Where to do white water rafting in CA / UT?
 

Hi, we want to go for our first white water rafting trip this Memorial Day weekend--1 or 2 days. Prefer a good location for beginners in CA (Yosemite area or south of it) or in Utah. Could you suggest where to go and which companies to book with?

Thanks!

in CA - Check out raft companies on the Stanislaus and Tuolumne Rivers near Yosemite or the Kern River, near Bakersfield.

Utah--- Cataract Canyon while in Moab checkout www.deserthighlights.com for canyoneering. Consider doing Plesiades if you want to get wet. Awesome!!


Do you want to do this on your own or guided? I wouldn't suggest whitewater on your own for starting out, and probably never would suggest Cataract on your own.

In California, we've done the Tuolumne with Sierra Mac:

http://www.sierramac.com/

Highly recommended!

We've also looked at Zephyr Expeditions and have seen them in action on the King's River but have not used them yet. They offer a wide range of river trips.

http://www.zrafting.com/

Both companies can advise you on what would be the best options for you.

Utah is a long way off from California for just a one or two day river trip unless you will be in the area anyway. For a longer trip, check out the Yampa and Green Rivers. Oars offers 4 and 5 day trips through these highly scenic canyons.

http://www.oars.com/

American River

http://www.aorafting.com/river/ameri...er-rafting.htm

We've done the American and the Kern. The American, however, is north of Yosemite, closer to Sacramento.

Here are a list of Kern River outfitters. We were on a private trip, so I can't help you with recommendations.
www.lakeisabella.net/business/rafttrips.htm

The river should be great in May. However, since they will be skiing in Mammoth until July 4th, the snowmelt runoff from the Sierra might be a bit later this year.

Thanks, all, for the great tips! More focused recommendations that what I could get from google. :)

I'll look into all your recommendations. Thanks again.