What travel company is the best for river rafting on the American River in northern California and when would be the best time to go?
November 6, 2008 4:41 PM Subscribe
What travel company is the best for river rafting on the American River in northern California and when would be the best time to go?
That's a big river you're talking about but my guess is you're looking for the whitewater guides. I went on a trip from W.E.T. down the South Fork now some time ago but they were good times. O.A.R.S is generally s'posed to be decent and they do indeed seem to be everywhere. This list seems pretty comprehensive: tours and providers are capped through the south fork region per agreement with the locals. Most of these providers focus on the South Fork which is the more family-friendly one.
The other kind of rafting, the drunken kind, can also be achieved quite nicely along the American downstream of Folsom Lake, though they've had crackdowns on this activity in past years. I'd go with ARR 'cause the walk is easier than from River Rat's.
Time of year depends on what sort of pounding you'd like to take and how much snow runoff you'd like to marinate in. W.E.T. offers spring and storm-powered wintered tours if you've got some crazy in you but early summer is probably your best all-around bet.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 3:11 PM on November 7, 2008
The other kind of rafting, the drunken kind, can also be achieved quite nicely along the American downstream of Folsom Lake, though they've had crackdowns on this activity in past years. I'd go with ARR 'cause the walk is easier than from River Rat's.
Time of year depends on what sort of pounding you'd like to take and how much snow runoff you'd like to marinate in. W.E.T. offers spring and storm-powered wintered tours if you've got some crazy in you but early summer is probably your best all-around bet.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 3:11 PM on November 7, 2008
We went whitewater rafting down the Middle Fork of the American river with American River Recreation a couple years ago. I really liked their outfit. We camped out with their group the night before, and the trip featured a lunch at the halfway point. Our guide was from Costa Rica and made killer guacamole. Anyway, they were very friendly and we had a blast with them. If I ever go again, I'll go with them.
We went the first week of June, and the river flow was very good.
posted by DakotaPaul at 5:16 PM on November 7, 2008
We went the first week of June, and the river flow was very good.
posted by DakotaPaul at 5:16 PM on November 7, 2008
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This site has links and recommendations about river flows, from which you should be able to figure out which time of year is best on the American.
Here are reviews of All-Outdoors (who apparently also put up the site in the first link). They look pretty reputable to me.
posted by ottereroticist at 7:11 PM on November 6, 2008