Located in Sequoia National Forest, an easy three hour drive from Los Angeles, the lovely Lower Kern hides in its own special wilderness, a winding canyon overhung with willows, sycamore, and pine. Our One Day Class III and IV "Bigwater", Two Day "Sierra Escape", One Day/Overnight "Jungle Run and Camp Fun", and ever popular 1/2 Day Lower Kern trips are perfect for families, first-timers and experienced rafters alike.
The Lower Kern River is home to our Signature "Sierra Escape". This overnight trip has been the most popular trip we've run in California for the past 40 years!
You'll run a 20+ mile stretch of the scenic Lower Kern River over the course of the two days. The trip begins immediately downstream of Lake Isabella, runs through a granite gorge, and opens up to reveal a pine, sycamore, and willow lined canyon. Class III rapids pepper the run throughout.
The first day concludes at our private, riverside, Lower Kern Camp. Special attention has been paid to this unique campsite. It comes complete with chairs, redwood sleeping decks, and thick "Paco" style sleeping pads for all of our guests. The trip meets at 11:00am at our Kern Outdoor Center in Kernville. Riverside feasting commences with appetizers shortly after arriving at camp. A sumptuous dinner and tasty dessert round off the evening and breakfast is served the following day. Lunch is provided along the river on the second day of this trip. Our guides are amazing outdoor chefs and will facilitate outstanding meals and a mesmerizing campfire for the group the evening of your overnight. Evenings are spent under a starlit sky the likes of which may surprise and amaze the most ardent outdoor enthusiast.
The second day, you'll run the fabled 12-mile, Class IV, "Bigwater" stretch on the Lower Kern. The river corridor is beautiful, the rapids fabulous, and the water temperature approaching 70 degrees during the summer months. We routinely stop at the popular "Horeshoe Falls Jumping Rock" during the trip where your group can jump into the river and cool off to their heart's content. These trips usually return about 4:00pm the afternoon of the second day. The recommended minimum age for this Two Day trip is nine years, however occasionally we raise the minimum on the Class IV "Bigwater" stretch during brief periods of high water flows.
We also offer super popular Half Day trips on the Class III Jungle Run and One Day trips on the Class IV "Bigwater" stretch.
Another popular and affordable overnight option is our Class III "Jungle Run and Camp Fun" where we run the first day, overnight at our camp, and are returned to the Kern Outdoor Center after breakfast on day two. These trips usually return about 10:30am the morning of the second day.
We can usually accommodate youngsters as young as six years of age on the "Jungle Run" stretch as long as they weigh at least 50lbs, however for a good portion of this year, we'll need to raise the recommended minimum age during this year's early season high-water period.
Please give our office a call at (800) 400-7238 or email us at fun@whitewatervoyages.com for updates.
This trip meets at 11:00am and runs down to our private Lower Kern riverside campground. After a hearty feast of appetizers, dinner and dessert, you'll spend the evening along the river. The trip concludes following breakfast the morning of the second day. This trip is an outstanding getaway for groups looking for an affordable overnight river trip experience on a Class III stretch of river.
Affordable trip running the entire eight to nine mile continuous length of the Class III "Jungle Run".
Choose the 8:00am launch and save $10.00/person on your trip!
Combines the Jungle Run Class III and the Big Water Class IV stretches into an outstanding overnight river trip at our beautiful, private, riverside camp. Meals include Happy Hours hors d'oeuvres, an awesome BBQ dinner and dessert the first afternoon/evening, and a hearty breakfast and lunch along the river's edge on day two. A great family trip and a popular setting for Team Building trips.
The "Bigwater" trip meets at 8:30am at our Kern Outdoor Center (KOC) located inside Frandy Park Campground in Kernville and will return around 4:00pm that afternoon. This stretch on the Lower Kern is the most popular One Day, Class IV river trip we run in California. The trip runs the fabled 12-mile, Class IV, second day section of our signature Overnight, Lower Kern "Sierra Escape" trip. The river corridor is beautiful, the rapids fabulous, and the water temperature is about 70 degrees during the summer months. Lunch is provided over the course of the day along the river.
The last five miles of the fabled Bigwater run. This trip courses through Surprise, Hari Kari, Horeshoe Falls, Patch Corner and Pinball before finishing at Democrate Hot Springs. Minimum Age is 9 and 12 years of age during high water conditions.
In the Sequoia National Forest, an easy drive from Southern and Central California, the exciting Upper Kern offers 20 plus miles of world-class whitewater! The Class III and IV, One Day, "Snap, Crackle" and Pop" and Half Day "Dazzlers" are mainstays throughout the spring and summer.
The One Day "Snap, Crackle, and Pop" meets at 9:00am and runs about ten to twelve miles of the Wild and Scenic Upper Kern River. Your guides will select the best runs to raft during the day depending on current water flows and river conditions. Lunch is served along the river over the course of the day on this trip.
The Half Day Upper Kern "Dazzler" is an outstanding four-hour river trip that runs about six plus miles of the Class III and IV Upper Kern River. Morning and afternoon launches available seven days of the week. The morning or afternoon is spent running as much whitewater as we can fit into the time slot. It's a great trip for those looking for a good slice of whitewater action without taking the time for a lunch break along the river. The minimum age recommendation for these trips is nine, however this recommendation can change to 12 during high water conditions.
Non-Profits, Scout, Church, and School Groups of 12 or more when the initial reservation is placed are eligible for our 15% Non-Profit/Group Discount on these trips. Please call our office to reserve for your Non-Profit Upper Kern trip so we can assure the discount is applied to your reservation.
The Class V "Thunder Run" is an outstanding, high energy river trip that is usually available in May and June during peak run off conditions. This year, we expect to offer these high energy trips from mid-July through August. You'll run fabled rapids such as "Sock 'em Dog", "Squashed Paddler, "Fender Bender" and "The Flume". These trips are not for "first timers" as previous rafting experience is required. A Class V Paddling Test is required to participate in this trip. The minimum age recommendation for these trips is sixteen.
The Thunder Run is a One Day, Class V stretch of whitewater hosted on the mighty Upper Kern River. Previous rafting experience is required. Minimum age is 16.
Amen! When we speak the name we invariably pause and lower our voices an octave. Bar none, this wilderness crown jewel holds the best stretch of continuous rampaging froth you'll ever tackle — ever. Mere print can't do justice to its beauty and power. It's romantic and ideal for couples. You'll be spellbound amid secluded lagoons, waterfalls plunging down canyon walls, granite spires spiking into the sky, cedar groves for camping and miles and miles of white foam.
Our most popular Three-Day voyage overnights at View Camp just below the granite spires of The Needles at the confluence of Needle Rock Creek and the North Fork of the Kern. The second night is spent right above Confusion Rapid, one of the most challenging runs on the river. And, for those who, without savoring the delights, simply want to carve another notch on their rafted rivers list, we offer Two-Day blitzes.
Be ready to hike. The river put-in is two trail-miles downhill in the Golden Trout Wilderness. Horses carry the heavy loads. You hike your own gear in our waterproof packs.
Similar to the Thunder Run, the best, most-consistent flows are in early May and June. Book early season trips and cross your fingers that the river flows cooperate. Trips are limited to 15 passengers. Average of three starts weekly, mid-April through mid-July, longer in wet years. Oarboats carry your gear as you carve your way downstream in paddleboats. Oarboat assist paddling is also employed on some trips. Minimum age is 16 on our Forks Trips.
Note: This amazing year, the window for our Forks Trips will be from mid-July through September 15th. It's almost unheard of to be able to offer these majestic trips during this time frame. The conditions will be simply incredible. Don't miss this rare opportunity to run these summer trips!
This wonderful sampler of the Kern River Whitewater is run on an easy, fun, Class II and III, two mile stretch directly upstream from the Kern Outdoor Center in Kernville.
A Single Lickety runs the stretch once and the Double Lickety runs the stretch twice.
We can take kids as young as 5 years of age on these trips. Participants need to weigh at least 50 pounds to join us on these trips.
The trips meet every day starting April 1st at three different times: 10am, 12:30pm, and 3:00pm.
Wetsuits and Paddling Jackets (a type of windbreaker made especially for whitewater rafting) are
available for everyone, if needed.
There is a nominal rental fee of $20.00 per person for the
wetsuit/paddling jacket combo.
Located at the border of Sierra and Sequoia National Forests, the Kings River is famous for its long, exhilarating roller-coaster-like Class III rapids. This is the destination for those who want a rollicking, splashing good time without the anxiety that sometimes accompanies tougher runs. The Kings season usually runs from early May through July 4th on most years.
The American River: The closest river to the Bay Area and Sacramento. The rugged canyons in the back country form one of the most popular rafting destinations in the Northern California.
Classic wilderness whitewater just outside of Yosemite. Clear and cool, the Wild and
Scenic Tuolumne River thunders and plunges through a grand succession of boulder gardens and
spectacular cascades in a deep wilderness canyon just west of Yosemite National Park.
For more information about these rivers, please call our Reservations Office at 1-800-400-7238
The objective of the course is to instill participants with the skills and impart the art of whitewater rafting on Class III and IV whitewater with the overall goal of imparting the base skill set needed to be a competent River Guide on the Kern River. The six days are jam-packed with information and seminars on the art of reading water, concepts associated with river hydrology, paddle captaining, and Swiftwater Rescue methods and techniques. Our instructors are seasoned veterans with intimate knowledge in all of the subjects taught. The course is designed to be thorough, but is taught in a non-competitive, fun atmosphere. Many life-long friendships have been forged over the course of these classes.
Participants are outfitted for the course when they meet the morning of the first day. Wetsuits, paddling jackets, lifejackets, and helmets are provided for the duration of the course. Students can use their own wetsuits but will need to wear one of our lifejackets to participate.
Whitewater Voyages will provide all of your gear, rafting equipment, and transportation to and from the river for each student along with a hearty lunch each day. Participants are responsible to make their own dinner, breakfast, and camping or lodging arrangements.
The Kern River provides the ideal training ground for river guides. Those that complete the course come away with an enviable skill set that provides an excellent foundation that is the basis for guiding commercially for Whitewater Voyages or any other rafting company in the country. It also provides a fabulous skill set that private boaters can rely on when guiding on their own.
Six Day Guide Kern River Guide school held over two consecutive three-day weekends. Whitewater Voyages’ intensive, world-renowned, guide schools are led by our most talented and knowledgeable instructors. They emphasize hands-on whitewater skill building and practicing in a supportive environment. These guide schools are widely recognized as excellent preparation for both commercial guiding and rafting on one's own. Discounts are available for those intending to guide for Whitewater Voyages.