There are several reasons to go rafting or kayaking with an experienced commercial outfitter. They will take care of all the logistics such as shuttles, lunch, camping, boat tows, equipment, and permits. On some rivers, these things are fairly simple to do on your own, but on other rivers, such as the Tuolumne, the logistics can become more complicated. Additionally, if you do not have previous experience kayaking or navigating a raft, or training in swiftwater rescue, you should book a trip with an outfitter. (Or go to guide school, or take kayaking lessons).
Things to look for when choosing an outfitter: 1) Experience 2) Rivers 3) Safety 4) Legitimate permits through the permitting agencies 5) Overall vibe fits what you are looking for in a trip. Some outfitters lean more towards the safety/ family types of trips, while others are looking to give you a wild, crazy ride even on Class II and III. Regardless, spending time on the river is an amazing experience, so get out there and have a great time!
| OUTFITTER | PHONE | LOCATION | EXPERIENCE | RIVERS |
| Adventure Connection | (800) 556-6060 | Lotus, CA | Since 1984 | South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American |
| All-Outdoors California Rafting | (800) 24-RAFTS | Walnut Creek, CA | Since 1962 | South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American, North Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Cherry Creek, Merced, Kaweah, Lower Klamath, Cal Salmon. |
| A.W.E. | (800) 825-3205 | Sunland, CA | Since 1980 | South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American |
| A.R.T.A. | (800) 323-ARTA | Groveland, CA | Since 1963 | South Fork American, Middle Fork American, Tuolumne, Merced |
| A.R.R. | (530) 622-6802 | Lotus, CA |  | South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American, Merced, Kaweah |
| Beyond Limits | (800) 234-RAFT | Riverbank, CA | | South Fork American, Middle Fork American, Kaweah, Stanislaus, Yuba |
| Bigfoot | (800) 722-2223 | Willow Creek, CA | | Trinity, Klamath, Cal Salmon |
| Burke’s Canoe Trips | (707) 887-1222 | Forestville, CA | | Russian |
| Cache Canyon | (800) 796-3091 | Rumsey, CA | | Cache Creek |
| C.C.K. | (800) 366-9804 | Sacramento, CA | Since 1972 | Kayak Instruction: South Fork American, Lower American, Klamath, Trinity |
| Current Adventures | (888) 4-KAYAKING | Lotus, CA | Since 1994 | South Fork American, Lower American, East Fork Carson |
| DeRiemer Adventure Kayaking | (866) 529-2566 | Lotus, CA | Since 1989 | Kayak Instruction & Trips: South Fork American, rivers in OR, ID, AZ and international rivers |
| E.T.C. | (415) 474-7662 | San Francisco, CA | Since 1972 | South Fork American |
| Earth Trek | (800) 229-8735 | Lotus, CA | Since 1977 | South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American |
| Gold Rush | (800) 900-RAFT | Lotus, CA | | South Fork American, Middle Fork American, Kaweah |
| Kaweah Adventures | (800) 229-8658 | Three Rivers, CA | | Kaweah, Middle Fork American |
| Kern River Outfitters | (800) 323-4234 | Wooford Heights, CA | Since 1982 | Upper Kern, Lower Kern, Forks of the Kern |
| Kings River Expeditions | (800) 846-3674 | Fresno, CA | | Kings |
| Living Waters Recreation | (800) 994-RAFT | Mt. Shasta, CA | | Cal Salmon, Klamath, Trinity, Scott |
| Mariah | (800) 462-7424 | Lotus, CA | Since 1982 | South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American |
| Momentum River Expeditions | (866) 663 5628 | Ashland, OR | | Cal Salmon, Klamath, Scott, Smith, and rivers in OR |
| Mother Lode | (800) 427-2387 | Coloma, CA | Since 1972 | South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American |
| O.A.R.S. | (800) 346-6277 | Angel’s Camp, CA | Since 1969 | South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American, Merced, Tuolumne, Klamath, North Stan, Cal Salmon |
| Otter Bar | (530) 462-4772 | Forks of the Salmon, CA | | Cal Salmon, Klamath |
| Outdoor Adventures, UC Davis | (530) 752-1730 | Davis, CA | | South Fork American |
| Redwoods and Rivers | (800) 429-0090 | Big Bar, CA | | Cal Salmon, Trinity, Klamath, Eel |
| River Dancers | (800) 926-5002 | Mt. Shasta | Since 1995 | Cal Salmon, Klamath, Trinity, Scott |
| River Otter | (877) 687-RAFT | Coloma, CA | | South Fork American, Middle Fork American |
| Rock-N-Water | (800) 738-0555 | Lotus CA | Since 1989 | South Fork American |
| Rogue Klamath | (800) 231-0769 | Medford, OR | Since 1972 | Cal Salmon, Scott, Smith, Klamath |
| Rubicon | (707) 887-2452 | Forestville, CA | Since 1971 | South Fork American, Cal Salmon, Klamath, Trinity, Cache Creek, East Carson, Eel |
| Russian River Outfitters | (877) RRKAYAK | Duncan Mills, CA | | Russian |
| Sierra Mac | (800) 457-2580 | Groveland, CA | Since 1965 | Tuolumne, Cherry Creek, Middle Fork Feather |
| Sierra South | (800) 457-2082 | Kernville, CA | | Upper Kern, Lower Kern, Forks of the Kern |
| SOAR | (707) 433-5599 | Healdsburg, CA | Since 1993 | Russian |
| Tributary | (800) 672-3846 | Truckee, CA | | South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American (Chamberlain’s & Giant Gap), North Fork Yuba, East Fork Carson, Klamath, Trinity, Cal Salmon, Scott, Upper Sac, Smith, Eel, Stanislaus, Kaweah, Truckee |
| W.E.T. | (888) 723-8938 | Sacramento, CA | Since 1978 | South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American, East Carson, Cal Salmon, Klamath |
| Whitewater Adventures | (916) 646-4445 | Sacramento, CA | | Cache Creek |
| Whitewater Connection | (800) 336-7238 | Coloma, CA | | South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American, Cal Salmon, Klamath, Kaweah |
| Whitewater Voyages | (510) 222-5994 | El Sobrante, CA | Since 1975 | Upper Kern, Lower Kern, Forks of the Kern, South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American, Yuba, Tuolumne, Merced, Kings, Kaweah |
| Wilderness Adventures | (800) 323-RAFT | Pilot Hill, CA | Since 1979 | South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American, Cal Salmon, Klamath, Scott, Upper Sac |
| Zephyr | (209) 532-6249 | Columbia, CA | Since 1973 | South Fork American, Kings, Merced, Tuolumne |