Raft California
Raft California
5
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
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About
Raft California is your trusted local American River Rafting & California Whitewater Rafting outfitter! With over 25 years of running the highest quality rafting trips and river tours, we invite you to join us on one of our spectacular rafting adventures. We have whitewater rafting trips on the our 13+ rivers and over 22 unique sections to raft. Come for a half day, full day or overnight with camping and delicious meals!
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
230 reviews
Excellent
209
Very good
9
Average
7
Poor
2
Terrible
3
Bogdan C
Sunnyvale, CA5 contributions
Jul 2020
Had great fun on Raft California's Truckee River ride and we highly recommend it. We had Gabe as our guide - who claimed he's only 22 but we found that hard to believe once we saw how experienced he is. He can guide a boat through difficult grade 2-3 rapids, having four children and two inexperienced adults as paddlers, keeping everyone safe and making the ride loads of fun in the same time. He's polite, friendly and has a great sense of humor - I'm sure he makes great company outside of his job as well.
Written July 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Van K
Menlo Park, United States2 contributions
Aug 2021
Where's the sixth star? ******
Top notch experience. Took my college aged son, we wanted to go on a camping and rafting trip before classes started up. He had never been rafting, I've been a dozen times. By far, Raft California is a very pro outfit and with the friendliest staff, from the reservationist I spoke with on the phone, to the hostess who greeted us at the campsite, to the incredibly friendly and professional, experienced guides and van drivers. Highly recommend them.
We stayed at their private campground which has some of the most amazing and updated facilities I've ever experienced at any campground. All updated bathrooms that are well stocked and maintained, and get this...hot showers!
We opted to upgrade to one of their ten canvas tents rather than pitching our own on the ground. The canvas tent was superb with a very spacious interior on a raised platform, a private deck that offered a table to dine/play games on, comfortable seating, and solar powered bistro lights that you can turn on at night. A big bonus is their property goes right up to the riverbank so you can easily go fishing, as well as enjoy the sound of the river around the clock.
For the rafting we were on the Class 4 Middle Fork of the American River. Our driver Larry is an amazing pro as he navigated the van safely and effortlessly up the windy narrow mountain road to our put-in site. And the gems of the trip were the three incredibly engaging, very knowledgeable and fun guides, Sarah, Josh and Gabe. The confidence they exude is exactly what you want when hitting those class 4's. You can immediately tell they enjoy what they're doing and they thoroughly enjoy working together. They made it so much fun! Our guide, Sarah, truly knows her stuff, not only guiding us safely but she shared so much wonderful knowledge about the surrounding area and its rich history. She was engaging with us the entire time which made our rafting experience that much more enjoyable. Thank you, Sarah, and the entire Raft California crew! You guys rock and made our trip a blast!!
Top notch experience. Took my college aged son, we wanted to go on a camping and rafting trip before classes started up. He had never been rafting, I've been a dozen times. By far, Raft California is a very pro outfit and with the friendliest staff, from the reservationist I spoke with on the phone, to the hostess who greeted us at the campsite, to the incredibly friendly and professional, experienced guides and van drivers. Highly recommend them.
We stayed at their private campground which has some of the most amazing and updated facilities I've ever experienced at any campground. All updated bathrooms that are well stocked and maintained, and get this...hot showers!
We opted to upgrade to one of their ten canvas tents rather than pitching our own on the ground. The canvas tent was superb with a very spacious interior on a raised platform, a private deck that offered a table to dine/play games on, comfortable seating, and solar powered bistro lights that you can turn on at night. A big bonus is their property goes right up to the riverbank so you can easily go fishing, as well as enjoy the sound of the river around the clock.
For the rafting we were on the Class 4 Middle Fork of the American River. Our driver Larry is an amazing pro as he navigated the van safely and effortlessly up the windy narrow mountain road to our put-in site. And the gems of the trip were the three incredibly engaging, very knowledgeable and fun guides, Sarah, Josh and Gabe. The confidence they exude is exactly what you want when hitting those class 4's. You can immediately tell they enjoy what they're doing and they thoroughly enjoy working together. They made it so much fun! Our guide, Sarah, truly knows her stuff, not only guiding us safely but she shared so much wonderful knowledge about the surrounding area and its rich history. She was engaging with us the entire time which made our rafting experience that much more enjoyable. Thank you, Sarah, and the entire Raft California crew! You guys rock and made our trip a blast!!
Written August 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brooke G
San Diego, CA4 contributions
Sept 2020
Can't say enough great things about this AWESOME company, led by a stellar team of great folks who clearly love what they do. Special shout-out to Tigra, Irish, and Blake, our river guides. Not only did they give us excellent service and cook us some delish grub, but we enjoyed their company as if they were part of our crew! They showed us gorgeous hikes along the way, gave us tips and education on the history of the river, and made our experience one we'll never forget. Our group of 8 was celebrating a 40th birthday... we traded technology and the rat race for getting off the grid, laughing, skimming rocks, and enjoying being together in nature. Highly recommend, and can't wait to do it again!!! PS: Definitely recommend the 2 day trip, as the overnight camping and ability to stop along the river throughout was my favorite part of the trip.
Written September 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wilson on the Go
Sacramento5 contributions
Aug 2020
My group had a really wonderful experience with this rafting company. It was so easy to book the trip, and my requested adjustments to the reservation were managed efficiently (thanks, Beth)! The emails in advance of the trip answered all our questions, and the staff at the check-in point were great. Teagan had everything well organized, and plans were clearly communicated. We jumped on the bus for the 2 minute ride to the put-in spot, and geared up. Josh was the guide for my group, and he happily accommodated our request for a quick photo before the group shoved off. Unfortunately, I had a bum ankle and couldn't raft, but the awesome Henry (busdriver) very kindly offered to let me tag along on the bus to the take-out location, which was just below the vantage point of the professional photographer, at the "Jaws" rapid! I was able to walk upriver to the vantage point, and watch as the rafts came through the rapid. I could easily see that my group, and the other groups too, were all having a blast. It was a short walk back to where they took out, and my group was over the top excited about how much fun they'd had. A quick bus ride back to the base location, and it was a wrap. I believe this rafting company makes safety their number one concern, and also goes out of their way to reassure inexperienced rafters about the experience. The positive attitude and welcoming vibe was consistent among the various staff members with whom I interacted that day. I hope to take advantage of the discount they offered if I can fit a trip in before the end of the season. I highly recommend this company.
Written August 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa L
14 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
We did the 1/2 day PM Trucker River Whitewater rating with Raft California/Tributary Co. Our helmet and life jackets were disinfectedThe staff were super friendly and easy going. Our awesome guide, Casey, was very skilled and professional! He made us feel safe on his raft. He knows all the downstream and rapids and even showed us the bird nests and some of the rolled over car recks under the highway. Our family of four, husband (nonswimmer), two teenagers (13,15) and I had such a great time and experience! The course begins as calm and little rapids along the way. The last mile was mega fun! The best part with adrenaline at full speed has to be the last two rapid course of “Jaws and Pinball”, which is a level 3. We were nervous since we have a non swimmer in our raft. Our guide made sure we practiced before hand and was well informed what to expect and what we need to do as a team once we re-group for the last two big rapids. We all made it safe without anyone of us falling out! Amazing! Many thanks to such an awesome and skilled guide we have! Everyone there was super friendly and easy going. Tipping our a guide is a must!! The pictures were amazing as well. Little pricey at $75 but worthy. We initially just wanted a level 1-2, but this turned out even better. Now looking back, level 1-2, may have been too easy and boring! We would do this again! This rafting experience was definitely the highlight of our 4 day trip in Tahoe!
Written July 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ad355
Meadow Vista, CA9 contributions
Jul 2021 • Friends
Our group of 6 had so much fun on this trip down the south fork (lower gorge) of the American River. It was a nice combination of float, swim, splash, and fun. Take the opportunity to swim through the “easy” rapids when the guide asks, so fun! The last half of the trip had some good class 3 rapids. Loved Hospital Bar, Scissors, and Highway to the Hell the most. Our guide JD made it super fun and we all felt safe the entire time. Just rebooked a second trip with them, and we got 50% discount for returning this season- SCORE!
Written July 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brandon S
3 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
Woah! What an amazing experience. My wife and I decided to take our boys (ages 11, 9, and 8) rafting while in Lake Tahoe. Our half day trip was perfect. The shuttle left on time, the guides were experienced, courteous, and funny. Our trip was up to Class 3 rapids. It was exhilarating, but we never felt unsafe - even with young children that aren’t the strongest swimmers. If you have a chance to work with this crew, I would highly recommend it.
Written July 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deanne B
Austin, TX68 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
Our guide, Gabe Brown, is the River Whisperer. With his detailed instructions and constant encouragement, we came, we saw, we conquered. Our boat was the lead boat on a rough patch of river, so we were put in the position of rescuing paddlers behind us should they spill out of their raft. Sure enough, we ended up pulling 3 people out of the water when they flipped. Gabe and lead guide Dan had given the rafters such specific guidance during the safety briefing that we were able to execute the rescue safely and efficiently.
Really fun staff. Very professional and safety-conscious. Would raft with them again in a heartbeat.
Really fun staff. Very professional and safety-conscious. Would raft with them again in a heartbeat.
Written July 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jenn B
Los Angeles, CA11 contributions
Sept 2021 • Family
We had the best experience with Brian as our guide. We had two younger kids (7,9) with us and he was so great at not only talking to them but also listening to their stories. He’s extremely personable and very knowledgeable about the south fork and the geology of the rock formations. I learned a lot, plus he pointed out the wildlife along the way. I would highly recommend Raft California and Brian.
Written September 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jess K
San Leandro, CA4 contributions
May 2022
This place is amazing! I did a 2-day trip with coworkers and both the camping and the rafting were so much fun. My group was lucky enough to raft with Ryan who I would highly recommend if you get the opportunity to choose. He was very experienced, answered our endless questions, enjoyed lightheartedly teasing us, and kept it really fun the entire time. We were pretty sure we had the best guide. :) Our tents were set up right along the river which was really relaxing to listen to at night. The tent was nice and dry (it rained a little the first night) and the bathroom was clean and convenient. I can't wait to come back!
Written May 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nancy B
San Diego, California
Hi, we are driving up from San Diego and are wondering what is a better route to go if we want a more scenic drive? Also, we are starting out a couple of days before the actual rafting trip so we can definitely overnight somewhere and are wondering what town/hotel would be a good place to do that?
Written August 26, 2015
HI There...
SO sorry about the delay. I just didn't see it till now! Okay, for a more scenic drive you might consider doing a side trip up either Hwy 395 thru Mammoth Lakes, then north towards Lake Tahoe, OR coming up the cost via Hwy 101. Both will add hours to your trip but both will also give you some spectacular opportunities to enjoy California's finest natural attractions.
If you decide on 395 make certain you take the side trip to Bodie State Historic Park - a silver mining ghost town that's remarkably preserved.
Camping in anywhere along those routes is going to be plentiful and fun.
See you soon!
Nate Rangel
Written September 7, 2015
I am flying in from the east coast. What is included for the camping night on a 2-day trip? Do I need a sleeping bag, tent, etc? Or all included??
Written May 30, 2015
Hi there. Thanks for your interest. There are a couple of options. First, our two-day trips on the American include either arrival the morning of the trip (which means you'd have a four meal - lunch, dinner, breakfast, lunch - two day and one night trip) OR arrival the afternoon/evening prior (five meals from breakfast on day one thru lunch on day two). That second option runs $25/person. And, yes....you would either need to bring your own camping gear OR we can do an inexpensive rental package for you. Basically the tent/bags/pads package runs about $35/person.
I hope that all helps. Feel free to email or call me at (800) 556-6060 to discuss all of your options.
Regards,
Nate Rangel
President
Adventure Connection, Inc.
Written May 30, 2015
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