California Outfitters

advanced-guide-school-plus-some-basic-guide-school-pics-180There are several reasons to go rafting or kayaking with an experienced commercial outfitter. They will take care of all the logistics such as shuttles, lunch, camping, boat tows, equipment, and permits. On some rivers, these things are fairly simple to do on your own, but on other rivers, such as the Tuolumne, the logistics can become more complicated. Additionally, if you do not have previous experience kayaking or navigating a raft, or training in swiftwater rescue, you should book a trip with an outfitter. (Or go to guide school, or take kayaking lessons).

Things to look for when choosing an outfitter: 1) Experience 2) Rivers 3) Safety 4) Legitimate permits through the permitting agencies 5) Overall vibe fits what you are looking for in a trip. Some outfitters lean more towards the safety/ family types of trips, while others are looking to give you a wild, crazy ride even on Class II and III. Regardless, spending time on the river is an amazing experience, so get out there and have a great time!

OUTFITTER PHONE LOCATION EXPERIENCE RIVERS
Adventure Connection (800) 556-6060 Lotus, CA Since 1984 South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American
All-Outdoors California Rafting (800) 24-RAFTS Walnut Creek, CA Since 1962 South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American, North Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Cherry Creek, Merced, Kaweah, Lower Klamath, Cal Salmon.
A.W.E. (800) 825-3205 Sunland, CA Since 1980 South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American
A.R.T.A. (800) 323-ARTA Groveland, CA Since 1963 South Fork American, Middle Fork American, Tuolumne, Merced
A.R.R. (530) 622-6802 Lotus, CA spacer South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American, Merced, Kaweah
Beyond Limits (800) 234-RAFT Riverbank, CA spacer South Fork American, Middle Fork American, Kaweah, Stanislaus, Yuba
Bigfoot (800) 722-2223 Willow Creek, CA spacer Trinity, Klamath, Cal Salmon
Burke’s Canoe Trips (707) 887-1222 Forestville, CA spacer Russian
Cache Canyon (800) 796-3091 Rumsey, CA spacer Cache Creek
C.C.K. (800) 366-9804 Sacramento, CA Since 1972 Kayak Instruction: South Fork American, Lower American, Klamath, Trinity
Current Adventures (888) 4-KAYAKING Lotus, CA Since 1994 South Fork American, Lower American, East Fork Carson
DeRiemer Adventure Kayaking (866) 529-2566 Lotus, CA Since 1989 Kayak Instruction & Trips: South Fork American, rivers in OR, ID, AZ and international rivers
E.T.C. (415) 474-7662 San Francisco, CA Since 1972 South Fork American
Earth Trek (800) 229-8735 Lotus, CA Since 1977 South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American
Gold Rush (800) 900-RAFT Lotus, CA spacer South Fork American, Middle Fork American, Kaweah
Kaweah Adventures (800) 229-8658 Three Rivers, CA spacer Kaweah, Middle Fork American
Kern River Outfitters (800) 323-4234 Wooford Heights, CA Since 1982 Upper Kern, Lower Kern, Forks of the Kern
Kings River Expeditions (800) 846-3674 Fresno, CA spacer Kings
Living Waters Recreation (800) 994-RAFT Mt. Shasta, CA spacer Cal Salmon, Klamath, Trinity, Scott
Mariah (800) 462-7424 Lotus, CA Since 1982 South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American
Momentum River Expeditions (866) 663 5628 Ashland, OR spacer Cal Salmon, Klamath, Scott, Smith, and rivers in OR
Mother Lode (800) 427-2387 Coloma, CA Since 1972 South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American
O.A.R.S. (800) 346-6277 Angel’s Camp, CA Since 1969 South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American, Merced, Tuolumne, Klamath, North Stan, Cal Salmon
Otter Bar (530) 462-4772 Forks of the Salmon, CA spacer Cal Salmon, Klamath
Outdoor Adventures, UC Davis (530) 752-1730 Davis, CA spacer South Fork American
Redwoods and Rivers (800) 429-0090 Big Bar, CA spacer Cal Salmon, Trinity, Klamath, Eel
River Dancers (800) 926-5002 Mt. Shasta Since 1995 Cal Salmon, Klamath, Trinity, Scott
River Otter (877) 687-RAFT Coloma, CA spacer South Fork American, Middle Fork American
Rock-N-Water (800) 738-0555 Lotus CA Since 1989 South Fork American
Rogue Klamath (800) 231-0769 Medford, OR Since 1972 Cal Salmon, Scott, Smith, Klamath
Rubicon (707) 887-2452 Forestville, CA Since 1971 South Fork American, Cal Salmon, Klamath, Trinity, Cache Creek, East Carson, Eel
Russian River Outfitters (877) RRKAYAK Duncan Mills, CA spacer Russian
Sierra Mac (800) 457-2580 Groveland, CA Since 1965 Tuolumne, Cherry Creek, Middle Fork Feather
Sierra South (800) 457-2082 Kernville, CA spacer Upper Kern, Lower Kern, Forks of the Kern
SOAR (707) 433-5599 Healdsburg, CA Since 1993 Russian
Tributary (800) 672-3846 Truckee, CA spacer South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American (Chamberlain’s & Giant Gap), North Fork Yuba, East Fork Carson, Klamath, Trinity, Cal Salmon, Scott, Upper Sac, Smith, Eel, Stanislaus, Kaweah, Truckee
W.E.T. (888) 723-8938 Sacramento, CA Since 1978 South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American, East Carson, Cal Salmon, Klamath
Whitewater Adventures (916) 646-4445 Sacramento, CA spacer Cache Creek
Whitewater Connection (800) 336-7238 Coloma, CA spacer South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American, Cal Salmon, Klamath, Kaweah
Whitewater Voyages (510) 222-5994 El Sobrante, CA Since 1975 Upper Kern, Lower Kern, Forks of the Kern, South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American, Yuba, Tuolumne, Merced, Kings, Kaweah
Wilderness Adventures (800) 323-RAFT Pilot Hill, CA Since 1979 South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American, Cal Salmon, Klamath, Scott, Upper Sac
Zephyr (209) 532-6249 Columbia, CA Since 1973 South Fork American, Kings, Merced, Tuolumne