{"id":7819,"date":"2026-04-02T16:06:47","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T23:06:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/?p=7819"},"modified":"2026-05-26T08:17:41","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T15:17:41","slug":"california-rafting-season-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/california-rafting-season-update\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2026 California Whitewater Rafting Season Update"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div><p>\r\n<i class=\"fa-regular fa-clock\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i> <span class=\"bsf-rt-reading-time\"><span class=\"bsf-rt-display-label\" prefix=\"Reading Time\">\n\t\t<\/span> <span class=\"bsf-rt-display-time\" reading_time=\"4\"><\/span> \n\t\t<span class=\"bsf-rt-display-postfix\" postfix=\"mins\"><\/span><\/span>\r\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All-Outdoors operates professionally guided <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/river\/welcome.htm\">whitewater rafting trips on 10 California rivers<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-great-flows-spring-to-fall\">Great Flows Spring to Fall!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"573\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/summer-rafting-in-california.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14704\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/summer-rafting-in-california.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/summer-rafting-in-california-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/summer-rafting-in-california-768x440.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-summer-and-fall-rafting-may-october\">Summer and Fall Rafting (May &#8211; October)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"su-youtube su-u-responsive-media-yes\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/If-SKKTR4g8?\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture\" title=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"calls-2-action-cpt\">\n    <div class=\"container-fluid\"> \n            \n                <div class=\"row\">   \n            <div class=\"col-sm-8\">\n                <h2>Raft the American River!<\/h2>\n                <p><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>This could be you!<\/strong> Paddle through fun, splashy rapids on the South Fork or take on the exciting wilderness of the Middle Fork. With options for first-timers and thrill-seekers alike, there\u2019s an American River rafting trip for everyone!<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:shortcode -->\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:shortcode --><\/p>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"col-sm-4\"> \n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/american-river-rafting-cta-2025-1-300x200.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"Raft the American River!\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/american-river-rafting-cta-2025-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/american-river-rafting-cta-2025-1.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"col-sm-12\">\n                <div class=\"text-center\">\n                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/river\/american-river-rafting.htm\" class=\"btn btn-primary\">\n                            American River Rafting                        <\/a>\n                                    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                            <\/div> \n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2026-california-rafting-season-river-by-river\">2026 California Rafting Season &#8211; River by River<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-south-fork-american\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/river\/south-fork-american\/welcome.htm\">South Fork American<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/river\/south-fork-easy\/welcome.htm\"><strong>Tom Sawyer Float Trips (South Fork Easy Section)<\/strong><\/a><br>The best time for the Class I-II young kid-friendly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/river\/south-fork-easy\/welcome.htm\">Tom Sawyer Float Trips<\/a> on the easy section of the South Fork American will be from late June through September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-middle-fork-american\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/river\/middle-fork-american\/welcome.htm\">Middle Fork American<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 seven-day-a-week water releases 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\u2019s long season provides a great opportunity for our wonderful overnight river trips through Middle Fork\u2019s wilderness canyon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/river\/tuolumne\/welcome.htm\">Tuolumne River<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/river\/goodwin\/welcome.htm\">Goodwin Canyon<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/putting-goodwin-canyon-on-california-rafting-map\/\">lower Stanislaus River<\/a> will be available during our <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.aorafting.com\/goodwin-canyon-double-runs\/\">Goodwin Canyon Double Runs<\/a> on October 17-18 and 24-25.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cherry-creek-upper-tuolumne\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/river\/cherry-creek\/welcome.htm\">Cherry Creek \/ Upper Tuolumne<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following rivers are no longer running for the rest of the 2026 rafting season:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-merced-river\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/river\/merced\/welcome.htm\">Merced River<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even with a lighter snowpack, Yosemite National Park\u2019s high country held enough snow to set the Merced River up for a fun spring season. Trips began in April and continued through mid-May. While the river may remain runnable at lower flows a little longer, our 2026 Merced season has now wrapped up as flows continue to drop, and we\u2019ve shifted our focus to the other wonderful rivers we offer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/river\/north-fork-stanislaus\/welcome.htm\">North Fork of the Stanislaus River<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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, before any rafting trips could take place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/river\/north-fork-american\/welcome.htm\">North Fork of the American River<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This most difficult of the three forks of the American River had a shorter season this year due to a drier-than-normal winter and an early March heatwave. Late-season storms helped sustain raftable flows through April, but by early May flows dropped too low and the season has come to a close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/river\/kaweah\/welcome.htm\">Kaweah River<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although the southern Sierra received a good amount of snowpack this past winter, much of the snowmelt occurred in early March. By the time the rafting season began in April, the Kaweah River was running at lower flows, with some support from late-season storms. By early May, the rafting season on this exciting river had come to an end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/river\/cal-salmon\/welcome.htm\">California Salmon<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Low snowpack in this northernmost part of the state did not support a rafting season on this outstanding Class V river in 2026, and we did not offer our annual Cal Salmon trip this year.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:40px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"related-posts\">\n   \n<h3>\nKeep Reading &#8211; There Is More to Explore:\n<\/h3> \n <div class=\"container-fluid\">     \n     <div class=\"row\">  \n     \n        <div class=\"col-sm-6\">\n         \n        <div class=\"rp-wrapper\">\n                <div class=\"col-sm-5\"> <div class=\"row\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"172\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/best-family-rafting-feature-2-300x172.jpg\" class=\"alignleft img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"Best California Rafting Trip for Your Family\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/best-family-rafting-feature-2-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/best-family-rafting-feature-2-1024x587.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/best-family-rafting-feature-2-768x440.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/best-family-rafting-feature-2-1536x880.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/best-family-rafting-feature-2.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n                <div class=\"col-sm-7\">\n                 <h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/how-to-choose-the-best-california-rafting-trip-for-your-family\/\">How to Choose the Best California Rafting Trip for Your Family (By Age)<\/a><\/h4>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n         <\/div>\n        <\/div> \n       \n        <div class=\"col-sm-6\">\n         \n        <div class=\"rp-wrapper\">\n                <div class=\"col-sm-5\"> <div class=\"row\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"172\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/satans-cesspool-family-trip-american-river-ft-300x172.jpg\" class=\"alignleft img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"South Fork American Rafting\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/satans-cesspool-family-trip-american-river-ft-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/satans-cesspool-family-trip-american-river-ft-768x440.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/satans-cesspool-family-trip-american-river-ft.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n                <div class=\"col-sm-7\">\n                 <h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/can-i-go-rafting-if-i-cant-swim\/\">Can I Go Rafting if I Can&#8217;t Swim?<\/a><\/h4>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n         <\/div>\n        <\/div> \n       \n        <div class=\"col-sm-6\">\n         \n        <div class=\"rp-wrapper\">\n                <div class=\"col-sm-5\"> <div class=\"row\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"172\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/river-difficulty-rating-explained-300x172.jpg\" class=\"alignleft img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/river-difficulty-rating-explained-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/river-difficulty-rating-explained-768x440.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/river-difficulty-rating-explained.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n                <div class=\"col-sm-7\">\n                 <h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/white-water-rafting-levels-classes-explained\/\">White Water Rafting Levels \/ Classes Explained \u2013 A Visual Guide<\/a><\/h4>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n         <\/div>\n        <\/div> \n       \n        <div class=\"col-sm-6\">\n         \n        <div class=\"rp-wrapper\">\n                <div class=\"col-sm-5\"> <div class=\"row\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"172\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/rafting-with-friends-middle-fork-american-300x172.jpg\" class=\"alignleft img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"rafting with friends on the middle fork american river\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/rafting-with-friends-middle-fork-american-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/rafting-with-friends-middle-fork-american-1024x587.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/rafting-with-friends-middle-fork-american-768x440.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/rafting-with-friends-middle-fork-american-1536x880.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/rafting-with-friends-middle-fork-american.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n                <div class=\"col-sm-7\">\n                 <h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/how-to-plan-a-rafting-getaway-with-your-friends-in-3-steps\/\">How to Plan a Rafting Getaway With Your Friends in 3 Steps<\/a><\/h4>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n         <\/div>\n        <\/div> \n                  <\/div>\n<\/div> \n    <hr \/>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"margin:0px 0px 0px 15px;\"><small><em>Updated on May 6, 2026<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-author\">\n      <div class=\"container-fluid\">\r\n    <em><small>Posted on April 2, 2026 by<\/small><\/em>\r\n    <div class=\"author-bio\">\r\n\t    <div class=\"col-sm-3\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/lenka.png\" class=\"author-avatar img-responsive\" alt=\"Lenka Bostian Bio\" \/><\/div>\r\n\t    <div class=\"col-sm-9\">\r\n        <h3>Lenka Bostian<\/h3>\r\n\t\t<p>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\u2019s 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.<\/p> \r\n    <\/div>\r\n        <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\t  \n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We have the best summertime rafting trips with great options to choose from no matter what kind of experience you are looking for. Find out what\u2019s available now and plan your California river adventure today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":692,"featured_media":14706,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[117],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7819","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-river-news-flows-events"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.8 (Yoast SEO v27.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The 2026 California Whitewater Rafting Season Update<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The 2026 California rafting season is setting up for steady flows and a long season ahead thanks to solid reservoir levels.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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