You can pout all you want, but the facts are the facts: California river rafting is officially done for 2008.  Clear blue skies with clouds on the horizon, golden leaves, and ripe apples tell us fall is good and here so it’s time to pack up for the upcoming winter.  However, should you desire a very private rafting [...]

This time of year has limited options for boaters looking to enjoy a day of paddling, but every once in a while, there are scheduled released on awesome runs, such as the North Fork of the Feather. The North Feather has a diversion dam on it, so usually, there isn’t enough water to run it. [...]

Here it is mid October and California rafting is still going strong.  The weather has been mostly beautiful, with cooler temperatures and lovely fall breezes.  The leaves are turning and we are hearing lots of geese overhead.  Water levels on the South and Middle Forks of the American River have been consistant and fun throughout the [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

 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 [...]

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 [...]

Here’s another cool opportunity for an affordable, fun weekend that will get you outside and enjoying both California rafting and hiking.  The American River Conservancy is hosting a free, guided hike on the Rubicon River August 2nd.  It’s a moderate, eight mile hike, so even if you aren’t a power-lifter or tri-athlete, it should be fun, not a [...]

If you haven’t made plans for the weekend yet, or if you’re already coming up to raft the South or Middle Fork, don’t forget that there’s an awesome concert at one of our local winerys this weekend, July 25th.  David Girard Winery is hosting Sean Hayes, a popular singer-songwriter touring the West Coast this summer.  [...]

We are in the midst of one of the best Cherry Creek seasons we’ve ever had.  One of the silver linings of the lower than usual reservoirs this summer is that the water on Cherry Creek came down enough for us to raft earlier than it usually does.  The class V whitewater on the Creek is [...]

I was just talking to a friend about the idea of “volunteer vacations,” whereby you go on vacation but do something good too–like help rebuild an area affected by a natural disaster or do conservation work and the like.  Then I came across a cool concert being held at one of our local wineries and [...]