Whitewater Rafting in California - General Information & FAQ

• What is Included
• Our Rafting Equipment
• How large are the rafts?
• What do we need to bring?
• How experienced are your river guides?
• Tipping, is it required?
• Making a Reservation
• Cancellations & Refunds
• Trip & Travel Insurance
• Paddle v Oars
• Transportation
• What level is right for us?
• Is there a weight limit?
• International Scale of River Difficulty
• Meals
• Photos

What is included in your California Rafting Trip:

• Complete safety and paddle briefing
• Wholesome meals except on 1/2 day trips. See Meals for more detail.
• Shuttles to and from meeting location. We always get you back to your car!
• An experienced California white water rafting guide in each raft.
• All necessary equipment for a safe and exciting California rafting trip.
• On river camping on all multi-day trips and available on some shorter trips. Facilities vary by river.

Our Whitewater Rafting Equipment:

Tributary Whitewater provides all the necessary California rafting equipment:

• top quality Coast Guard approved life jackets,
• helmets on some Class III rivers and on all our Class IV and Class V rafting trips,
• waterproof bags and boxes for wilderness camping trips
• self-bailing rafts, which are very maneuverable, safer and more comfortable than the older "bucket" boats. They do not require any bailing of water from the raft.
• wet-suits & paddling jackets may be required in the spring and may be provided on some trips free of charge, but otherwise they are available for rent. Advance reservations required.
• personal camping equipment is not included, but may be rented from Tributary Whitewater Tours. Call for availability and charges. Must be reserved in advance or you are welcome to bring your own.
• on multi-day rafting trips, all eating utensils are provided and we do all the cooking!

How large are the rafts?

We have various sizes of rafts and pick what is best depending on the particular river, the water levels at the time of the trip, and if there are small children. We always try and take in consideration the group sizes and plan accordingly, but there are sometimes limitations to what we can do. On most of the Class 2-3 rivers we have rafts that can hold up to 8 people plus your rafting guide, except on the Truckee River which is a smaller stream and boats will normally only hold 6 clients. On Class 4 & 5 rivers, we usually will take no more than 6 clients, very occasionally 7. During periods of low water, smaller rafts may be used, and to keep the raft riding higher to avoid rocks, the loads may be reduced to 5 clients. If it is important to you to have rafts with no other participants, our reservations staff will be glad to take your requests. However, we cannot guarantee that unoccupied spaces will not be taken by other clients. The best bet is to bring a group and fill the raft. The trip leader on the day will make the final decision.

On easier Class 2-3 California whitewater rafting trips, inflatable kayaks can be provided for sharing (capacity 1-2), but these may be reserved for sole use for an additional fee (water levels permitting).

What you need to bring:

For ½ day or one day trips during the summer, all you probably need is a swim suit, sturdy foot wear and sun block. For spring time rafting, wetsuits and/or splash jackets may be required. If this is expected, your trip confirmation letter should specify that. However, weather can sometimes be unpredictable, so if in doubt bring some of the recommended spring or fall rafting items on our what to bring list, or call and ask.

Camping equipment may be rented from us for any overnight trips, but must be requested and paid for in advance. On some wilderness style trips, we load all the overnight equipment on to separate rafts, so we request that you travel more "backpack" style and leave the cabin tent and heavy camping mattresses at home in those situations.

See our detailed PDF list of What To Bring, which we will provide to you with your trip confirmation package. This list also tells you what NOT to bring.

California River Rafting Guides:

Tributary Whitewater Tours employs only California whitewater rafting guides who are highly trained, warm and friendly individuals chosen for their ability to make your California rafting trip safe, fun-filled and unforgettable. Because we run some of the most difficult rivers in the west, you can be sure your California white water rafting guide is a skilled, experienced professional. See About Guides page for more detail, including photos and biographies of our guides and other staff.

Tipping your Guide:

We are often asked if it is appropriate to tip the guide. Though our staff is well compensated for their time, a gratuity is most appreciated. It is a great way to say thanks, especially if you received outstanding service. We hate to give fixed guidelines, and clients ability to pay extra will obviously vary. Any amount you think appropriate will be well received and will probably depend on the length of the trip. On overnight trips especially, our guides will have prepared at least 4 meals for you and have spent several days hopefully entertaining you, keeping you safe and catering to your every whim. However, tipping is entirely at your discretion.

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