River Rafting Trips in California

By M Ottersen

California isn't the first place people think of when they think of river rafting. But the state offers some excellent river rafting trips. And most of them are a short drive from San Francisco or Lake Tahoe. So you can combine your whitewater adventure with a California vacation. With half-, full-, and two-day trips available, there's something for everyone. And they're available between April and September, so the season here is longer than most.

American River rafting trips.

The American River first made headlines in 1848 when gold was discovered nearby. Its South Fork offers some of the best whitewater rafting in California with 50 major rapids in just 21 miles. It's a great trip with beautiful scenery and peaceful stretches, in addition to all those Class III rapids.

This part of the river runs through varied terrain from the Chili Bar Reservoir to Folsum Lake, flowing past the rocky gorges and rolling hills of the Sierra Nevadas. It's beautiful any time of year, with wildflowers in spring and fall color in autumn. But it's especially fun in April and May when the snowmelt makes the water high.

Trips leave from a spot that's about an hour from Sacramento or four hours from San Francisco. These trips are suitable for everyone from experienced rafters to beginners, who will earn some bragging rights after navigating the Troublemaker, Satan's Cesspool, and the Meatgrinder. Full-day trips include a river-side lunch buffet, and a swim is usually part of the program. The price for these programs is around $125 per person.

The Middle Fork of the American River is challenging enough for serious river rats with lots of Class III and IV rapids. But an adventurous first-time can make the trip too. It's usually less crowded than the South Fork. A highlight of the trip is Tunnel Chute rapid, where you travel through a 90-foot tunnel blasted by 19th-century miners. At Ruck-A-Chucky Falls, you'll plunge 25-feet, sandwiched between two towering granite walls.

Merced River rafting trips.

Flowing through the gorgeous Yosemite Valley, the Merced River provides rafters with some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere. It's designated a National Wild and Scenic River and the huge waves and thrilling rapids will quicken the pulse of both rookies and old timers.

The put-in spot is just 40 minutes from the Yosemite park entrance, which is about 3-1/2 hours from the San Francisco area. Come for a few days and you can raft the river and explore Yosemite too. Trips only operate for a short time because the water level is usually too low for rafting by the middle of July. When the snow-melt runoff is at it's peak, the Merced is a Class IV. When it is, you may need to wear a wetsuit.

The one-day trips cover a 16-mile stretch of the Upper Merced River. These are paddle-raft trips, so participants are expected to pitch in and row, which adds to the fun. Next time you're planning a trip to the Bay Area or Northern California, consider adding a river rafting adventure to your itinerary.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=M_Ottersen