Our meals are made with fresh, wholesome ingredients, often surprising our clients with decadent riverside feasts. On wilderness trips, the kitchen and all food are transported in separate oar rafts.
We cater to dietary needs on request, including vegan, paleo, and gluten-free diets. Vegetarians usually find plenty to enjoy, but it’s best to inform us in advance to ensure adequate quantities. Unfortunately, kosher meals are not available due to local sourcing limitations. We can provide quotes for additional meals, such as BBQs for groups after a trip, meals for non-rafters, or lunch after a morning half-day trip.
While all of our trips offer amazing riverside meals, if you want to up your culinary experience to the next level check out our Flying Fish Company + Rogue River Rafting and Flying Fish Company + Snake River Rafting trips.
The most important part of the morning for many is coffee! This is the first thing our guides make sure to get going when they wake up. The aroma will gently wake you up out of your sleeping bag. Our breakfasts offer a delicious variety, whether you’re a light eater or someone who enjoys a hearty meal to kickstart your day.
First Thing/Drinks: Coffee! You’ll often wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. There’s also juice, milk, and hot water for teas and cocoa.
Continental Breakfast: Before the main breakfast course, or when there’s an early departure (e.g., on a South/Middle American River combo), you’ll find:
Traditional Cooked Breakfast: A wonderful spread to start your day might include:
Lunch on the river isn’t just a quick break — it’s a well-deserved, relaxing moment to refuel and enjoy fresh, flavorful food. Our guides prepare a variety of appetizers and main courses, ensuring there’s something for everyone, whether you prefer a light bite or a heartier meal. You’ll love the casual, “help yourself” style of our lunches, perfect for making sandwiches or enjoying a riverside BBQ.
Appetizers: While guides cut and prepare the main lunch items, you will be served:
Lunch: Either a deli-style spread or BBQ burgers. These are “help yourself, make your own” style with all the trimmings/toppings. Peanut butter and jelly are always available. Please alert us to any peanut allergies.
Dessert: Cookies are served for dessert!
Drinks: There is a juice and water station with cups for you to help yourself.
For additional lunches on a multi-day trip, we might prepare something special like Caesar chicken salad wraps (romaine lettuce, chicken, Caesar dressing, and croutons in a wrap!) to keep things fresh and exciting.
Dinner is a time to unwind after an adventurous day on the river, and our evening meals are something to look forward to. Whether you’re enjoying a hearty BBQ or a lighter vegetarian option, our dinners are designed to satisfy. On multi-day trips, we elevate the experience even more with special meals and desserts prepared in Dutch ovens. Multi-day dinners allow us to get creative with our menus, adding variety while still ensuring plenty of hearty options to keep you fueled for the next day’s adventure.
Appetizers: Usually vegetables & dips, cheese & crackers, and chips & salsa.
Main Course: Our hearty meals could include BBQ chicken and/or tri-tip, baked potatoes or corn, mixed salad with artichokes, garlic bread. Vegetarian & vegan options, like garden burgers or lasagna, are also available.
Dessert: Dutch-oven baked desserts (brownies, upside-down pineapple cake) served with whipped cream or a delectable cheesecake with fresh fruit.
Drinks: Soda, water, and hot beverages are available for all, and a moderate amount of beer and wine is available for adults 21+.
On multi-day trips, we mix up the dinner menus to keep things fresh. Depending on the night, you might enjoy anything from grilled fish to stir-fried veggies or a pasta night. Our guides go all out with Dutch oven desserts like cobblers or cakes, making sure to end the day on a sweet note.
“Meals at the camp and on the river were awesome! We had BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, steak, and scratch-made lasagna. They even catered to my sister’s gluten-free diet with separate meals. The whole crew contributed, making it a memorable dining experience.”
– Summer A., Prescott Valley, AZ
“For lunch, we had a fresh fruit platter, chips and salsa, and an assortment of meats and cheeses for sandwiches. Dinner was incredible with fresh salad, corn, tri-tip, mashed potatoes, and BBQ chicken. They even brought a cooler of beer!”- Alex U. – Glendale, CA “Lunch exceeded my expectations with fresh fruit, carrots and cucumbers with ranch, red pepper hummus, Oreos, and a deli spread. I was thrilled they didn’t skimp on the avocado!”
– Lisa G., Fresno, CA
Our meals always consist of plentiful, fresh and wholesome ingredients. Our clients are often surprised at the sumptuous feast that is produced riverside. On wilderness style trips the kitchen and all the food is transported in separate oar rafts.
We cater to special requirements on request including vegan, paleo, and gluten free diets. Vegetarians usually have no issues even if we are not informed ahead of time, however we always prefer to know so we can adjust the quantities accordingly, especially if many in the group do not eat meat. Unfortunately it is not possible to supply kosher meals as we have found that the items are just not available in the local area.
We will be glad to quote you for the addition of any extra meals, like a BBQ for a group after a trip, meals for non-rafters, lunch after a 1/2 day morning trip, first day breakfast etc.
Summer A. Prescott Valley, AZ – Yelp Reviewer “Meals at the camp and on the river were awesome! Not just hamburgers and chips like we expected but well thought out meals. We had BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, steak, and even “Chef Dave” made scratch lasagna in the Dutch oven. As appetizers there were fruit and cheese platters, spinach dip, and a glass of wine to top it off. The brownies Dave made in the Dutch oven were the best I have tasted! While on the river we had great sandwiches and chicken wraps. My sister is gluten free and they even took that into account and made separate meals that she could enjoy as well. The whole Tributary crew contributed to prepping and cooking the meals and we enjoyed playing cards and talking about their worldly adventures while they cooked from the heart.” (from a 2 day South Fork / Middle Fork American River overnight trip) Alex U. Glendale, CA – Yelp Reviewer “For lunch they served us pineapple, salsa and chips, fruit, and an assortment of meats and cheese for sandwiches with fresh avocado and everything you’ll need for the perfect sandwich, but that’s not even the best part. Once we finished our tour we got back to our campsite to find Dave cooking us a MEAN dinner!! This was the best meal I had my entire trip., he made us a fresh salad, corn, tri tip (bombest tri tip ever!!!!!!) , mash potatoes, and BBQ chicken( which was the juiciest chicken I’ve ever had) he even brought us a whole cooler of beer!!” (from a 2 day Middle Fork American River overnight trip) Lisa G. Fresno, CA – Yelp Reviewer “Lunch was better than I expected. appetizers were fresh fruit platter, carrots and cucumber with ranch, red pepper hummus, oreos, and chips and salsa with tea and water readily available. main course was a deli spread and i was very happy that they do not skimp on the avocado lol.” (from a 1 day Middle Fork American River trip)
We launch trips on many different rivers in California, Oregon and Idaho. For questions give our main office a call – we would love to talk with you about our trips and rivers.
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Our vision is to create a sustainable and equitable reality where our rivers are enjoyed and protected, a place where families and friends can be inspired and challenged.
Tributary Whitewater Tours has been running rivers since we were first founded in 1978. Since we opened 40+ years ago we have expanded to include Adventure Connection, Mariah Wilderness Expeditions, High Desert River Outfitters, Canyon Outfitters and are the parent company of Raft California and Raft Oregon. While some things have changed over the years, Tributary remains a family-run small business with the same passion for the river and the mission of leading others to experience it.
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