Anytime is a good time to go whitewater rafting! If you’re a student, or parent of a student, you might be thinking summer fun is over and it’s time to hit the books. O.A.R.S. won’t object to bringing school projects on the river: all of your gear, school books and book reports will remain safe and secure in dry bags while on the river. In fact, I bet some of the O.A.R.S. guides would be happy to help with homework!

Below are six ideas for September whitewater rafting trips.

• Carrie Aronson, our Private and Charter Trips Manager, suggests a trip on the Colorado River through Cataract Canyon as an ideal September rafting trip. This river trip offers dramatic canyon country and ancient rock formations with fascinating geology through Canyonlands National Park. It is an ideal trip for any outdoor enthusiast. Think of it as a mini-Grand Canyon trip. O.A.R.S. offers a 4-day trip on this Class III river, with departures every Tuesday through October.
• Of course, you can still sign up for rafting trips on the South Fork of the American River, as well as the Middle Fork American River. The Class III South Fork is known as "Everybody’s Favorite River" and is a great introductory river trip. The Class IV Middle Fork steps it up a notch, with the unforgettable ‘Tunnel Chute’ rapid. Both rivers are quick and easy getaways from the SF Bay Area, Sacramento and Lake Tahoe.  But, we can’t all be in Northern California, right?
• O.A.R.S. also offers special September rafting and fishing trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho. These trips are offered on September 21 and again on September 28. The whitewater is world-renowned, and the fishing on the Middle Fork Salmon River is superb!  Fish for cutthroat (you might expect to catch upwards of forty fish per day), native rainbow, mountain whitefish as well as bull trout. O.A.R.S. guides are familiar with the best fishing spots the has to river offer.
• Raft the Class II-IV Urubamba River through the Sacred Valley on a unique 10-day Peru multi-sport vacation with O.A.R.S.  Stay in comfy (dare I say luxurious?) lodges and explore archaeological remnants of the Inca civilization including the stone ruins of Kenko, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, Sacsayhuaman and Ollantaytambo with a stop at the Chinchero Market before taking the train to Machu Picchu.
• Raft the Colorado River through Cataract Canyon and stay in one of West’s most glorious guest ranches, Red Cliffs Lodge. This 6-day Ranch & Raft vacation from O.A.R.S. is the ultimate blend of excitement, fun and relaxation. Throw in a little horseback riding and Moab mountain biking and you’ve got an ideal fall getaway!

Tweet This Post

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

No Comments »

Can’t say that it is here in Northern California! Our days are still filled with warm sun and some of our most accessible rivers continue to offer fun flows. O.A.R.S. whitewater rafting trips will run through the end of September on the South Fork of the American River and the Middle Fork of the American.

The South Fork of the American River, located a short distance from Sacramento, is an ideal trip for those looking for their first whitewater rafting experience. We call it “Everyone’s Favorite River” because it has an ideal combination of fun, splashy rapids, excitement, challenge, as well as calm sections in which to have water fights or go for a swim.  Its close proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area makes it a fun and easy one-day getaway.  The South Fork is rated Class III.

The Middle Fork of the American River steps it up a notch.  This river, located between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, offers one of the most unforgettable rapids in the state – Tunnel Chute. Technically, the rapid should be called Chute Tunnel, as you will drop down a chute (approximately 15 feet) over a distance of 80 feet, concluding with a big drop into frothy, churning water. You will then pass through a 90-ft long tunnel. This secluded river canyon is a must-do for any river runner.  The Middle Fork is rated Class IV.

Tweet This Post

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

No Comments »

For all of you who have experienced a whitewater rafting trip on the South Fork of the American River with O.A.R.S., you have most likely visited Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. The park, in the town of Coloma, includes a museum, a full-scale replica of Sutter’s Mill where the Gold Rush started, as well as a ghost town of restored period buildings and Gold Rush artifacts.

Due to California State budget cuts, this park is scheduled to close soon after Labor Day, Sept. 7. It is the heart of the Coloma community.

The final list of State Park closures has not been finalized – and efforts are in place to lobby for keeping the Park open. Sutter’s Mill, located in the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, is where the California Gold Rush started and led to the formation of California as a state. The park is the lifeblood of the local economy.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tweet This Post

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

No Comments »

Summertime, sweet summertime:  school is out, warm weather is here, and you just might be ready to sign up for that whitewater rafting trip you’ve long been considering.  There’s no time like the present!

Ask yourself some questions first to help you decide what river trip is right for you. Be honest.  What do you like? Are you an adrenaline junkie? Do you enjoy stepping out of your comfort zone? Are you looking for a fun, one-day rafting trip for the entire family? Have you rafted before, loved it and want to step it up a notch? Are you looking for something close to home? Are you looking for stunning scenery? Do you want to combine your river trip with another activity to turn it into a vacation?

California rivers are rated Class I – V.  Here is a brief explanation of river ratings to help you decide what is right for you:

Tweet This Post

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

No Comments »

Clifton Paul Fadiman said it best, "To take wine into our mouths is to savor a droplet of the river of human history."  Three Northern California whitewater rafting outfitters take his words literally and offer combination wine tasting and river rafting trips.  However, no other outfitter offers more river options and variety of vintners than O.A.R.S.

Two other California outfitters, Adventure Collection and Mariah, offer wine tasting trips, however, they are based solely from the South Fork of the American River.  Mariah offers a wine-tasting presentation in their Beverage Garden in their riverside camp and AC offers one-day rafting trips combined with one-day wine country touring.

O.A.R.S. wine tasting and river rafting trips offered this summer include:

Tweet This Post

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

No Comments »

What would Luke Skywalker do?  Get out on a river and celebrate, of course!  (I’m stuck behind the computer all day-fortunately I’ve got my lightsaber app for my iPhone.)  Recent heavy rains throughout the state have -thankfully- added to our reservoirs and pumped up the volume in nearby rivers.  Big flows in Northern California = big fun for California whitewater rafting:

These flows were taken from Dream Flows website at 7:00 AM:

South Fork American River – 4048 cfs
Usual summer flows are typically less than 2000 cfs – so it’s a great time to experience the South Fork at super fun, big flows.

North Fork American River – 5030 cfs

Tweet This Post

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

No Comments »

California whitewater rafting on the American River-South Fork, near Sacramento, is the ideal rafting trip for beginners, families and anyone looking for an easy rafting getaway in California. This river, located between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, is approximately a one-hour drive from Sacramento and three hours from San Francisco.  We refer to it as "everyone’s favorite river" because it’s a great place to learn to raft and a place to return to time again, no matter your whitewater rafting experience.

Tweet This Post

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

No Comments »

You know it’s spring when… mornings are brisk, afternoons are balmy… lush green hillsides burst with color from poppies and assorted wildflowers… and our California Whitewater Guide School begins.

Our California whitewater rafting guide school is part Blazing Saddles (think beans and campfires), Survivor (although nobody is voted off the raft) and Navy Seals (you DO look bad a$$ rowing through Satan’s Cesspool and Ned’s Gulch). 

The O.A.R.S. 7-day, March 22 “Beginning Guide Training” meets at River’s Bend Resort on the South Fork of the American River and moves to other Northern California Rivers, possibly the Merced and Tuolumne, depending on water levels and group skills.  Led by longtime O.A.R.S. guides, all the whitewater basics are taught, such as reading water, oar and paddle boat techniques, navigation strategies, rope skills, boat rigging, setting camp, basic swiftwater rescue and equipment care.

Tweet This Post

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

No Comments »

As of a March 7th report from the American River website, the snow pack that feeds the American River is at 101% of normal.  All three Forks of the American River (South Fork, Middle Fork, North Fork) are swollen with runoff. The North Fork of the American River briefly peaked at 11,000cfs (3 x safe boating flows).

Tweet This Post

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

No Comments »

If you are considering a California whitewater rafting trip and/or a Yosemite National Park vacation, you may want to consider booking your flights now.  Airfares to San Francisco (SFO) from the East Coast are really, really cheap right now.

I subscribe to airfarewatchdog.com – and discovered r/t airfares for less than $300 – even during the peak summer season!

Watch for lower airfares to Oakland (OAK), San Jose (SJC) and Sacramento (SMF).  Sacramento is the closest airport to the South Fork American River, as well as the Middle Fork and North Fork of the American rivers.  It shouldn’t take more than 1½ hours to get from the Sacramento airport to the South Fork American put-in.  It will take approximately 3-4* hours to drive from the San Francisco, Oakland or San Jose airports to the South Fork American/Middle Fork American/North Fork American rivers (or the Tuolumne and Merced rivers).  (*depending on traffic – I would encourage you not to schedule an arrival or departure during rush hour traffic.) All airports are relatively equidistant to the rivers).

Tweet This Post

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

No Comments »