Rafting in California - General Information & FAQ (continued)
Transportation:
All our California rafting trips include on-river transportation from our various meeting locations and back to your vehicle. Please see the specific river description and related maps and area information for the exact location of where you will be meeting. All this information is also provided with your confirmation package.
Comfortable motor coaches may be available from Southern California to the American River ($65 - $75 per person) and group transportation may be possible from any location at cost. Tributary Whitewater Tours can also have transportation available from Redding airport for clients rafting on our Northern California Rivers. Please inquire as certain restrictions and costs apply.
Paddle vs. Oars:
On most of our whitewater rafting trips in California, we use paddle rafts, which consists of four to eight paddlers and an experienced California white water rafting guide. A river trip always starts with some instruction from the California rafting guide. The crew maneuvers the raft using basic forward and back strokes to turn and propel the raft. Paddling is easy, fun and requires no previous rafting experience. There is a wonderful sense of accomplishment in being part of a finely tuned whitewater rafting crew that is navigating the river together! On more difficult white water rafting trips in California we occasionally use a combination of paddles and oars (controlled by the California rafting guide). If any clients are unable to paddle (or would just prefer not to), we can sometimes provide an oar boat for you, where the California whitewater rafting guide does all the work. However, this must be requested in advance and may not be possible on some rivers. It is also subject to equipment and guide availability. Be sure to mention any physical limitations when you book your raft trip. Call and ask for more information.
How difficult is each river?:
The categories below show the International Scale of River Difficulty. The descriptions may sound rather scary, but remember, the descriptions are primarily designed for the inexperienced boater with no professional training.
In general, Class III is of moderate difficulty - plenty of thrills and ideal if you have never been whitewater rafting before. Class IV is more challenging but some are fine for adventurous first timers. Class V is the most difficult and should only be undertaken by strong swimmers with previous Class IV whitewater experience. The difficulty of a river often increases one level during the high water of Spring months. Please check out Choosing Your California Rafting Trip for the rivers we offer by level of difficulty. If any doubt, please call us for assistance in selection.
Class I - Easy
Waves are small, regular; riffles.
Class II - Medium
Rapids of medium difficulty; swift current, passages are wide and clear.
Class III - Difficult
Waves numerous, high, irregular; rocks, eddies, rapids with passages that are clear though narrow, requiring expertise in maneuvering.
Class IV - Very Difficult
Long rapids, waves powerful and irregular; dangerous rocks, boiling eddies; powerful and precise maneuvering required.
Class V - Extremely Difficult
Long and violent rapids following each other almost without interruption; riverbed extremely obstructed; big drops, violent current, very steep gradient.
Class VI - Unnavigable
The upper extreme of whitewater rivers, commercially unrunnable.
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