The All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting Blog

Each spring, the AO guide community comes together for raft guide training to reconnect, pass down knowledge, gain confidence – all while rafting some of the best spring whitewater California has to offer.

Stella is a second generation river guide. She grew up rafting and kayaking on the South Fork American and has been guiding on it since 2019. She mainly guides trips on the Middle Fork American now, and is in school studying nursing during the winter.

The epic California snowpack means we are looking at an exceptional whitewater rafting season ahead. It is too early for specifics, but here is what we can expect on California rivers in 2023, in broad strokes.

AO’s Frequent Floater Sven explains what he likes the most about our California Salmon River rafting trips. Watch and listen to find out who he plans to introduce this exciting river to next time around.

Reese has been guiding on California rivers since 2017. She mainly guides on the Middle Fork American and loves to immerse her guests in the process of a rafting trip. When she is not on the water she spends her time on the ski slopes or in the kitchen.

There are many good reasons to consider a spring whitewater rafting trip in California that apply universally, regardless of the snowpack levels in the current year. Here are just a few of them to get you inspired.

All rivers are connected to rain and/or snow. If you want to know what California rivers will be doing in the spring, summer, and fall, you need to know what happened in the Sierra during the “wet season”.

Our most popular and flexible sale of the year is available annually between November and January. It offers a 25% discount on any river trip in the upcoming rafting season – whether you book a specific trip, or purchase a Rafting Trip Certificate (for yourself or as a gift).

Let’s look back at the 2022 rafting season that was full of friends, family, and adventure on some of the most beautiful and dynamic rivers in California.

Combine your American River rafting trip with a visit to the nearby Apple Hill orchards and wineries sitting just above the river canyon. We’ll show you how.