As you may remember, back in May I told you about the devastating volcano eruption in Futaleufu, Chile.  The disaster was particularly poignant to us because we run a river trip on the Rio Futaleufu every January so we really wanted to do something to help.  Over the course of the many years planning these trips and making them a [...]

Just days ago I was telling you that the Middle Fork of the American rafting season was going to end this Sat, September 27th.  Well, at the very last minute, the powers that be  who control the water level on the river decided to continue releasing raftable flows into October.  Class IV river trips will [...]

Friends of the River’s largest fundraising event of the year, the California River Awards is coming up in October.  We’re one of the event’s sponsors and are looking forward to an evening of tasty wine, food, good conversation and the opportunity to tell Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard how much we love his fleece jackets.  He, along with [...]

It’s been a glorious season on the mighty Middle Fork, replete with high adventure, wildlife sightings, a wedding engagement, many bachelor parties, and countless deli sandwiches dropped in the sand; but after this weekend, fishermen, gold panners, and sunbathers will have the canyon back to themselves for the rest of the fall and winter.  We [...]

Outdoorsy families take note!  The volunteers at the American River Conservancy have put together another cool family outing that would make the perfect addition to a local vacation in California’s Sierra Foothills.  On September 27th, ARC will be leading a family bike ride into the Middle Fork of the American River canyon.  It’s an easy ride, [...]

If you’ve been putting off buying your tickets for this weekend’s American River Music Festival stop procrastinating and do it!  The Folk, Americana, and Blues festival kicks off in just three days, starting with a rafting trip with All-Outdoors on the South Fork of the American river.  Rafters will get serenaded on the river bank by Joe Craven’s wide-ranging [...]

Sunny skies, warm breezes, and rustling leaves have been providing a beautiful backdrop to our two most popular–and longest running–rivers, the good ol’ South Fork and Middle Forks of the American.   Each of these tried and true runs have plenty of gas in the tank.  Weekend flows on the South Fork have even been a little [...]

Middle Fork American river outfitters have gotten word from State Parks and the powers that be that we will have excellent river rafting flows through September 27th.  This means there are three weekends left to brave the man-made class IV rapid that is the incomparable Tunnel Chute.  Three more weeks to see the quiet tree [...]

Another fun pairing is coming up this weekend for those of you looking for a quick escape to the Sierra Foothills.  This time, come up for a rafting adventure and then relax with a tour of the foothill’s fantastic wineries at the peak of harvest season. River trips are available this Sat and Sun on the [...]

For river rafters living near the Bay Area, or in the Sacramento region, how’s this for an unusual weekend getaway?  Get off work a little early on Friday and drive up to El Dorado County–after dinner that evening, join the American River Conservancy for a moonlight hike on the Stagecoach Trail.  The guided hike is mellow and led by [...]

It’s just three weeks until our sleepy little valley will be hoppin’ to the music of some of today’s best Folk, Americana, and Blues musicians and singers at the 2nd annual American River Music Festival.  The three-day festival kicks off with a trip down the South Fork of the American River and a riverside serenade [...]

Our focus is as a commercial rafting outfitter, but AO Rafting has worked with special groups for years–schools, Boy Scouts, programs for underpriviledged and special needs kids–because rafting has the potential to be a uniquely rewarding experience for kids and young people.  This history made it a no-brainer to partner with the Inner City Outing Whitewater [...]

This summer some unsuspecting guests on a Middle Fork of the American river trip were witness to a most unusual event. We like to think our rafting trips are always unique and special, but this one has to take the cake; we can’t promise to deliver something like this again for awhile! AO rafting guides Matt and [...]

AO Rafting is headed North this September 13-14 for a rare opportunity to raft the Upper Klamath River.  Near the California Oregon boarder, the Upper Klamath is farther afield than many of the rivers we run, but its 17 miles of whitewater make it a rafting destination worthy of the drive.  Gunsmoke! Ambush! Ol’ Bushwacker!  Class [...]

Sometimes at All-Outdoors we work sort of late. And we get hungry. Scrounging through the fridge turns up left-over cheese and bread, maybe even some mustard. Soon cheese melts land with a thwack on desks. Other times someone plans ahead and tastier options appear. And then there are Cafe Mahjaic nights. Oh [...]

 Here we are, August winding down into September, and my my my, where has the season gone?  Somehow after all these trips and so much sunshine, I still done forgot to get me a tan.  If you forgot too, there’s still time to wow your co-workers with a fresh summer glow aquired on an American river [...]

I recently did a two-day trip on the Tuolumne River, and as Lynsey and I greeted guests in the morning I realized all four groups on our trips were families–we had brother-in-laws, moms, dads, and kids ranging from 12 to 21. I chatted with one dad before dinner the first night about his kids [...]

Upstream dams mean that flows on the Tuolumne River and Cherry Creek have been very consistant in 2008.  Lower water levels actually meant that Cherry Creek had a better than average season this year and we’ve been running a record number of trips on this extremely challenging run as a result.  But, the situation is [...]

Kayaking California’s Class V rivers would be the ultimate adrenaline rush for most people. For kayaker and All-Outdoors videographer, Ben Zupo, the Class V rapids in the Sierra Nevada are simply the perfect training ground for the “second most deadliest job in the world,” working as camera crew on the hit TV show, The Deadliest [...]

As you float down the South Fork, you notice the whitewater, the rocks, the sunbathers on the beach…but hopefully you also notice the broader beauty of the canyon.  The families of wild ducks, tawny deer, soaring vultures, chattering chickadees.  The hillsides of the Coloma-Lotus Valley rise low and wide above the South Fork, dotted with [...]