2025 Season: mid-April - June
Trip Options: 1-Day
Who Should Go:
Adventurous Go-GettersDifficulty: Class IV+ |
Fast-Paced Intricate Whitewater Meet Place:
Three Rivers, CA
(3.5 hrs from Los Angeles)
Per-Person Rate: $234
Usual Min Age: 15 years old
Just minutes from Sequoia National Park, the Kaweah River delivers continuous, Class IV+ whitewater that challenges even seasoned paddlers.
Non-stop Class IV+ rapids requiring precise maneuvering
A technical “slalom” of chutes, powerful hydraulics, and boulder-strewn passages
Fed only by snowmelt - if it’s flowing, you’re in for a ride
Scenic backdrop of willows, rolling foothills, and distant Sequoia peaks
Best for adventurous paddlers ready to stay sharp and paddle hard
The Kaweah River offers a full-throttle day of adrenaline-packed whitewater set against a scenic Sierra backdrop.
Just downstream from put-in, Class IV Willows rapid starts your day off with a bang! From here the whitewater is ceaseless--each corner twirls into a new rapid and each new vista reveals another tumultuous chute. It is hard to imagine having any more rapids packed into this relentless run.
After Upper and Lower Slicky, we stop for a riverside lunch. But your whitewater adventure is hardly over, you still have several rapids to tackle before we take-out in Lake Kaweah.
The itinerary above may be altered due to a range of variables, including river flow levels, time of year, and other factors. During periods of high water we sometimes run a morning to early afternoon trip or late morning to late afternoon trip. Contact us if you have any questions.
Three Rivers Hideaway Camp
43365 Sierra Dr (Hwy 198)
Three Rivers, CA 93271
Note: If you plan to use a GPS navigation system or online mapping service, please use in conjunction with the driving directions we provide.
8:00 am for most trips
All-Outdoors Kaweah trips usually start at 8:00 am, but keep in mind that meet times may vary. Please refer to the information sent to you in your Trip Confirmation email, check with your group’s organizer, or contact our office. Plan to be on time; guests that arrive late may miss their trip.
From Northern California:
Take I-5 south to Hwy 152 east; turn south on Hwy 99 toward Visalia.
From Southern California:
Head north on I-5 and merge onto Hwy 99 north after the Grapevine.
From Visalia:
Take Hwy 198 east 35 miles toward Sequoia National Park. Hwy 198 becomes Sierra Drive just before Lake Kaweah. After passing the lake, travel about 5 miles through the town of Three Rivers and you will see the Three Rivers Hideaway on your left at the far end (east side) of town. Check in at the "drive-up” office and you will be told where to park and meet your AO guide.
We encourage you to print and use our driving directions and not rely strictly on GPS navigation. GPS / cellular service is limited to nonexistent in outlying areas.
Knowing what to wear, what to bring, and what's provided makes trip planning smooth and easy. Find all the essential details for a comfortable and well-prepared experience on the river.
What to Wear & BringDuring normal water flows, All-Outdoors operates paddle rafts on the Kaweah. In a paddle raft, each guest and a professional guide have a paddle and navigate the river working as a coordinated team. In high water situations, we may opt to run oar-paddle combination boats (a professional guide steers the raft with oars while simultaneously calling commands to paddlers). All guests should be able to swim.
There's no stopping once you begin a Kaweah River trip. The river rushes through boulder-choked passageways punctuated by powerful hydraulics. Some rapids are long while others are sudden and extreme. Just remaining in the raft can represent an accomplishment on this lively run! Technical and deft maneuvering is required to successfully navigate many rapids. Consider yourself a master paddler after tackling the Kaweah!
Low hills in a sparsely populated area with a snowcapped mountain backdrop
The Kaweah's canyon is low and open. Its riverbanks are made up of private lands and homes and are largely hidden by multitudes of willow and alder saplings. The gentle rolling hills beyond the river canyon explode in greenery and the colors of wildflowers. A quick look upriver exposes the crowning peaks of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park where the Kaweah originates.
The Kaweah is a free-flowing river. With no upstream dams, the river depends on snowmelt for its flows. The Kaweah begins to run when the snow begins to melt in the mountains. Flows generally peak around Memorial Day.
* Season length, river flows, and days of water releases may vary. For this year's flow predictions and real-time water levels go to the River Flows page.
We provide a gourmet "build-your-own" sandwich lunch that includes all the fixings you’ll need to assemble the perfect sandwich along with kettle style potato chips, dried fruit, and chocolate. Enjoy your relaxing, riverside meal before heading back out on the water for more adventure.
If you have special dietary requirements, we encourage you to tell us at the time of your reservation so we can discuss options.
Make it a group adventure to remember. Whether you’re organizing a weekend with friends or planning a company-wide retreat, we specialize in hosting exciting, well-organized rafting trips for groups of all sizes. On the Kaweah we can accommodate groups as large as 75 people.
Choose the option that best fits your group:
Looking for a deal? We offer several ways to save on your rafting trip - whether you’re rafting with kids, planning a group rafting trip, or just hunting for the best value. We also have exclusive offers for returning rafters!
Start here to find the best deal for your next California whitewater adventure. Please note that only one discount can be applied per person and must be mentioned at the time of reservation.
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