" because its the summer time and usually these kind of activities are full. Well that was the case for many of these tours. However, I stumbled across Kern River Tours and decided to give them a call. Luckily, they had open spots for us and even gave us a discount for being a first timer! We all saved almost $10!!! The lady over the phone for reservations was super friendly and nice. Since it was our first time, I had a lot, I mean A LOT of questions and she was just so helpful and patient throughout the whole reservation process. It was a quick over the phone reservation and the confirmation email came right away after I booked it. The email is very detailed with the trip and my order but also a list of items I should bring to the trip. It was very informative! Now to the activity. We came and we were instantly greeted by the friendly staff and even if we were a group of 7, after determining that it was safe for all of us on one raft, they let us all be in one which was awesome! Our leader Matt was very experienced and provided us the most smooth yet exciting experience during our II & III Express trip. We had a few fun splashes and Matt did a phenomenal job leading the group. They also had soft drinks ready for us at the bus and also watermelons at the shop upon our return! Awesome customer service! We definitely remembered to tip our team leader. And the best part was that I did not feel pressured to do so which a-lot of these activity places do - pressure you to tip but Kern River Tour did not. That was also awesome. I also bought the pictures during the trip which is pretty cool since you can't really take a selfie when you're on the raft paddling away! They were $50 plus tax - a little over $53 total for 25 images. It may seem overpriced but also who can stand and take all these action photos for you while you paddle away. Overall, the experience was great and I definitely recommend others to try!

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    Kern River Tours
    Kern River Tours
    Kern River Tours

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    Kern River

    Kern River

    4.1(12 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Oh how I completely love the Kern River!! I have been going for 24 years. It has never been as…read morebeautiful and full as it is now. One of my dearest friends is a seasoned river rafter. When we go river rafting, we mainly stay @ Headquarters or Sandy Flat Campground. This past weekend, we stayed at Sandy Flat. It was amazing. It is right off the river. The river was full and had power. I will add official stats by this weekend. My favorite group of runs is called The Jungle. (I will fact check this). I think that a great run was called Dilly. It is a class 4!! OMGoodness, it was wild & fun. Once more rafters arrived we went on another run. I will get the official names. One is named ... something Deli. Anyways, EPIC FUN. I forgot my wetsuit. I just went on June 3rd. The water was C O L D. Our guide, Doug, told us NOT to bring our phones. I wish I would have remembered my Go - Pro. We were lucky that the 178 reopened for the drive home. It was 93 degrees. I was mesmerized by the river. I couldn't stop watching it on the drive home.

    The Kern River is beautiful…read more This review is based on a first timers camping visit. Coming up here from San Diego we didn't really know what to expect other than we might have an opportunity to tube down the river. So everyone in our group brought river tubes. That was our first miscalculation. Aperently tubing depends on the season, recent weather conditions, and various natural events that really narrow the scope of when you can tube safety. Also consider how you plan to get back up to your campsite after you tube down the river a few miles.. Ideally you rent tubes from a company that also shuttles you back up the river. If you don't want to rent tubs someone in your group has to pick you up and drive you back, which is a pain. There is no cell service and no uber... The Kern River is best suited for kayaking and rafting. There are many companies in kernville that offer those services. Camping. If you're looking to camp along the river during the summer you need to think about booking in January. During our stay mid-June, the entire river was booked solid.. We stayed at Sandy Flats campgroup which had a small beach area by the river. Litter bugs. One of the most discouraging things to see along the river was the amount of trash that people leave behind. The number one item? Used diapers.. If you can manage to visit midweek, and be prepared to use a kayak/rafting company you will have an epic time. Note - Sequoia National Park is about an hours drive away. Makes for a great day trip.

    Photos
    Kern River
    Kern River - Camping on the Kern River

    Camping on the Kern River

    Kern River

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    Whitewater Voyages - rafting - Updated May 2026

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