The All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting Blog

Garrett is a second generation All-Outdoors guide and a gold country native. He is one of our core Cherry Creek guides as well as a guide school, swift water rescue, and wilderness first aid instructor. He is always searching for more to learn and new challenging experiences.

The West is home to some of the most renowned whitewater rafting experiences in North America, and California’s most notable member of this league of legends – the treasured Tuolumne River.

The Wild and Scenic Tuolumne River features awe-inspiring scenery, heart-pounding Class 4+ rapids, captivating side hikes, and pristine beaches. Get ready as we unveil the top 5 rapids that make the Tuolumne an unrivaled rafting experience.

The South Fork of the American River valley has more to offer besides whitewater rafting: it is full of hiking trails, swimming holes, and amazing views. Check out a few of our favorite trails to explore before or after your trip.

Gator is a Class IV river guide, working for AO since 2019. He is a skilled kite-boarder and skier on his days off. While he can’t pick a favorite California river, he points to the sense of community within the company as his true favorite reason to raft until he can’t anymore.

“Maybe you’ve rafted the South Fork before, but this year it’s different. Give it a shot!” Listen to some feedback from our guests about their rafting experience on a familiar river running at not-so-familiar flows.

There is no shortage of opportunities to play after your rafting trip on the Tuolumne or Merced rivers. As an alternative to visiting the nearby Yosemite National Park proper, check out our suggestions of hiking trails located just outside of the park.

Rowan has been guiding on California rivers since 2016. He thrives in the varied day-to-day lifestyle of a river guide. Rowan loves working with kids, both on the water and on the ski slopes. He recently co-founded a new business and is eager to keep growing.

Nestled just outside of Sequoia National Park, the Kaweah River is a must-visit for all adventure seekers. With a thrilling combination of Class IV rapids and lush scenery, this river is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Get educated about the most common whitewater rafting paddle commands you can expect to hear on your next river trip, and find out how to properly execute them in this helpful video.