The 2024 California Whitewater Rafting Season Update

All-Outdoors operates professionally guided whitewater rafting trips on 10 California rivers. River trip options vary in a range of ways, including the level of difficulty, length of trip, minimum age requirements, driving distance, seasonality, and available itineraries. Consider what kind of experience you want for yourself and for your group before selecting a river and date.

Great Flows All Season Long!

We offer rafting trips in California from April until the end of October every year, and each river has its own season that ranges in duration depending on upstream reservoirs or the rate of snowmelt. 2024 is a great year for rafting: a healthy Sierra snowpack and full reservoirs set us up for a long, full season of whitewater rafting fun that will go all the way through  October. Whether you are looking for a family-friendly trip with the kids or a thrilling ride for your group of experienced rafters, you will have great options to choose from!

Fall Rafting in 2024 (October)

During the fall months, we offer trips on select rivers with high-elevation upstream reservoirs that provide healthy flows released on a consistent, regular schedule:

• South Fork of the American (Class 3+ Beginner-Intermediate)
  Now through October 28: FOUR days a week (Fri-Mon)
• Goodwin Canyon (Class 4+ Intermediate-Advanced)
  Double Runs scheduled on the following three weekends: 
  Sat-Sun October 12-13, 
  Sat-Sun October 19-20,
  Sat-Sun October 26-27.

If you want to dig into greater detail about the flows for each river, check our Real-Time Flow Reports for California Rivers.

Need any help planning your trip? Contact us by phone, email, Live Chat.

2024 California Rafting Season – River by River

South Fork American

The rafting season on this fan-favorite river opened in April and will run through October. After Labor Day, excellent rafting flows are guaranteed on four days of the week: Thursday – Sunday in September; and Friday – Monday in October. Take advantage of this quieter time on the river and join us for some classic Class 3 rafting or the Class 1-2 Tom Sawyer Float Trips on the easy section of the South Fork.

Middle Fork American

Rafting on the Middle Fork began on Memorial Day weekend – Saturday, May 25. Rafters benefited from reliable water releases six days a week (no Mondays) through Labor Day, September 2. After that, river trips were available every day except Monday and Thursday through the end of September.

Merced River

With plenty of snow stored in Yosemite National Park’s high country, the mighty Merced was a hoot this year with big roller coaster waves and lots of forward paddling. The rafting season started in April and was expected to go through the end of June. Above average temperatures experienced in early June increased the rate of snowmelt and as a result, the rafting season ended in mid-June.

Tuolumne River

The Wild and Scenic Tuolumne River was a great rafting choice all season long!  In the springtime, the river experienced some higher flows provided by the melting snowpack in the High Sierra. By early July these higher spring flows decreased to normal levels and the Tuolumne continued to offer very exciting Class 4+ rafting all the way through Labor Day, September 2.

North Fork of the Stanislaus River

Back for its second season in a row, North Stan’s healthy low-elevation snowpack provided us with a short, fun-filled season lasting through mid-May.

North Fork of the American River

This most difficult of the three forks of the American River had a great season this year. By early June the river flows dropped too low and the season here is done until 2025.

Kaweah River

Although the winter began dry, the April 1 snowpack readings in the southern Sierra reported 100% of historical average. As a result, the rafting season on the Kaweah River ran through mid-June this year.

Goodwin Canyon

Our Goodwin Canyon season will run for three weekends in October when water releases from the upstream dam are increased to help the spawning salmon. This hidden Class 4+ stretch of the lower Stanislaus River will be available during our Goodwin Canyon Double Runs on October 12-13, 19-20, and 26-27.

California Salmon

The river flows on this northernmost river we run had a healthy season thanks to a generous amount of snow in its watershed. By mid-June the river flows dropped too low for Class 5 rafting and our season here is over.

Cherry Creek / Upper Tuolumne

The rafting season on Cherry Creek started in early July once river flows decreased to normal levels.  The upstream reservoirs were releasing flows for rafting until September 2 which was the last day of the Cherry Creek season.