NOW BOOKING FOR 2021 SEASON! Call to Book: 800-672-3846
  • Choose Your Trip

    Let's go Rafting!

    We offer a wide variety of California Whitewater Rafting trips. We suggest choosing by location, duration, or difficulty.  Need A little more help making your choice?

    LET'S GET STARTED

    Choose By TRip Area

    • Gold Country
    • Norcal / Oregon
    • Sacramento
    • San Fransisco Bay Area
    • Socal / Los Angeles
    • Tahoe/Reno
    • Yosemite

    Choose By DIFFICULTY

    • Full Spice: Advanced (Class IV)
    • Low Spice: Beginner (Class II)
    • Medium Spice: Intermediate (Class III)
    • Too Hot: Expert (Class V)

    CHOOSE BY TRIP LENGTH

    • 1 Day
    • 2 Day
    • Half Day
    • Multi-Day
    READ OUR HANDY-DANDY GUIDE TO CHOOSING A RAFT TRIP
  • Rafting Prices

    RAFT TRIP PRICING

    We offer a wide variety of rafting trip pricing that can fit any budget! From half-day quick runs to multi-day overnight adventures, we’re looking forward to getting you on the water.

    CHECK OUT OUR PRICING

    GROUP DISCOUNTS

    We offer the following group discounts for our California white water rafting adventures. You can also check out some of our most popular group rafting trips:

    • 5% off with 6-11 people
    • 10% off with 12-17 people
    • 15% off with 18-23 people
    • 20% off with 24-29 people
    • 25% off with 30+ people
    Learn More

    FAMILY RAFTING SPECIALS

    20-50% off Overnight vacations on selected weekday summer dates. Options for American River, Klamath, Carson and more!

    Learn More
  • Camping

    RIVERSIDE CAMPING!

    Spice up your rafting adventure with an overnight stay at one of our riverside campgrounds.

    We offer a host of camping options including glamping, tent and RV campsites as well as group sites!

    Explore our Campgrounds

    SOUTH FORK CAMP

    • GLAMPING
    • TENTS
    • RVS
    • GROUPS

    Our home campground in historic Coloma, CA. Glamping, Tent Camping and RV's Welcome!

    Learn More

    HAPPY CAMP

    • TENTS
    • GROUPS

    Riverside camping in Happy Camp! Tent camping available right next to our put-in!

    Learn More

    YUBA WILDERNESS

    • TENTS

    Our home campground in historic Coloma, CA. Glamping, Tent Camping and RV's Welcome!

    Learn More
  • Photos

    GET YOUR PHOTOS!

    Did you have an awesome trip? Our action photography partners have your pics ready to go, choose by provider.

    CHECK OUT OUR VIDEO AND PHOTO GALLERY

    American River Trip Photos

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    Trinity River Trip Photos

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  • Resources

    RAFTING RESOURCES

    COVID-19 PREPARATIONS

    Our plans to provide you with a safe, fun adventure

    WHAT TO BRING

    Joing us for rafting, camping, or both? Check out our gear guide.

    GIFT
    CERTIFICATES

    This season, skip the stuff...
    gift the gift of rafting.

    OFFICIAL
    BLOG

    Keep up with the news on our official blog.

    Contact us.

    • 800-672-3846
    • marketing@whitewatertours.com
    • 6500 CA-49 Lotus, CA 95651
    SEND US A MESSAGE

California & American River Whitewater Rafting Guide Schools

CALL TO BOOK | 530.626.7385
Class-5-Whiteawater-Rafting-on-the-Burnt-Ranch-Gorge-with-Raft-California

WHEN: 2 sessions for 2021!

Monday May 3 – Sunday May 9, 2021

Monday June 7 – Sunday June 13, 2021

COST: $500 for our 7 day California Rafting Guide School on the American River and other available Northern California runs.

LOCATION: This whitewater rafting guide school will primarily take place on the South Fork of the American River in Lotus, CA. This river offers an exceptional learning experience with 21 miles of class 2-3+ whitewater to navigate. Participants will also normally have the opportunity for some Class 4 action. This may include the North Fork Yuba River, North Fork American River or East Carson River if the rafting flows are adequate which will depend on the snow melt.

This River Guide School is ideal for college students or winter recreation workers interested in summer employment. However, it is also open to those who would like to learn the skills, but are not seeking employment as a river guide. Participants must be at least 18 years to be eligible for employment, but youths from 16 years may participate with parental permission.

We are looking for people who are safety conscious, team oriented, hard working, responsible, personable, fit, environmentally conscious, and ready for challenges! Rafting instruction is in paddle boats. If you are interested in the skills needed for oar boats or inflatable kayaks, let us know. Completion of our guide school does not guarantee employment, but students should be adequately prepared to apply for summer jobs with Tributary Whitewater Tours or any other river rafting outfitter.

Certification in First-Aid and CPR are not included, in order to maximize on-river time during the guide school. These certificates are are not required to participate in the school but are mandatory certificates required for commercial California river rafting guides. We highly recommend obtaining these certifications prior to the guide school.

Whitewater Rafting Guide School Emphasis:

  • River hydrology
  • River navigation
  • Reading whitewater
  • Raft equipment rigging
  • Equipment maintenance and repair
  • Personal rescue equipment & signals
  • Commercial safety put-in talks
  • Camp/kitchen operations
  • Knot tying
  • Leading safe, enjoyable whitewater rafting trips

Included in the cost of Raft Guide School:

  • Transportation to and from camp to the instruction location
  • PFD (although most like to purchase a guide PFD prior to guide school as these allow for more mobility than our customer PFDs).
  • Helmet
  • On river equipment (ie: raft, paddle, ropes etc…)
  • Camping space & river use fees
  • Lunch everyday

We strive to create a fun healthy atmosphere for a genuine learning experience with our senior river guides.

BOOK NOW!

Whitewater Guide School Equipment/What to Bring:

Rafting students will be responsible for providing the following personal gear:

  • Tent
  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping pad
  • Wetsuit (at least 2mm: can be rented for $10/day from Tributary) or a Drysuit (about $15-$35/day from the River Store)
  • Fleece or wool clothes (avoid cotton)
  • River shoes – must strap or lace onto the feet and toe covering is recommended.

Also see our full What to Bring list for clients.

California Whitewater Rafting Swift-water Rescue Workshop (add-on):

Basic river rescue is covered during the California rafting guide school, which is adequate for first year California raft guides. However, Swiftwater Rescue certification is recommended for continuing guides and trip leaders. We will attempt to offer this additional workshop to all employees during the early part of the rafting season. It will focus on a full range of whitewater emergency and rescue procedures not limited to but, including:

  • Unwrapping rafts
  • Flipped-raft drills
  • Use of flip lines, and throw bags
  • Swimming in rapids and in and out of eddies
  • Foot-entrapment rescue
  • Swift-water crossings
  • Line-crossing options
  • Z-pulley and piggyback tension systems
  • Hypothermia prevention and treatment

A Certified instructor will lead this workshop – it is not included in the guide school. Upon completion students will have a manual and a nationally recognized certificate to add to their resume.

BOOK NOW!

About Tributary Whitewater

Tributary Whitewater Tours was founded by Dan Buckley in 1978. He wanted to share the excitement, wonder, and natural beauty that rivers have to offer with others. Since then he has been an integral player in the development of Whitewater Rafting in California.

We have whitewater rafting trips on over 12 rivers in Northern California, Oregon, and into Nevada! Rivers include the South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American, North Yuba, Truckee, Tuolumne, Kaweah and more!.

Get In Touch
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RAFTING NEWS

25% Off Starts Now!

November 14, 2020 No Comments
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New Online Merchandise Store!

January 11, 2020 No Comments
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Annual 25% Off Sale Is Here!

November 22, 2019 No Comments
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2020 Trips Available to Book Online

October 12, 2019 No Comments
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RAFTING THE WEST COAST