Morning
Arrive at our Rafting Center at 8:30 AM and check-in with our staff. Once everyone has arrived the Trip Leader will give an orientation talk and the guides will hand out and fit personal flotation devices (PFDs) and helmets. Once we’re ready to go, we load up on the bus and head to our first put-in. At the launch point, guests meet their river guide and the guide then gives a Paddle Talk. Immediately following the Paddle Talk, we push off and each raft practices their paddling technique making sure their boat is ready for the whitewater. By this point, the trip is officially underway! First, we’ll paddle the Kernville Rapid Run section, which finishes at Frandy Park. Once we’ve completed that we’ll graduate the group to Class IV and head up the canyon to Limestone.
Afternoon
With Class III under our belt, we’ll tackle the Class IV whitewater of the Limestone section of the Upper Kern. These include Limestone Rapid, Joe’s Diner, and Betty’s Bakery. This segment has class III whitewater sprinkled in as well, making it a favorite canyon of the Upper Kern. After the first lap, we’ll break for a deli spread lunch, and then jump right back into the whitewater with another Limestone segment. Once we’re done rafting, we’ll drive back to the Rafting Center which is typically between 3 pm – 5:30 pm.
Please note: Different sections of the Upper Kern open up or close dependent on river flows. For 2018 we are anticipating the Limestone and Lickety/Kernville Rapid Run sections to be available to us. On any Full Day Upper Kern trips we do not run Class V or Class VI whitewater, regardless of river levels.
What to Expect and What to Pack
Top Five FAQs Related to this Trip
How many people are in each raft?
Depending on group size and which rafts we use, we fit between 4 and 6 guests in each paddle raft. As often as we can, we try to keep groups together in the same raft too.
What’s the minimum age for this trip?
During normal water levels, the minimum age for our One Day Upper Kern is 12 years old.
Can you accommodate dietary requests?
Yes. With adequate advance notice, we can accommodate reasonable diet requests. These can be made when you complete your online waiver.
How is this trip different than your other one day trips?
The Upper Kern is a free-flowing river, meaning the water flow is not controlled or regulated by a dam. Different sections of river open or close depending on river flow. Because of this, we adjust where we go by having our shuttle vehicle shadow the trip.
What is your cancellation policy?
NEED HELP PLANNING YOUR KERN RIVER RAFTING TRIP?