Rafting FAQ > Whitewater Rafting Trips near Santa Clara, CA

People traveling from Santa Clara and the entire San Francisco Bay Area are within easy reach of 9 of California's best whitewater rivers. For example, just a 3 hour drive gets you to the Class III-IV rapids of the forks of the American River, or the Wild and Scenic Tuolumne River canyon.

• First-time rafters and people vacationing with kids flock to an American River rafting trip on either the South Fork or Middle Fork of the American River; both are an approximately three hour drive from Santa Clara.
• In addition to the Tuolumne River, visitors traveling to the Yosemite area can run the Class IV rapids of the Merced River.
• People looking for the ultimate whitewater challenge can brave the Class V gauntlet of Cherry Creek, California’s most difficult commercial river and an easy drive from Santa Clara.

See a map showing all 10 of our California Rivers with more information about each.