River-rafting trips go with the flow in the West

8/5/13
River-rafting trips go with the flow in the West - latimes.com
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A sample list of the rivers and outfitters that are up and running in Northern California and
the West.
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River-rafting trips go with the flow in the West
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By April Orcutt
THIS WEEK'S CIRCULARS
June 16, 2013
Despite the drought that plagued Southern California last winter, river rafters can still get their
paddles wet: Parts of Northern California and other Western states got the rain and snow that missed
SoCal.
California's Kings, Kern, Kaweah, Merced and Tuolumne rivers have shortened or nonexistent
rafting seasons this year, thanks to the drought, but many rivers in the West have plenty of water for
rafting, kayaking and tubing.
Here's a sampling of outfitters that are running rafting trips on rivers in Northern California and the
West as well as on other rivers predicted to have good flows through August and maybe even
September.
Some companies also offer trips by kayak, inner tube or
cataraft, a two-pontoon high-performance craft that's a cross
between a kayak and a raft.
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Trips on the South and Middle forks of the American River
will run on schedule with one- to three-day options. For more
adventurous paddlers, some Middle Fork trips include the
www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-river-rafting-20130616,0,5023375,full.story
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River-rafting trips go with the flow in the West - latimes.com
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Middle Fork American Tunnel Shoot Run, in which rafters
first shoot through North America's only Class IV (advanced)
man-made rapids and then through a tunnel. For the less
adventurous, its Class II-III trips on the Klamath River are
more scenic than white water.
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Sacramento, (888) 723-8938, http://www.raftwet.com. Oneday South Fork trip from $119.
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Russian River Adventures, California
Sixty miles north of San Francisco, the Russian River is fed
by Lakes Sonoma and Mendocino so the summer flow is
fairly consistent. This company offers lazy, child- and dogfriendly, self-guided floats past redwoods and vineyards. No
rapids here.
Healdsburg, (800) 280-7627,
http://www.russianriveradventures.com. Half-day trips
from $42.50.
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Instead of running casinos, the Hualapai tribe runs rivers —
specifically the Colorado River in the western section of the
Grand Canyon. Its one-day trips offer a gentler river
experience than the traditional Grand Canyon screamin'-rapids ride. The trip ends with a helicopter
ride to the top of Grand Canyon West where, for $54, visitors can walk on the U-shaped Skywalk — a
glass walkway cantilevered 75 feet out and 4,000 feet above the river.
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Peach Springs, (888) 868-9378, http://www.grandcanyonwest.com. Tour from $269 plus $79
transportation fee.
Red River Adventures, Utah
This Moab, Utah-based company will run all its one- to six-day trips on the Colorado, Green and
Salmon rivers in Utah and Idaho "until people quit coming because it's too cold," said owner Carl
Dec. Its Dolores River trips are canceled this year because of low water.
Moab, (877) 259-4046, http://www.redriveradventures.com. Family-friendly Fishwater full-day
trip, $75 per adult and $65 per child.
Canyonlands Field Institute, Utah
A nonprofit aimed primarily at getting schoolchildren and teens into the wilderness to learn about
geology, biology and archaeology, CFI also runs adult, family and customized science-oriented raft
and canoe trips on the Colorado, Green and San Juan rivers. Guides are trained naturalists. Its
motto: "Not an adrenaline rush, but a mind and heart hush."
Moab, (800) 860-5262, http://www.cfimoab.org. Custom three-day/three-night Colorado River
trip, $200 per day per adult.
Mountain Whitewater Descents, Colorado
The Cache la Poudre River, Colorado's only National Wild and Scenic River, flows through a narrow
canyon as it drops 7,000 feet from its headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park to its
confluence with the South Platte River. The river's unusual name is said to have come from French
fur trappers who were caught in a snowstorm in the 1820s and had to hide (cache) their gunpowder
(poudre).
Fort Collins, (888) 855-8874, http://www.raftmwd.com. Poudre Splash half-day trip $49.
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Sun Country T ours, Oregon
This central Oregon outfitter has several choices for half- and full-day white-water trips on three
nearby rivers — the Deschutes, McKenzie and North Umpqua. Each river flows through a different
setting: desert canyons, lava flows, rock spires, pines, aspens or mossy old-growth forest. Tubing
and stand-up paddleboarding are other options. Sun Country also works with local resorts to create
custom trips for guests. Bonus: American Airlines has added daily direct flights from LAX to
Redmond/Bend.
Bend, Ore.; (800) 883-8842, http://www.suncountrytours.com. McKenzie River half-day trip $82
per person, $76 for kids ages 6-12.
Video
Salmon River Rafting Co., Idaho
Under one name or another this outfitter has been around since the mid-1950s. Current owner
Wayne Johnson has been a river guide for 40 years, 30 of those on the Salmon. The company runs
week-long camping trips through late August and then switches to one-week adults-only trips
through the end of September.
Salmon; (877) 734-6099, http://www.salmonrafting.com. Eight-day trips from $2,200 per adult.
www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-river-rafting-20130616,0,5023375,full.story
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River-rafting trips go with the flow in the West - latimes.com
Canadian Outback Adventures & Events, British Columbia and Alberta
"We're having absolutely no problems with drought," said Philip Keen, director of corporate
development. Rafting trips run on the Elaho, Cheakamus and Squamish rivers in the Coast Range
and the Kananaskis, Bow and Athabasca rivers near the Rockies.
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(800) 565-8735, http://www.canadianoutback.com/adventures/rafting.php. Family friendly
Cheakamus Splash half-day trip $87 per adult, $59 for kids ages 5-16.
Denali Outdoor Center, Alaska
Guides answer questions about the geology, history, flora, fauna, wildflowers and whatever else
rafters want to know about the area on its "scenic" (Class I and II) and white-water (Class III and IV)
trips on the Nenana River. The river borders Denali National Park so wildlife encounters are always
possible.
Denali National Park, (888) 303-1925, http://www.denalioutdoorcenter.com. Nenana River halfday trip $117 for age 14 and up.
[email protected]
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Britney Muller1 at 3:33 PM June 25, 2013
Don't forget about Colorado's Finest: http://www.lakotaguides.com/
This month is the best for rafting! The rivers will start to mellow out a bit making trips much
more family-friendly. -I'm also a huge wuss.
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