The 2026 California Whitewater Rafting Season Update
All-Outdoors operates professionally guided whitewater rafting trips on 10 California rivers. River trip options vary in a range of ways, including the level of difficulty, length of trip, minimum age requirements, driving distance, seasonality, and available itineraries. Consider what kind of experience you want for yourself and for your group before selecting a river and date.
Great Flows Spring to Fall!
We offer rafting trips in California from April until the end of October every year, and each river has its own season that ranges in duration depending on upstream reservoirs or the rate of snowmelt. While the Sierra snowpack is lighter this year, strong reservoir levels from prior seasons will support healthy flows and a full rafting season through October. Whether you are looking for a family-friendly trip with the kids or a thrilling ride for your group of experienced rafters, you will have great options to choose from this season!
When Do You Want to Go Rafting in 2026?
Go Rafting This Spring (April – May)
Spring brings whitewater set against lush, green river canyons, with conditions shaped by both the melting snow and any late-season storms. Some rivers are only available during the spring, including the North Fork of the American, Merced, and Kaweah Rivers. Plan ahead if you’d like to catch these spring-only runs at their peak – the earlier you get out, the better your chances. Additionally, trips will also be available on the dam-controlled South Fork of the American River and the Tuolumne River from April, and on the Middle Fork of the American River starting in late May.
Go Rafting This Summer and Fall (June – October)
Summer and fall rafting in 2026 will be excellent! Upstream reservoirs are in great shape from prior years and will be releasing healthy flows for rafting on a consistent, regular schedule all summer and into fall. Summertime favorites include the South Fork of the American, Middle Fork of the American, and the Tuolumne River. Rafting season on Cherry Creek (Upper Tuolumne) will begin in June. Additionally, every October there is a special scheduled release on the Class IV+ Goodwin Canyon section of the Lower Stanislaus River near Knights Ferry.
Raft the South Fork American!
This could be you! Paddle through fun, splashy rapids and soak in the river’s beauty. The South Fork American is perfect for first-timers and seasoned rafters alike.
2026 California Rafting Season – River by River
South Fork American
The rafting season on this fan-favorite river opens in April and will run through October. Excellent flows for rafting are guaranteed six days a week (no Wednesdays) through Labor Day, September 7, and four days a week later in September (Thursday-Sunday) and October (Friday-Monday).
Tom Sawyer Float Trips (South Fork Easy Section)
The best time for the Class I-II young kid-friendly Tom Sawyer Float Trips on the easy section of the South Fork American will be from late June through September.
Middle Fork American
Rafting on the Middle Fork is expected to begin on Memorial Day weekend with scheduled normal flows starting on Saturday, May 23. Rafters will benefit from reliable releases six days a week (no Mondays) through Labor Day, September 7. After Labor Day, river trips will be available every day except Monday and Thursday through the end of September. This year’s long season provides a great opportunity for our wonderful overnight river trips through Middle Fork’s wilderness canyon.
Merced River
Even with a lighter snowpack, Yosemite National Park’s high country holds enough snow to set the Merced River up for a fun spring season. Trips begin in April, and we plan to run them through the second half of May at the latest. While the river may remain runnable a little longer at lower flows, we’ll wrap up our Merced season as flows drop and shift our focus to the other incredible rivers we offer. Pair your Merced rafting adventure with a visit to the famous waterfalls in Yosemite Valley for the ultimate spring getaway.
Tuolumne River
The Wild and Scenic Tuolumne River will be a great rafting choice all season long! Spring brings the canyon to life, with lush scenery and a refreshing feel to early season trips. Summertime on the Tuolumne is all about overnight trips, warm days on the river, and very exciting Class IV+ rafting all the way through Labor Day, September 7.
North Fork of the Stanislaus River
The North Stan acts like a free-flowing river, even though Spicer Reservoir is located 14 miles upstream at an elevation of 6300 feet. We rely on low elevation snowmelt below the reservoir to bring this beautiful river to life each spring. This year, an early March heat wave caused that snowmelt to come much sooner than typical. A short April season is still possible, depending on weather patterns and any incoming storms in the coming weeks.
North Fork of the American River
This most difficult of the three forks of the American River will have a shorter season this year, with the best opportunity to raft its narrow gorge coming in early to mid-April, depending on the weather patterns and any late storms. This stretch features technical rapids set against that signature emerald green water.
Kaweah River
The Kaweah River is shaping up to be an early-season option, with trips running through the second half of May at the latest, depending on conditions. We recommend getting out in April for the best opportunity to experience this fast-moving and exciting river, and pairing the adventure with a visit to the nearby Sequoia National Park.
Goodwin Canyon
Our Goodwin Canyon season will run for two weekends in October when water releases from the upstream dam are increased to help the spawning salmon. This hidden Class IV+ stretch of the lower Stanislaus River will be available during our Goodwin Canyon Double Runs on October 17-18 and 24-25.
California Salmon
Low snowpack in this northernmost part of the state will not support a rafting season on this outstanding Class V river in 2026, and we do not plan to offer our annual Cal Salmon trip this year.
Cherry Creek / Upper Tuolumne
The rafting season on Cherry Creek is expected to start in June this year. The best time to plan a Cherry Creek trip will be between late June and September 7, which is the last day of planned water releases for rafting on this river.
If you want to dig into greater detail about the flows for each river, check our Real-Time Flow Reports for California Rivers for more information about this year’s seasonal flow projections.
We’d love to help you choose the best time and the best river for your rafting trip! Contact us by phone, email, Live Chat.
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Lenka Bostian
Lenka started working for All-Outdoors in the summer of 2005 when she followed her heart from her native Czech Republic out to California. After graduating college in Prague, she packed up her degree in International Business and moved across the pond for good. She’s been part of the AO family ever since, wearing different hats along the way. Besides trail running, tennis, and traveling, Lenka enjoys rafting and camping on the South Fork with her hubby (former AO guide) and their twin boys.
