What a wonderful adventure! My girlfriend and I took our girls for their 40th Birthday. Well organized, friendly fun and funny crew! Weather stayed nice and the lunch time break was simple and very good. You can tell this company hires the best to be the crew on these expeditions. Tim was absolutely wonderful as our guide and knowledgeable about the area as well. We will definitely be back! read more

We enjoyed!!! Our guide Owen was very skilled and it was lots of fun!!! Not only rafting but jumping into the river from the rock, and a section where you float in the river. Highly recommend. We'll go back again. read more

Ran the rapids!! Zephyr aspired to its name, we breezed down the Merced River. The crew at Zephyr gave us a great time, the bus/van rides were comfortable and secure. The instructions for our safety were on point, not to much not to little. Our guide Cody was quite knowledgeable on the water and extremely talkative, which made our voyage interesting and enjoyable. Thanks to all at Zephyr Whitewater... read more

Zephyr Whitewater Rafting - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Columbia, California

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It was great. Explained safety and how to manage the rapids. The Photos were very done and great to share with family.

Very relaxing ride, with just enough excitement. Our guide Carson was amazing! This was a last minute trip and staff could not have been more accommodating. Highly recommend!!! read more

A trip of a lifetime! The river was was high and the rapids were rapid.... maximum fun for your 60 something group. It was our first trip on higher than level 2 rapids and we were a little nervous, but the Zephyr crew was amazing and extremely competent. Shout out to Danny our man at the helm ... and everyone on the team including the photographer who captured every amazing momment. read more

We just did a half-day trip with Zephyr on the Merced as a side trip when we were visiting Yosemite. We had an absolute blast! Everybody at Zephyr was friendly, fun, and clearly very experienced, and they made it one of the best days of our trip. Franz was our guide and he was awesome. And the photos the photographers took of our family were fantastic and extremely well-priced for how many you got! I, my husband, and our 3 teen daughters all had a great time and it was a true highlight of our vacation -- highly recommend! read more

Zephyr Whitewater Rafting - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Columbia, California

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The kids had a ton of fun. Just the right mix of level 1,2,3 &4 rapids for the whole family to enjoy!

Wonderful morning on the river with our amazing guide Heather. The raft adventure was perfect for our family.

AWESOME team of people. Safety first mindset, to include 2 kayakers to help w overboard swimmers. Water is no joke at this time (May '23) and really a ton of fun. Our raft leader (Maggie) was exceptional--commanding, knowledgable and extremely positive. read more

Zephyr Whitewater Rafting - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Columbia, California

10/10 experience!! Lots of fun, the guides are incredible and got great personalities which really makes the trip. Would definitely recommend for people who want to see beautiful views and go on an adventure!! read more

Our FIRST EVER family rafting trip 6/25. Our guide was Brian. We were totally impressed by the experience, knowledge, and organization of the entire staff and crew members. Everything was perfect. We felt safe and we had so much fun. I would definitely do this again and I wouldn't go anywhere else. The photos after were awesome! Everyone was fun and happy and really made us feel comfortable. Thank you all! read more

Went with Dane from Zephyr on the Merced high water year! I'm so impressed with the level of safety taken by this company. They used a kayak for possible water rescue, which was needed by another boat. The kayak actually rescued two swimmers, it was amazing to see. Before this rapid they even had to unfortunately ask a less agile person to leave our raft and I'm glad he did after seeing other boat. It was very appreciated the level of safety this company showed. We had an AMAZING but SAFE high water experience on the Merced. read more

Zephyr Whitewater Rafting - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Columbia, California

Awesome price ,great time ,great food ,nice camping, very experienced guides,thanks guys read more

Zephyr Whitewater Rafting - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Columbia, California

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We had an excellent time with Zephyr Whitewater Rafting on the Merced River. For many in our group, this was their first time doing whitewater rafting. The guides were all very professional and personable and helped us to have a great time. Dane was our guide and he was fantastic! I would highly recommend going with them whether it is your first time or you've been doing this for years. read more

This was my first time whitewater rafting and it was INCREDIBLE! I was so scared in the beginning, but our awesome guide Trevor made me feel more comfortable in the raft. They provide all the gear needed for the trip. After the trip, they provide you with complimentary beverages. There's a photographer following your raft through the trip which is awesome because you get really great pictures (costs extra $ to purchase photos, but totally worth it) without having to bring your own camera or phone on board. We're already planning our next trip with them! read more

Zephyr Whitewater Rafting - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Columbia, California

Great experience!!! Our new family hobby is whitewater rafting and we had a great time with the Zephyr crew. Trevor was our guide and he was a great leader. (We loved Jett & Kathy too) Our son loved split rock and corner pocket and loveddd the rock jump at the beach. The Merced river is beautiful and offered so many peaceful moments with wildlife. read more

Zephyr Whitewater Rafting - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Columbia, California

Such an awesome experience! The staff is so knowledgeable, safe, and informative, we knew we were in great hands from the start even though this was our first white water rafting experience. Maggie and Hennessy were both amazing. Would highly recommend! read more

The best day with the best guides! Everything about their experience was top notch. Everyone that works for Zephyr is so much fun to be around and we had the greatest time rafting down the Merced. Don't look anywhere else! read more

Zephry operates rafting services on several rivers in California. We went on the Kings River trip. Getting here is an experience. Their base camp is located on Trimmer Springs Road just past Kirch Flat Campground. It will take you about an hour and a half from Highway 99 to reach them. This is an extremely remote area. There are no services. There is no phone, electricity or running water. Cell phone service is available at one spot about 15 minutes south of the camp) look for the large turnout with a wooden "cell site" sign. The camp does have a satellite phone for emergencies. The nearest store is a one hour drive back down the canyon. The camp is very basic. The bathrooms are clean, again there is no running water but the toilets are RV type and flush with water from the river. There is one outdoor shower. Camping is a typical rustic campsite. There is poison oak in the camp area and rattlesnakes so be careful where you walk and camp. They offer several packages, we went with the 2 day/2 night package. We opted out of the food package, it added quite a bit to the price. There was another group that did get the food provided. It was actually impressive with dinner including tri tip, corn and salad. The staff does a good job for lacking a modern kitchen. On the days you raft, you board a bus. It is an hour ride further up the canyon on an old school bus. This was the most terrifying part of the trip. We had to cross an old bridge that was straight out of Universal Studios. The single lane dirt road stretched high above the river with a sheer drop on the right side of the bus. At one point, we had to get out to walk a section of road while they drove the bus across a scary damaged area. At the 'put in' area, you are suited up with a life vest and given instructions and brief training. An experienced guide is in each boat. We went in mid-July. The rapids were a class 3, the river was flowing at about 6000 CFS. I felt safe with my 10 year old on the trip. They have a minimum age limit of 7. The rafting was great and loads of fun. The guide had intimate knowledge of the river and knew the names of the various rapids and even some of the more significant rock hazards. You will get soaked on the rapids. Bring a waterproof camera or you may be able to buy pictures from the various professional photographers they partner with that position themselves along the river. We got some great pictures from them though there is a cost for this. You are able to swim in certain areas of the river. The current is very strong so be careful, watch your kids and do not swim alone. On the rafting trip, there was an area called "forever eddy" where the current circled and basically you could jump in and circle around and around on the river. Although other trips stopped here and let everyone swim, we did not. Apparently this was due to "time considerations." The staff was in a hurry to get back to start on dinner for the other group. This was the only bummer of the trip because we got shorted. All in all, this is a great experience and something you can take the whole family to. read more

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This is amazing time. Zephyr takes care of you - they have the best guides to get you down the river safely while having tons of fun and providing knowledgeable facts about the wildlife, environment and other interesting historical facts. Plus they provide great meals and a picturesque ride up to the boat launch site in a 1960's old school bus. So much fun! I recommend it for the whole family, friends getting together to celebrate for a few days or just to see a part of beautiful California by yourself. You won't regret it. read more

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This is my 7th trip with Zephyr on the Kings River (and my 6th with my wife and son.) We continue to bring our friends and son's friends and Zephyr never disappoints. We love the camp, the rafting, the food and the guides. The great experience starts with dealing with office staff, continues with everything on the river and ends with the amazing memories. I have been on many great rivers with quality outfitters, but there is just something very special about the Kings River and Zephyr that keeps me coming back. (This trip is great for beginners, families with kids, couples and even experienced rafters.) read more

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They were absolutely amazing !! My son is special needs ,but we make sure he does as much as possible. The entire crew were more than comfortable with it and Cory was amazing with him and his need to paddle constantly .. lol 5 stars is truly not enough !!! 10 stars all the way . Staci and Brad McGinnes June 5,2021 Cory Am Merced River read more

We had an amazing trip! My boys are 9 and 11 and I was a concerned to take them rafting. However, they paired us with Bill, a great rafting guide with over 40 years of experience and a 4th grade teacher to boot. He was PERFECT for our family. We had a fun, safe, and exciting trip. The stuff of memories and dreams for my boys. We all loved it and cannot say enough good things about our Zephyr experience. The guides were amazing and the food yummy - they all took great care of us throughout our 2-day stay. Highly recommend this company and grateful for such a fun trip! read more

Amazing staff. Had great tour guides Sadie and Ry. They provide wet suits, life jackets, water shoes, water jackets, and helmets. Water is freezing so definitely recommend wearing all I just listed. read more

The best rafting company out there. This was my second trip and they always make it memorable. The guides are amazing, fun, and make you feel like you are part of the family. If you want a great rafting and or camping trip, this is the best place to start. read more

Seriously, one of the coolest things I've ever done!! I did a 1 day trip on the Kings. Our guide, Eric, totally made the experience what it was. He was incredible!! In addition, the lunch spread was perfect - hummus and crackers, tons of fresh fruits and veggies along with all the sandwich fixings one could want. Highly recommend!!! read more

Zephyr Whitewater Rafting - Our crew with our guide, Eric! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Columbia, California

We had an AWESOME time with Zephyr Whitewater Rafting @ Merced. Our guide Sean was laid back, fun and totally knew what he was doing. If you are doing a Merced River white water rafting, I recommend the full day (vs half day). There were couple Grade 4 rapids we had at the end of the trip (not included with half day trips) that should not be missed! Make sure you take: 1) poly pro top & bottom (that you can wear under the wetsuit) - again it'll make a huge difference on staying warm. Water is FREEZING! 2) Woolen socks (no cotton!) - this will make a HUGE HUGE difference. 3) Your own water bottle (filled with water) 4) Sunscreen 5) I think having a pair of sunglasses with the band to keep it secure is a good idea. I didn't have my sunglasses and at times it was difficult to keep my eyes open. Sunglasses are particularly useful for contact lens wearers. They provide wet suit, wind blocker, wool sweater, helmet, and life jacket so you really don't have to take much else. Thank you Zephyr for giving us a memorable white water rafting experience! read more

I'm sure everyone's experience will be different depending on which river, how rapid it is, and their guide, but having dealt with another rafting company before (mainly W.E.T who I would not recommend), I found Zephyr to be absolutely awesome, helpful, and honest. Because of my bad experience with W.E.T, I wanted to make absolutely sure that the river we chose had fun rapids and was not mostly flat. I didn't want to be bored as I had been with W.E.T on the south fork river (even tho they kept saying there was going to be a lot of rapids..it was mainly flat). Speaking with Bob @ Zephyr, he really listened to what I wanted and made the recommendation of Merced River (and boy did he deliver! It was an exciting river with many Class 3/4 rapids). He was very patient with all the questions I had and also honest. When I asked him about the camping options (again had a horrible camping experience with W.E.T), he was honest in saying if some of the campgrounds were too crowded, etc. What's great about Zephyr too is that they include the wetsuit in the price. Most of the other companies, you have to pay additional for the wetsuit. They also gave us wool sweaters, jacket, and helmet too. A little smelly but that's gonna be a given with wet clothing. On to the day of: because the water levels were high, they gave us a little swim test for safety reasons. We were a group of 8 so we split into 2 groups. All of us LOVED our guides: Sean and Bob. Sean was my guide, and he just rocks!! Very friendly and playful, fun, and an experienced guide. Able to keep the conversation going and keep things fun. Some of his family also work at Zephyr so you know he's someone who's done this for awhile even though he's young. The other group also raved about their guide Bob, saying similar things. The lunch they provided consisted of sandwiches and cookies...the tuna salad was yummy. The additional drinks at the end of the trip was nice too. Also, for the Merced river meeting spot, there's an RV campground next door where you can use bathrooms and the hot shower which was awesome, esp coming from the FREEZING merced waters (def wear wool socks if u come during the cold water season). Overall just a fun and exciting, well organized rafting experience. I felt that everyone there really cared about their clients and wanted to show them a good time while still being safe. I know I will be using Zephyr again! read more

We went on the two-day Tuolumne trip last year and had a blast! The general store you meet at it kind of in the middle of nowhere and isn't a general store anymore, so don't count on buying any last-minute essentials there. When the trip is over, that's where you'll be able to look at your photos. There's a big dirt parking lot where you separate your gear into what's getting packed onto the rafts (i.e. you won't see this gear until you stop for the evening) and what's going into your day bag (each boat has a wet bag, but if you bring your own it will be more convenient for your sunblock, snacks, etc.). The trip to the put-in is down a seriously hairy canyon, so if you get motion sickness, be sure to pack your meds in your day bag. Down at the water, you get fitted with your pfd and helmet and get safety training and rowing practice. Pay attention or you'll end up getting knocked out of the raft later. I ended up bringing way too many snacks. These people feed you magnificently. You can bring beer, but make sure it's in cans (no glass on the river!). They also have a great drinking water filter, so don't bring bottled water - just your reusable bottles. The water is fast and cold, so wear protective clothing that you can move in. They manage to make the stops by great swimming holes, so make sure you take advantage of that. Bring towels! The guides are wonderful. Pay attention to them and you'll have an incredible time. read more

Had so much fun on our 1/2 day trip on the Merced River, can't wait to do a 1 day trip next year. Timing is the key on planning a trip as in our case, later in the season the water level is too low so the 1 day trip wasn't offered. This is an adventure everyone should try. Loved it!! read more

Our second fantastic year in Kings Canyon. Very knowledgable and friendly guides who do especially well with children - telling them jokes, and as willing to play volleyball with them as to teach them about the river. The food is good if basic. The river experience itself is great. Kings Canyon is a wild place, and you absolutely come away feeling like you've just enjoyed a rare human experience. A couple of minor things: 1. The staircase down from the road to the overnight camping area is nothing less than "accidental death lawsuit in waiting." Please PLEASE put some real effort into making this accessible for all people of all ages (especially parents carrying tents and camping coolers), not just mountain goats and gymnasts. Stair heights of two feet, iron rebar protruding in the middle of the path, and a slope of close to 45º. Sooner or later someone's gonna go down HARD on this staircase and then they will own Zephyr - if they live. 2. Please make some coffee a little earlier. General consensus among the group: We can wait forever for breakfast if we could just have some coffee at dawn! Can't wait til next year. read more

We had an amazing trip down the Kings with our fantastic guide, Mary. The scenery was excellent, the water was perfectly refreshing, and we even saw a Bald Eagle to boot! The whitewater was perfectly challenging with excitement but time to enjoy the gorgeous kings canyon in between paddling. Thanks Zephyr! read more

i definitely recommended this one to anyone who asked me which one we chose for the Memorial day escapade. Nothing's better than knowing youre in good hands. They do provide you with very skilled and seasoned rafters, pretty much equipped, and very friendly staff..... (Hello andy! it was so nice to meet you, too bad you didnt enjoy our company) Kudos to Shawn,,for his welcoming attitude and his warm smile--making u feel safe from start to finish. If you decide to do the whole day trip,,they provide you with lunch-- food was okay,, although i didnt have time to look how they prepared it while we were having fun taking off the wet suits for lunch... Will definitely do it with them in case i go back. I agree with Dennis,, Zephyr is awesome,, they should get a 5-star! read more

This was a great experience! It was my first time rafting but won't be my last time. Friendly and very knowledgeable staff members. Beautiful Yosemite and tons of great memories! read more

Disappointed that DVD's (just stills on a USB) of the trip were not offered! We have them from other companies and love them. We went on the 2-day trip with the option to stay the night before. Highly recommend that option. We were lucky to have two guides, Jeremiah one day and Mary the next, both awesome and fun! the base camp, food, and staff were all great! read more

I had the BEST time with Zephyr (and SunCal Adventure group - see review below by Michael M.). Tessa was an AMAZING rafting guide. I cant wait to go back. read more

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My family of 4 booked a trip via their website towards the end of July. The Merced river was still running well and we were able to take our 7 and 9 year old down it for the 1/2 day trip. They were the best priced in the area and our experience was excellent. Our guide was professional and knowledgeable. The put in point is across the street, so after the initial paperwork and safety brief the fun starts immediately. We went down several class 3 and 1 class 4 rapids and it was great! At several points along the river you have a chance to jump out and swim before tackling more rapids, that is if you haven't fallen out already. It happened to a member in our party but nothing to worry about, the staff is fully trained and you are safe the whole time. The rafts fit 6 plus the guide and you go down the river with about 6-7 other rafts. You will be spread out so you get privacy but close enough that if something happens there are our guides to help. At the end you are picked up in a bus and drinks are provided, so if you do the 1/2 day trip then water is really needed. Great for family's with kids! read more

Whitewater rafting on Kings River is so much fun and it's even more fun when you don't have to worry about all the details. That's the beauty of going on trips with a group like Zephyr. You pay one price, your food, everything related to rafting, and all the little details (minus your sleeping conditions) are all taken care of for you. The guides are awesome and really know their stuff when it comes to the river. The food is good too. Come out and see the outdoors! read more

We are at this place for July 4th weekend and it's really awesome. They have an awesome camping place, really nice and helping crew. Rafting was a real cool experience. I have been to rafting before in PA and other places, but this was the best I have seen from all perspectives like, training, guiding and fun. I would recommend everyone if you are looking for a real great deal for camping and rafting. read more