The All-Outdoors Whitewater Rafting California River Blog

Fall is officially here, but we are still officially rafting!  The Middle Fork of the American ended its season over the weekend, but we still have two fabulous California rivers we would love to share with you!  The South Fork of the American is of course still going strong.  No surprises there.  Class III rapids, changing fall colors, lots of privacy on the river–what’s not to love? 

The surprise of the season is that we can still offer you a class IV river trip on Goodwin Canyon, a finicky  river that needs everything to line up just so in order to be runnable.  And lucky for us, it’s runnable now  until the end of the month.  See what recent Goodwin rafters have had to say on our Goodwin reviews page.

(Above:  Class IV challenges on Goodwin Canyon . . .)

Bookmark This!

Are you one of those rafters who has taken down all that AO has to offer? You’ve mastered Cherry Creek, know both sections of the South Fork better than your own children, and could probably guide a raft down Tunnel Chute? Well then first of all, thanks for being awesome.

But also, we have a new challenge for you this season! Because of the insane snow melt and long-lasting flows, the Goodwin Canyon run is now going to be opened to AO trips, starting TODAY! It’s a rare gem that we are all too excited to put rafters on for the next month or so.

Though Goodwin Canyon is just a 4-mile run, it’s got the chops to make for a crazy day on the river. If you hop on a trip here, expect a bunch of fun class III’s, broken up by two HUGE class IV’s. There is also a big class V-VI that we portage, called Matterhorn. One of the coolest features of the river is that you are paddling through a volcanic gorge!

Also, who doesn’t love having the river to themselves all day? Here at AO, we definitely do! And while we can’t guarantee nobody else will be out there, it’s rare to see another outfitter patrolling the Goodwin Canyon waters.

So if you are looking for that last-minute, end of season white water fix, give us a call and book your trip for Goodwin Canyon today!

Oh, and if you want to see this river in action, watch a video here. You can also read customer reviews.

Bookmark This!

Just because the kids are back in school–and by kids of course I mean a bunch of our college-kid river guides–doesn’t mean we’ve packed up for the year and thrown away the last tube of sunblock.  Our fair River Office is quieter these days for sure but there are still plenty of options for rafting trips this time of year.

What’s really special this year is Goodwin Canyon, a river we hardly ever get to see with totally unexpected scenery punctuated by some outstanding whitewater.  It may not have the most non-stop set of  rapids, or the biggest thrills per mile but Goodwin Canyon isn’t a place you’re likely to forget quickly . . .

Of course there’s ol’ reliable, the South Fork of the American River–class III rafting at its best but sans summer crowds.  For a bigger thrill, may we suggest the Middle Fork of the American?  Sixteen miles of beautiful scenery, class IV whitewater and  of course the unforgetable Tunnel Chute rapid . . .

(Above: thanks to CaliRaftDude for the great pic of Goodwin Canyon, above!  Read what Mr RaftDude had to say about his trip on our reviews page!)

Bookmark This!

Every 5-7 years Goodwin Canyon, a Class IV-IV+ river, makes an appearance and keeps us beggin’ for more! This year is one of those years and we’re not going to let it go until we’ve experienced all it has to offer. In addition to our normal 1-Day itinerary, we’re celebrating this river with a special event and itinerary option! Here’s more info:

Special Event: Goodwin Canyon Days!

Since this run is only available once or twice a decade, we are celebrating the rare opportunity to experience this river and beautiful canyon with Goodwin Canyon Days! On three separate days at the end of September, we will be offering an itinerary that maximizes your opportunity to experience Goodwin. These celebratory trips include:

• A morning run through Goodwin Canyon (meet time 9am)
• BBQ lunch at Stanislaus River Park.
• A second afternoon run through Goodwin Canyon that will end between 4 and 5pm*

When: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, September 23, 24, 25
Cost: $154 per person ** (no discounts are available with this special offer)

Space is limited so sign up early!

*For those who do not wish to partake in the second run after the BBQ, there is an option to enjoy the Stanislaus River Park Museum and the small, historic town of Knights Ferry. Both are within short walking distance from the river.

Special Itinerary Option: Friday “Quickies”

Our new Friday afternoon “Quickie” option covers the same stretch of river as a 1-Day Goodwin Canyon trip, but it doesn’t include lunch and meets later in the day at 3pm. So take the afternoon off and start your weekend the right way! It’s located only 90 miles east of the Bay Area, so it’s the perfect mini getaway.

When: September 16-October 28, Friday afternoons
Cost: $119 per person **

Need help deciding if Goodwin Canyon is a good option for you? Check out customer reviews from earlier this summer. You can also watch a trip in action!

** All rates are subject to an 8% Government Use and Service Fee.

Bookmark This!

Cue Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman singing “Time tooooooooooo Say Goodbyyyyyyyyyyyye…….” because our season on the North Fork of the Stanislaus is over.  The Stan had an incredible run this year, and we had thought that it would be continuing well into August, but the Powers That Be made some changes so presto!  Season over.  We’ve learned to roll with it–no choice!–but this was unexpected for sure.

One bright spot in the class IV dept though is that Goodwin Canyon is running right now.  Another surprise!  We only get to run this striking class IV river every few years, so strike while the iron is hot if you’re interested.  Call us for more info and possible trip availability.

Bookmark This!

We’re pushing envelopes all over the state here folks… from 14000 cfs on the Tuolumne in June to 450 cfs on Goodwin Canyon this last Saturday; come low or high water, we’ll be there. AND, (this is the most important part), have fun every time. So yes, Goodwin Canyon is still “run-able” at 450 cfs. True, the day involves a few “Over right!” and “Over left!” commands, a bit of puzzle-solving, and some boat maneuvering through teensy weensy spots… but it’s actually pretty fun to jump all around the boat and each rapid felt like such an accomplishment. People were cheering themselves and each other on all day, and there was still enough fast-moving current to keep the pace exhilerating. The following pictures are an account of some of the most entertaining puzzle-solving adventures from our day… (more…)

Bookmark This!