> Goodwin Canyon Rafting Trips

RIVER & TRIP OPTIONS MAPS & TRAVEL DETAILS PRICING TRIP OPTIONS:   HALF-DAY TRIPS   I   1-DAY TRIPS

The closest whitewater rafting river to the Bay Area. Trips run April through October. more Difficulty & Scenery Intermediate Class IV Fun, yet challenging rapids Unique steep walled volcanic canyon Who Should Go People seeking a quick adreneline fix Small & medium groups Min. age is 15 Trips Include Pro guide & instruction Fresh, delicious lunch (1-Day Trips only) Equipment & shuttle. Location Select a Goodwin Canyon Trip Option Half Day Trips start at $119 1-Day Trips start at $149 Complete price list

MORE ABOUT GOODWIN CANYON:

Goodwin Canyon is the closest Class IV whitewater rafting river to the San Francisco Bay Area. Located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Goodwin Canyon offers 4 miles of fun whitewater rafting in a narrow, volcanic gorge. The run is short and the rapids that are there are not extremely numerous but they are both powerful and exciting. Due to heavy snows from this past winter, upstream reservoirs will release good flows through mid-October providing one of the best Intermediate whitewater experiences available in California at this time.

THE RAPIDS: Steep and narrow Class IV to challenge your skills

Considering some of the names of the rapids on the Goodwin Canyon, you may think the river flows straight out of Disneyland! However, Goodwin Canyon is no amusement park ride; the rapids are challenging and unpredictable and can certainly provide an awesome adrenaline rush. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Haunted House, and Upper & Lower Pinball are rapids that both thrill and excite because there is no cable or tract under our raft guiding us along…just current, wild water, and steep drops!

THE RIVER SCENERY: Steep walled, narrow volcanic gorge

Goodwin Canyon sits at a low elevation of just 350 feet in the Sierra foothills about 20 minutes east of the small town of Oakdale. The river runs through a beautiful, steep and narrow volcanic gorge, full of lush willows and tall cottonwoods native to California. High rocky bluffs tower hundreds of feet above the river as reminders of the past when Native Americans and cowboys lived in the area. We raft under a covered bridge at the end of the trip which is the longest of its kind west of the Mississippi.

RIVER LOCATION: Less than 1.5 hrs from San Jose & 2 hrs San Francisco!

Goodwin Canyon is the closest whitewater to the Bay Area. It is located just 90 miles east of San Jose near the small, quaint town of Knights Ferry off Highway 120. You could leave the comforts of your home and be at the river an hour and a half later…that’s convenient rafting!

THE RAFTING SEASON: April-October

Whitewater rafting in Goodwin Canyon is controlled by an upstream reservoir. Flows on this river vary from year to year and are based off the amount of snow left in the Sierra during the winter months. During years of heavy snowpack, as in 2006, flows are fairly consistent from spring into fall and range between 600cfs and 1500cfs.

MEALS: Freshly prepared riverside feasts

Our gourmet "build-your-own" sandwich bar includes all the fixings needed to assemble the perfect deli sandwich. We also serve juice and hors d'oeuvres of tortilla chips, salsa, and juicy summer fruits. We finish it off with a delicious dessert to satisfy any sweet tooth (lunch is provided on 1-Day trips only).

GUEST INVOLVEMENT: How You Participate in Rafting the River

All-Outdoors runs paddle raft trips on Goodwin Canyon. In a paddle raft, each guest and a professional guide have a paddle and navigate the river, working as a coordinated team. All guests should be able to swim.

GROUP TRIPS: We Can Accommodate Groups as Large as 48 People

One of our specialties is creating fun and memorable whitewater rafting trips for small to large groups. Our permit on Goodwin Canyon allows us to accommodate almost any size group any day of the week.

What Type of Group Trip are You Looking For?

• I'm planning an offsite corporate outing!
• I'm planning a bachelor party!
• I'm looking for bachelorette party ideas!
• I'm organizing a family reunion!
• I'm putting together a birthday party trip!
• I'm organizing and planning a class reunion!

Our reservation specialists can help you through every step of the planning process. We even provide you with free materials to promote your trip and communicate details to your group members. To learn more about our group-specific discount plans & packages and organizational tools, visit our groups page.

THE NEXT STEP: Explore Trip Options or Begin the Booking Process

To learn more about our Goodwin Canyon rafting trips, explore our, Half-Day and 1-Day, trip options. If you want to start booking your trip now, you can call our office at 1-800-24-RAFTS during business hours or check for available space online.