What’s the Best Time to Go White Water Rafting in California?
What’s the Best Time to Go White Water Rafting in California?
The simple answer is NOW! However White water rafting in California can literally be done any time of the year, depending on the river you’re headed to. While there are places in California that can get downright chilly in the winter, the traditional months of March-November there are amazing for experience a white water rafting trips in California, you just need to know where to look.
And, of course, there are certain times of year where you will get the biggest rapids, the whitest of white water. To maximize your trip and to get the best white water rafting in California, we’ve compiled this list of the best places to go white water rafting in California at all times of the year.
White Water Rafting the American River
The South Fork of the American River
The South Fork of the American River can be experienced any time of the year–as long as you go on the right day. The dams on the river are regulated so that they actually pour out enough water to go white water rafting even in December–but only on the weekends. But those who travel to the South Fork on a Saturday in the winter will find that the winter season, which runs up until April 1st, has great white water rafting experiences for both rafting and kayaking.
After April 1st, the flows increase to 4 days a week, and they remain that way until Memorial Day, when the flows from the dams are enough to give a raucous white water experience to anyone, any fay of the week. (If it’s a drought year, as recent years have been, then it may be harder to get on the river on Tuesday and Wednesday, but in a normal water year and the dams are full, then trips are available 7 days a week!)
The Middle Fork of the American River
The dams on the Middle Fork don’t release enough water for white water rafting until Memorial Day, but after Memorial Day there is whitewater rafting five to seven days a week depending on the year. With Class IV rapids, you can definitely get an adrenaline rush on the Middle Fork which is considers Californians best Class IV river.
The North Fork of the American River
The North Fork of the American River, closest to the Sierra Nevadas, is not controlled by dam flows. So options for recreational whitewater rafting are only offered in the spring months of April, May and June Because it’s not controlled by a dam, however, there is a chance that the real water flows will run out before memorail day as the snow in the mountains all melts away. So it’s considered that you’ll get the best river rafting trip on the North Fork of the American River in the spring.
Whatever time your California White Water Rafting trip is planned for, it is always a great time!
You see, the best time to go white water rafting in California is, well, almost any time of year.
The water levels start to dissapate toward weekend only releases come late September and October, however fall time rafting is still a very enjoyable experience. Fall colors and less crowds make the later months of the year “a local secret” for the best time to go white water rafting on the American River.
With so many options to choose from, you have no excuse not to go!