Trips Available by Month

Our rafting season typically starts in May and runs through Labor Day.

Find a trip by month

Kern river trips sorted by month

Some of our trips are only available for a short period of time or start later in the season. The exact timing changes each year due to the variability of our winter snowpack and subsequent melt.

Select a month: May | June | July | August

May

As more snow starts to melt and the Upper Kern river rises, we continue offering the Full Day Upper Kern and Kernville Rapid Run rafting trips. The Lower Kern trips generally start the end of May Jump to June.

Our most popular trip

Two Day Kern River Safari

Class II, III & IV. With a beautiful high desert canyon, high adventure rapids, and an ultra-comfortable ‘safari style’ backcountry camp (think glamping), our two-day Kern river trip is one of the most unique trips in the west – two days of Whitewater & a safari-inspired camp.  Minimum age of 12 years old.

Sun – Fri: $700 / person. Sat: $750 / person

learn more

Charter only – snowpack dependant

Full Day Upper Kern

Class II, III & IV. The one-day Upper Kern rafting trips offer unique road-accessible class III-IV rafting sections that we can mix and match depending on the group and the water levels. Unlike the Lower Kern River, the Upper Kern is free-flowing, which means the river level fluctuates depending on snowmelt. Minimum age of 12 years old.

Sun – Fri: $225/ person. Sat: $250 / person  (10% Youth Discount)

learn more

Private/charter groups only

Kernville Rapid Run

Class II and III+. Great for first time rafters this is a quick trip with fun rapids. Class III rapids, right in town, and slated around 3 hours make it ideal for groups, friends, and families on a time schedule. Minimum age of 8 years old.

All launches are $99/ person

learn more

June

.At this time the Lower Kern river begins to flow, allowing us to run our Two Day Lower Kern and other half and day trips. Jump to July.

Our most popular trip

Two Day Kern River Safari

Class II, III & IV. With a beautiful high desert canyon, high adventure rapids, and an ultra-comfortable ‘safari style’ backcountry camp (think glamping), our two-day Kern river trip is one of the most unique trips in the west – two days of Whitewater & a safari-inspired camp.  Minimum age of 12 years old.

Sun – Fri: $700 / person. Sat: $750 / person

learn more

LIMITED AVAILABILITY / SELECT DATES

Class IV Premium

Class II, III & IV. The Class IV Premium is one of the best summer whitewater trips on the West Coast. It is a continuous down river trip that packs every single Class IV rapid on the Lower Kern into a single day.

Mon – Fri: $225 / person. Sat-Sun: $250 / person (10% Youth Discount)

Learn more

Class IV Half Day

Class II, III & IV. Our Class IV Half Day Lower Kern is located on the Big Five section of the Lower Kern. This trip features class II, III and IV rapids. Minimum age of 12 years old.

Sun – Fri: $150 / person. Sat: $165 / person (10% Youth Discount)

learn more

Charter only – snowpack dependant

Full Day Upper Kern

Class II, III & IV. The one-day Upper Kern rafting trips offer unique road-accessible class III-IV rafting sections that we can mix and match depending on the group and the water levels. Unlike the Lower Kern River, the Upper Kern is free-flowing, which means the river level fluctuates depending on snowmelt. Minimum age of 12 years old.

Sun – Fri: $225/ person. Sat: $250 / person  (10% Youth Discount)

learn more

Private/charter groups only

Kernville Rapid Run

Class II and III+. Great for first time rafters this is a quick trip with fun rapids. Class III rapids, right in town, and slated around 3 hours make it ideal for groups, friends, and families on a time schedule. Minimum age of 8 years old.

All launches are $99/ person

learn more

July

Jump to August.

Our most popular trip

Two Day Kern River Safari

Class II, III & IV. With a beautiful high desert canyon, high adventure rapids, and an ultra-comfortable ‘safari style’ backcountry camp (think glamping), our two-day Kern river trip is one of the most unique trips in the west – two days of Whitewater & a safari-inspired camp.  Minimum age of 12 years old.

Sun – Fri: $700 / person. Sat: $750 / person

learn more

LIMITED AVAILABILITY / SELECT DATES

Class IV Premium

Class II, III & IV. The Class IV Premium is one of the best summer whitewater trips on the West Coast. It is a continuous down river trip that packs every single Class IV rapid on the Lower Kern into a single day.

Mon – Fri: $225 / person. Sat-Sun: $250 / person (10% Youth Discount)

Learn more

Class IV Half Day

Class II, III & IV. Our Class IV Half Day Lower Kern is located on the Big Five section of the Lower Kern. This trip features class II, III and IV rapids. Minimum age of 12 years old.

Sun – Fri: $150 / person. Sat: $165 / person (10% Youth Discount)

learn more

Private/charter groups only

Kernville Rapid Run

Class II and III+. Great for first time rafters this is a quick trip with fun rapids. Class III rapids, right in town, and slated around 3 hours make it ideal for groups, friends, and families on a time schedule. Minimum age of 8 years old.

All launches are $99/ person

learn more

August 2023

Jump to September.

Our most popular trip

Two Day Kern River Safari

Class II, III & IV. With a beautiful high desert canyon, high adventure rapids, and an ultra-comfortable ‘safari style’ backcountry camp (think glamping), our two-day Kern river trip is one of the most unique trips in the west – two days of Whitewater & a safari-inspired camp.  Minimum age of 12 years old.

Sun – Fri: $700 / person. Sat: $750 / person

learn more

LIMITED AVAILABILITY / SELECT DATES

Class IV Premium

Class II, III & IV. The Class IV Premium is one of the best summer whitewater trips on the West Coast. It is a continuous down river trip that packs every single Class IV rapid on the Lower Kern into a single day.

Mon – Fri: $225 / person. Sat-Sun: $250 / person (10% Youth Discount)

Learn more

Class IV Half Day

Class II, III & IV. Our Class IV Half Day Lower Kern is located on the Big Five section of the Lower Kern. This trip features class II, III and IV rapids. Minimum age of 12 years old.

Sun – Fri: $150 / person. Sat: $165 / person (10% Youth Discount)

learn more

Private/charter groups only

Kernville Rapid Run

Class II and III+. Great for first time rafters this is a quick trip with fun rapids. Class III rapids, right in town, and slated around 3 hours make it ideal for groups, friends, and families on a time schedule. Minimum age of 8 years old.

All launches are $99/ person

learn more

September

Our most popular trip

Two Day Kern River Safari

Class II, III & IV. With a beautiful high desert canyon, high adventure rapids, and an ultra-comfortable ‘safari style’ backcountry camp (think glamping), our two-day Kern river trip is one of the most unique trips in the west – two days of Whitewater & a safari-inspired camp.  Minimum age of 12 years old.

Sun – Fri: $700 / person. Sat: $750 / person

learn more

LIMITED AVAILABILITY / SELECT DATES

Class IV Premium

Class II, III & IV. The Class IV Premium is one of the best summer whitewater trips on the West Coast. It is a continuous down river trip that packs every single Class IV rapid on the Lower Kern into a single day.

Mon – Fri: $225 / person. Sat-Sun: $250 / person (10% Youth Discount)

Learn more

Class IV Half Day

Class II, III & IV. Our Class IV Half Day Lower Kern is located on the Big Five section of the Lower Kern. This trip features class II, III and IV rapids. Minimum age of 12 years old.

Sun – Fri: $150 / person. Sat: $165 / person (10% Youth Discount)

learn more

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