State guide · California
California overnight rafting trips
Eight rivers, from South Fork campground overnights to the Class V Forks of the Kern, with every outfitter side by side.
2 to 5 days / 1 to 4 nightsQuick answer
California overnight rafting trips run on eight rivers we compare: the Klamath, the Tuolumne, the South and Middle Forks of the American, the Forks of the Kern, the Lower Kern, the Trinity and the California Salmon. Most are 2 days, 1 night or 3 days, 2 nights, from $269 per person on the South Fork American.
Trips by river
California rivers with overnight trips
The Klamath has a full river page. For the others, each card links to its outfitter table below.
Oregon and California
Klamath River
From $399per person with Ironhead Guide Service: $1,200 group minimum; year not shown. Checked Sep 2026. Confirm when booking.
2 to 3 days / 1 to 2 nights
California · Stanislaus National Forest
Tuolumne River
From $669per person with All-Outdoors: 2 day trip, year not shown; plus a 10% government use and service fee. Checked Oct 2026. Confirm when booking.
2 days / 1 to 2 nights
California · El Dorado County
South Fork American
From $269per person with American Whitewater Expeditions: Adult rate, year not shown; plus an 8% fee; nights at its Coloma campground. Checked Oct 2026. Confirm when booking.
2 to 3 days / 1 to 2 nights
California · Auburn State Recreation Area
Middle Fork American
From $294per person with WET River Trips: Year not shown; remote beach camp. Checked Oct 2026. Confirm when booking.
2 to 3 days / 1 to 2 nights
California · Sequoia National Forest
Forks of the Kern
From $1,350per person with Whitewater Voyages: 2 day trip, year not shown; plus a 6% land use fee. Checked Oct 2026. Confirm when booking.
2 days / 1 night
California · Sequoia National Forest
Lower Kern
From $499per person with Sierra South: Sunday to Friday rate, 2026; plus a 6% fee; river camp, 21 miles. Checked Oct 2026. Confirm when booking.
2 to 4 days / 1 to 3 nights
California · Shasta-Trinity NF and BLM
Trinity River
From $343.44per person with Bigfoot Rafting: Upper Trinity Overnighter, adult rate, year not shown, with a 3% forest fee and 6% booking fee included; night at a private campground; Lower Trinity 3 day river trip from $618.19. Checked Oct 2026. Confirm when booking.
California · Klamath National Forest
California Salmon River
From $375per person with IRIE Rafting: Year not shown; base camp. Checked Oct 2026. Confirm when booking.
Each card shows the lowest listed price we found on that river for a guided overnight trip, from the outfitter's own site, with the trip and conditions behind it. Prices checked September and October 2026. Confirm when booking.
Side by side
The California rivers side by side
| River | Trip length | Whitewater | Season | Private permit | Outfitters | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Klamath River | 2 days, 1 night to 5 days, 4 nights | Upper Class IV+; Lower Class II to III | March to October, by section | None for private trips, per the BLM | 10 | $399 |
| Tuolumne River | 2 to 3 days, 1 to 2 nights | Class IV+, Class V above 5,000 cfs, per Recreation.gov | April to September | No private permit in 2026; Recreation.gov reservations from 2027; no lottery | 4 | $669 |
| South Fork American | 2 days, 1 to 2 nights | Class III, per outfitters | April to October | Free registration tag for private groups; no lottery | 9 | $269 |
| Middle Fork American | 2 to 3 days, 1 to 2 nights | Class IV, per California State Parks | May to September | No limits on private use, per State Parks; no lottery | 3 | $294 |
| Forks of the Kern | 2 to 3 days, 1 to 2 nights | Class V, per Recreation.gov | May to August | Recreation.gov reservation, May 15 to September 15, 15 people a day; no lottery | 3 | $1,350 |
| Lower Kern | 2 days, 1 night | Class II to IV, per the Forest Service | May to September | Free annual Kern River use permit, in person; no lottery | 2 | $499 |
| Trinity River | 2 to 4 days, 1 to 3 nights | Class II to III on the trips we list, per outfitters | April to September | No float permit stated; campground fees apply, per the Forest Service | 2 | $343.44 |
| California Salmon River | 2 to 4 days, 1 to 4 nights | Class IV to V, per outfitters | April to June | Permit rules not confirmed | 4 | $375 |
Permits
No lotteries, but the Tuolumne is changing
None of these California rivers uses a lottery. Recreation.gov says no private Tuolumne permits are needed in 2026, and reservations start in 2027, first come, first served. The Forks of the Kern needs a reservation from May 15 to September 15, limited to 15 people a day.
Outfitters hold their own permits, so a guided trip books directly. On the South Fork American, El Dorado County lists 27 approved outfitters; on the Middle Fork, California State Parks lists 13.
Sources: Recreation.gov Tuolumne permit and Recreation.gov Forks of the Kern permit.
Every outfitter
Every outfitter we found on California's other overnight rivers
Cheapest first on each river, from each outfitter's own site, checked October 2026. Klamath outfitters are on the Klamath page.
Tuolumne River
Meral's Pool to Ward's Ferry, 18 miles, per Recreation.gov. Class IV+, Class V above 5,000 cfs, per Recreation.gov. Recreation.gov says the 18 miles are runnable in one to three days. Private permits start in 2027; guided trips book directly. Source: Recreation.gov Tuolumne permit.
| Outfitter | Trip lengths | Boats | Season | Min age | From, per person | Check dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-Outdoors | 2 days, 1 night to 3 days, 2 nights | Paddle rafts; oar and paddle at high water | April to early September | 12 in summer, 15 in spring | $6692 day trip, year not shown; plus a 10% government use and service fee. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with All-Outdoors |
| OARS | 2 days, 1 night to 3 days, 2 nights | Paddle, paddle with oar assist, or oar | May to early September | 14 (16 at high water) | $6992 day trip, 2027. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with OARS |
| Sierra Mac | 2 days, 1 night to 3 days, 2 nights | Not stated | April to September | 10 | $6992 day adult rate, year not shown; plus a 10% government use and service fee. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with Sierra Mac |
| ARTA | 2 days, 1 night to 3 days, 2 nights | Oar and paddle combination rafts, paddle rafts | April to August | 11 on its trip page | 2 and 3 day prices not shown; its 1 day trip starts at $342. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with ARTA |
South Fork American
Chili Bar Dam to Folsom Reservoir, about 21 miles, per El Dorado County. Class III, per outfitters. Most overnights sleep at a riverside campground in Lotus or Coloma; WET and Raft California also run wilderness trips that camp on the river. El Dorado County lists 27 approved outfitters. Source: El Dorado County list of approved outfitters.
| Outfitter | Trip lengths | Boats | Season | Min age | From, per person | Check dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Whitewater Expeditions | 2 days, 2 nights | Not stated | Not stated | 6 | $269Adult rate, year not shown; plus an 8% fee; nights at its Coloma campground. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with American Whitewater Expeditions |
| WET River Trips | 2 days, 1 night | Not stated | Not stated | 7 | $289Wilderness trip with a beach camp on the river, year not shown; campground trip from $244. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with WET River Trips |
| Whitewater Excitement | 2 days, 2 nights | Not stated | Not stated | 7 | $330Adult rate, year not shown; nights at its own camp. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with Whitewater Excitement |
| Sierra Whitewater | 2 days, 1 night | Not stated | Fridays and Saturdays in September, Saturdays in October | 7 suggested | $350Adult rate, year not shown; plus $10 access fees; night at River's Bend Resort. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with Sierra Whitewater |
| Raft California | 2 days, 1 night | Not stated | Not stated | 7 | $350Weekday rate for its wilderness trip, year not shown; primitive river camp on BLM land. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with Raft California |
| River Runners | 2 days, 2 nights | Not stated | May to September | 6 | $375Year not shown; taxes and fees included; nights at Camp Lotus. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with River Runners |
| OARS | 2 days, 1 night | Paddle, paddle with oar assist | May to September | 8 (10 to 12 at high water) | $383.35Most days, 2026; night at the OARS Outpost in Lotus; dinner and breakfast package $64.35, for groups of 12 or more. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with OARS |
| All-Outdoors | 2 days, 1 night | Paddle rafts | April to October | 7 | $389Weekday rate, year not shown; plus a 10% fee; night at Camp Lotus. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with All-Outdoors |
| ARTA | 2 days, 1 night | Paddle rafts | Summer | 6 | Its page says starting at $165 without naming the trip; night at Camp Lotus, bring a tent. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with ARTA |
Middle Fork American
Oxbow to the Confluence, 24 miles; the Class IV run ends near Ruck-a-Chucky, per California State Parks. Class IV, per California State Parks. Ruck-a-Chucky Falls is portaged. State Parks lists 13 concession outfitters for the Auburn rivers (2026). Source: California State Parks list of Auburn outfitters.
| Outfitter | Trip lengths | Boats | Season | Min age | From, per person | Check dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WET River Trips | 2 days, 1 night | Not stated | Not stated | 12 | $294Year not shown; remote beach camp. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with WET River Trips |
| All-Outdoors | 2 days, 1 night to 3 days, 2 nights | Paddle rafts with gear rafts | May to September | 12 (90 pounds) | $449Monday to Thursday rate, year not shown; plus a 10% fee; beach camps on the river. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with All-Outdoors |
| Raft California | 2 days, 1 night | Rafts; inflatable kayaks on Class II | Not stated | 14 | $450Weekday rate, year not shown; wilderness camp. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with Raft California |
Forks of the Kern
17 miles of Class IV and V, reached by a hike of about 2 miles, per Recreation.gov. Class V, per Recreation.gov. California's hardest overnight run here. Every outfitter sets a minimum age of 16. Source: Recreation.gov Forks of the Kern permit.
| Outfitter | Trip lengths | Boats | Season | Min age | From, per person | Check dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitewater Voyages | 2 days, 1 night to 3 days, 2 nights | Paddle rafts with oar gear boats | May to June | 16 | $1,3502 day trip, year not shown; plus a 6% land use fee. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with Whitewater Voyages |
| Sierra South | 2 days, 1 night | Not stated | April to August | 16 (18 at high water) | $1,3992026 price page; plus a 6% fee. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with Sierra South |
| Kern River Outfitters | 3 days, 2 nights | Not stated | Not stated | 16 | $1,990Listed under a 2023 heading, so it may be out of date; plus a 6% fee. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with Kern River Outfitters |
Lower Kern
Isabella Dam to the canyon mouth, 32 miles; Royal Flush is portaged, per the Forest Service. Class II to IV, per the Forest Service. Both trips we found camp on the river. Source: Forest Service Lower Kern guide.
| Outfitter | Trip lengths | Boats | Season | Min age | From, per person | Check dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra South | 2 days, 1 night | Not stated | May to August | 12 | $499Sunday to Friday rate, 2026; plus a 6% fee; river camp, 21 miles. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with Sierra South |
| Kern River Outfitters | 2 days, 1 night | Not stated | Not stated | 12 | $730Sunday to Friday rate, year not shown; river camp; $590 on Whitewater Wednesdays. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with Kern River Outfitters |
Trinity River
Pigeon Point area and the Lower Trinity; below Pigeon Point is Class III to V, per the BLM. Class II to III on the trips we list, per outfitters. Bigfoot's Lower Trinity trip camps on the river; its Upper Trinity overnighter stays at a private campground. Source: BLM Trinity River page.
| Outfitter | Trip lengths | Boats | Season | Min age | From, per person | Check dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bigfoot Rafting | 2 days, 1 night to 3 days, 2 nights | Not stated | June to September | 10 (4 on the Lower Trinity trip) | $343.44Upper Trinity Overnighter, adult rate, year not shown, with a 3% forest fee and 6% booking fee included; night at a private campground; Lower Trinity 3 day river trip from $618.19. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with Bigfoot Rafting |
| Six Rivers Rafting | 2 days, 1 night to 4 days, 3 nights | Not stated | April to September | 6 recommended | $3992 day Upper Trinity trip, year not shown; its 2026 season is closed. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with Six Rivers Rafting |
California Salmon River
Forks of Salmon to the Klamath, about 20 miles, per the Forest Service. Class IV to V, per outfitters. Every overnight trip we found uses a base camp in the canyon with day runs on the river. Source: Forest Service Salmon Wild and Scenic River page.
| Outfitter | Trip lengths | Boats | Season | Min age | From, per person | Check dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRIE Rafting | 2 days, 1 night | Not stated | Not stated | 18 | $375Year not shown; base camp. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with IRIE Rafting |
| Six Rivers Rafting | 2 days, 1 night to 3 days, 2 nights | Not stated | April to June | 16 recommended | $529Year not shown; base camp at Nordheimer campground; 4 paddler minimum. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with Six Rivers Rafting |
| High Country Expeditions | 3 days, 2 nights | Not stated | April to October | 14 | $1,025Year not shown; base camp; plus a $30 fee. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with High Country Expeditions |
| Momentum River Expeditions | 3 days, 3 nights to 4 days, 4 nights | Not stated | April to June | 16 | $1,150Listed as $1,150 to $1,550, year not shown; camp with tents on cots and a sauna. Checked Oct 2026 | See dates with Momentum River Expeditions |
How to choose
How to choose a California river
How much whitewater?
The South Fork American and the Trinity trips are Class II to III. The Middle Fork American is Class IV and the Tuolumne IV+. The Forks of the Kern and the California Salmon reach Class V.
Whitewater classes explainedCampground or river camp?
Most South Fork trips sleep at a riverside campground. For a night on a beach, pick a Middle Fork or Lower Kern trip, or a South Fork wilderness trip with WET or Raft California.
River campingBringing kids?
South Fork American trips take kids from 6 or 7, and Bigfoot's Lower Trinity trip from 4. The Tuolumne starts at 10 to 15 by outfitter.
Family rafting tripsQuestions
California overnight rafting questions
Where can I go on an overnight rafting trip in California?
On the rivers we compare: the Klamath, the Tuolumne, the South and Middle Forks of the American, the Forks of the Kern and the Lower Kern, the Trinity and the California Salmon.
What is the cheapest overnight rafting trip in California?
South Fork American overnights list the lowest prices we found: from $269 with American Whitewater Expeditions and $289 for WET's wilderness trip (years not shown, checked October 2026). Most sleep at a riverside campground.
Do California rafting overnights camp on the river?
Some do and some don't. Middle Fork American and Lower Kern trips camp on the river, as do WET's and Raft California's South Fork wilderness trips. Most South Fork American trips sleep at a riverside campground in Lotus or Coloma, and every California Salmon trip we found uses a base camp with day runs.
What is the hardest overnight rafting trip in California?
The Forks of the Kern: 17 miles of Class IV and V, per Recreation.gov, with a hike of about 2 miles to the put in. Every outfitter sets a minimum age of 16. The California Salmon is Class IV to V, per outfitters.
Is the Tuolumne a good overnight trip?
Recreation.gov rates the 18 miles from Meral's Pool to Ward's Ferry Class IV+, Class V above 5,000 cfs, and says they are runnable in one to three days. Four outfitters list 2 day and 3 day trips, from $669 with All-Outdoors.
Do I need a permit to raft in California?
Not on a guided trip. For private trips, the Tuolumne needs a Recreation.gov reservation from 2027, and the Forks of the Kern a reservation from May 15 to September 15, limited to 15 people a day. None of these rivers uses a lottery.
Can kids go on an overnight rafting trip in California?
Yes. South Fork American outfitters take kids from 6 or 7, and Bigfoot takes kids from 4 on its Lower Trinity trip. The Middle Fork American sets 12 to 14, and the Forks of the Kern 16.
When is the California rafting season?
Spring and summer. The South Fork American runs April to October on dam releases, the Tuolumne April to September, and the California Salmon April to June. See when to go rafting.
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