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All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting
Category: Active Life Rafting/Kayaking Rafting/Kayaking [Edit]
1250 Pine StSte 103
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(800) 247-2387
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 9 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
73 reviews for All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting
73 reviews in English
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Review from caitlin m.
San Francisco, CA
12/13/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
YES! AO rocks. This was my first season ever rafting, and thanks to these guys I've found a new passion. These guides will make sure you're totally thrilled while still 100% safe.
I went on 2 trips this past summer - Middle Fork American and Goodwin Canyon. Next summer I'm hoping to try the Tuolumne and Cherry Creek.
Dave is the best! -
Review from Jesper H.
Redwood City, CA
5/14/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Treat yourself to a trip with these dedicated and very professional people. I have been down the tuolumne and south fork american with them. The service is simply better - they spoiled us on the overnight trips with their service and food. Picked the best spots for stops compared to the other companies we have used.
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Review from Jimmy S.
Walnut Creek, CA
10/15/2011
There aren't enough stars on Yelp to give All Outdoors. It is absolutely impossible to not like this company.
Their professionalism starts with their reservation office. I challenge you to find a single employee who isn't courteous, genuine, and simply excited to help you find the perfect trip. From their, the information they send you is beautifully put together and easy to understand. On top of that, their staff is so helpful in helping you put together the perfect excursion - helping you with all the details of planning and booking a trip.
On the river, there is no better company either. Their guides are SO knowledgeable and friendly. These are easily the best guides in the industry.
The food on the trips is... well... surprisingly impressive. I expected very little (I'm an avid camper and basically survive off of trail mix and dried food) but ended up with rather gourmet, freshly prepared meals: steak and potatoes, shrimp pasta, dutch-oven cooked brownies. Even their deli-spread lunches are beautifully laid out and presented. It's little things like that that truly show me that this company cares about its customers.
The icing on the cake for me was the post trip checkup. They followed up with me AFTER my trip to make sure things went well and that I had a good time. Service, service, service.
So far I've rafted the South Fork, Middle Fork, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Kaweah, and Goodwin Canyon. I'm looking forward to much much more with this company.
For those of you looking for trip suggestions:
North Fork Stanislaus is the best one day option for LOTS of adventure.
Tuolumne Two Day is the best trip money can buy. Go with your dad. Go with your siblings. Go with your significant other... you connect with nature and whoever you're with on a TOTALLY different level... it's an unbelievable trip.
Middle Fork Two Day is (jokingly) a poor man's Tuolumne. I can't always afford to go on the Tuolumne so the Middle Fork is a great second option. Much cheaper, but the experience is still phenomenal. -
Review from Ben P.
Santa Clara, CA
2/13/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Not that they need it, but here we go with another Five Star review. Caring staff that is doing what they love every day. I would not take these trips without a guide as I'd kill myself. They get you down safely and allow you fun between the rapids! Lunch was good and every time we passed another outfitter, it became evident we chose the best one!
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Review from Janelle C.
San Francisco, CA
8/19/2011 2 photos
I have been rafting with AO twice. A two day, Middle Fork trip in 2009 with my girl friends and, this June, a Tuolemne two day trip with some new friends. Both trips resulted in two of my top weekends that I can ever remember! Maybe not the very top, but up there for sure!
The food is amazing, the guides are knowledgeable and you can truly tell they really LOVE what they do! It shows and adds to the enjoyment. They have great stories about the rivers, geology, and crazy tales from prior trips. They take care of everyone from food, to feeling comfortable and confident, to making sure you're entertained in the evenings. And camping, eating with no clean up?!? Now that's my kind of camping!
This company really does it right and I find it quite telling that there are SOOOO many 5 star reviews...giving a 1 start because you bailed last minute and didn't get your money back just doesn't cut it...the cancellation policy is in place and clear from the getgo. Sometimes life happens, but the company has to move forward as well.
I whole heartedly recommend this company and can't wait to organize another two day trip next year. I was lucky to experience the Tuolomne with epic flows this summer and can't wait to see what mother nature and AO have in mind next time! -
Review from Anson W.
Sunnyvale, CA
8/15/2011
My group of 6 chose All Outdoors because of all the great reviews, and they didn't disappoint!
We rafted the Middle Fork of the American River with Class III's and IV's. Safety was always emphasized. We scouted our first Class IV on land before running it. Before each Class IV, the guides gave an overview of how we would navigate the rapid and what to do if someone were to fall overboard.
Our guide Cory was friendly and extremely skilled. Me being a first-timer, I was a little anxious about doing Class IV's, but Cory's steering and direction made even the Class IV's seem easy. He was also very knowledgeable about the history of the river, telling us about Gold Rush era settlements and a man-made flood that changed the landscape.
Cory's boat served as a lookout for the other boats, and at one point two people from another boat fell out during a rapid, one of them swam to a rock, and we had to raft across the rapid to rescue him. That was pretty kick@ss.
Lunch was tasty and healthful. The guides served fruit, chips and salsa as appetizers while prepping ingredients for us to make sandwiches with.
Overall, it was an awesome trip with a great company. The only thing I think AO could've done better was being clearer about restrooms. We were advised not to use the restroom at the launch point because we'd have a private restroom a little ways down the river. But the private restroom was never seen or mentioned again. I don't know what was up with that. -
Review from Jason B.
Studio City, CA
8/10/2011
I rafted with AO back in June of 2006. The Tuolumne was so high that most other outfitters weren't running it that day, but they let those with experience go. They had taken extra precautions, including having an EMT (also the guide for our raft) as well as a pontoon raft out front with two guides just in case anyone went in the water. No one did, however and we had a blast. I don't remember our guide's name, but he was the best guide I've ever worked with.
I am planning a Merced run next summer and will for sure be going with All Outdoors! -
Review from Chris H.
Fresno, CA
9/14/2011
First off, if you book with AO (and you should) make sure to ask for Bryan, Kate, and Cory. They are by far the best guides you could ever ask for and truly made the trip even better!
A little back story on myself - I am 28 and work in sales. So I am in the office or on the road for 50-60 hours a week and when I'm not in the office I am on my phone.... Being in a place where you get absolutely no phone reception was critical.
My best man set up this trip for my bachelor party trip and it was one of the best weekends of my life. The were a mixture of rapids from easy to very challenging made for an enjoyable time and being able to hope out of the boat and float over some of the rapids was amazing!
Besides the rafting, the food was top notch and the camping / lunch spots couldn't have been better.
If you are looking for a rafting trip, give AO a shot because you will not be disappointed. Make sure to ask for Bryan, Kate, & Cory! (Thanks guys for adding so much to our trip) -
Review from Dennis D.
San Francisco, CA
7/8/2011
completely organized and friendly. Their location in Lotus is also really clean!
corey, our guide, was an expert. maria (guide and info collector) was also cool. gregg, roxanne and lenka are also doing their best behind the scenes.
we did the south fork trip (class ii and iii) but will definitely use them again when i try the more difficult ones! -
Review from Fontane M.
Davis, CA
6/1/2011
To be honest, I've never rafted with anyone else, but my experience with AO leads me to believe that there's no reason to! I've gone three trips with them so far (Middle Fork, Toulumne, Kaweah) and they have all been amazing!
Why amazing?
- they take safety seriously, and the guides do a great job of maneuvering tricky situations
- they make it easy for me to coordinate large groups (10-15 people)
- the guides are all super nice, and the food is quite good (with something for the vegans and vegetarians too)
- we've had some people fall out before, and the guides are super-quick hands - they're back in before we know it
- this year, i've noticed that they've outfitted the rafts with more safety precautions such as more hand-holds and foot-holds to keep you in the boat - sweet! -
Review from Kevin J.
5/2/2011
What a great experience. I've gone with this company twice now and it is a blast every time I go. There are several rafting companies out there but you wont meet the quality of people you meet here. The camp ground is nice and simple - they have horseshoes and volleyball and the bathrooms are clean and showers are included. There are even 4 or 5 private bathroom/shower rooms attached to the main restroom facilities which are a great amenity if you want a little more privacy.
mike is one of the best rafting guides in the business and has been all over the world rafting and sharing his knowledge. If you get the chance and are brave enough join his boat. Be ready to tell a joke though - it's a requirement. -
Review from Armen G.
Los Angeles, CA
7/7/2011
Amazing that is all I can say worth every penny!
My favorite part of the trip brownies with butter finger and milk wowwwww! -
Review from James T.
Pasadena, CA
5/4/2011 1 photo
2nd time on the Merced w/ AO Rafting, this time brought a few more friends. Everyone that went had a great time.
This time we had an awesome guide: Joe aka Epic Beard Man. He made us all get in the water to get a feel for it, he also had all of us rescue the person next to us. Kept us motivated throughout the river, had lots of info of the area through the calmer parts of the Merced.
Will definitely use All Outdoors again when we do the Kaweah (Hopefully this year)
Standby for helmet mounted GoPro HD footage on youtube in a few weeks. Search 5/1/2011 MercedComment from Roxanne G. of All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting 5/4/2011
Hi James, thanks for rafting with us again! We're looking… More » -
Review from Lorrie M.
9/13/2010
Thank you All Outdoors for fantastic first experience into whitewater rafting! I had so much fun this weekend I'm already planning my next trip.
I stumbled upon this company after doing a random google search for whitewater rafting. I wanted to take the bf (not knowing he had gone before) plus everyone told me it was a fun and fantastic experience. Of course, I saw the Yelp reviews and booked with this company. Their website online is extremely helpful in terms of information but some of the things you might want to consider is that their boat holds 8-10 people so you are able to arrange for large groups and you always go out with two boats (perhaps another group of strangers ...) for safety reasons.
The staff was extra friendly, answered all of my questions (and I only had about 103 because it was my first time and I was totally scared!)
They were even helpful on weekends at their Walnut Creek number for me to call and let them know that we were stuck in a massive traffic jam and was late to our meeting time. The entire experience from the planning side was great.
I loved our raft guide Erin! She is fun, experienced and very knowledgeable on the river and the surrounding areas. She helped us navigate through some tough rapids (as a first timer for me anyway) and gave us a fantastic view of Troublemaker (rapid) which made me appreciate it even more when we went through it nicely. I am still awaiting the pictures :)
The lunch they provide is delicious and the guides are all extremely experienced, knowledgeable and a great time to be around. Our one day, six hour trip was more than worth then 3 hour drive from San Jose and I can't wait to go rafting again.
As a quick note, although Susan Y is right that this is the address of their corporate office, the Lotus, CA location listed is only for certain trips (the meeting point), other trips may have different meeting locations. -
Review from Khoa N.
San Francisco, CA
8/22/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
We had a great time rafting down the South Fork on their 1-day trip. The food was amazing, the guides were knowledgeable, hard working, and took care of everything to make sure all we had to do was enjoy ourselves. Our guide, Nathan, was truly passionate about rafting, which made our trip even more enjoyable (be sure to request him if you can!). I would gladly book with them again.
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Review from Lauren K.
CA
8/23/2010
Just went white water rafting with All Outdoors yesterday on the Express Upper North Fork Chili Bar and it was loads of fun. I went with 5 of my other friends so there were 6 rowdy college students in a group of around 30 pleasant families but the staff handled us professionally and nicely. We got a boat to ourselves (I mean, what couple would want to raft with us...) and our river guide was so sweet, nice, and incredibly patient, even when our raft got stuck in a rock and one of my friends sat there applying sunscreen; we failed many times to paddle in sync; and when we talked about how hungry we were for around 30 minutes straight.
Now all I'm left with is some rosy cheeks (a rarity for my almost-black summer skin) and the lingering feeling of rocking side to side.
The rapids were not that bad so we are already planning our next three adventures: Middle Fork, Kaweah, and then the two day Tuolumne - Cherry Creek once we have enough dough for it. Unfortunately white water rafting is expensive so... -
Review from Rebecca H.
Dublin, CA
8/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
Just got back today from an all day rafting trip yesterday, the middle fork of the American river. What a great time! I think Valerie S. and I may have gone on the same trip. I went with husband, 2 nephews, brother in law, his girlfriend, and 2 friends. We stayed at a nearby campsite and then drove over in the morning.
I recommend bringing sunscreen, shoes with heels like water socks, Tevas, or an old pair of tennis shoes, long sleeve shirt, quick dry pants. I wore a waterproof jacket which kept me warmer, although not very dry overall. For the shoes, you will be doing a small amount of walking/climbing over uneven, rocky ground, at times slippery because it's wet, so make sure you have good tread on your shoes. There's a communal water jug, if that grosses you out, bring your own water, but bring something that can be strapped to the boat, like a camelback. We had a diving bag for keys and IDs, that worked well for us, my husband just wore it under his shirt.
As for the trip itself, it's fun! There are long stretches of not doing much, and it's REALLY COLD water, so you may not want to swim, so the downtime can get a bit much. As everybody has said, lunch was good. My group liked the candy bar bag that got passed from boat to boat, but if you are diabetic or can't have sugar, like some of us on the trip, bring something you can snack on and put it in a zip lock bag, with your name on it, and ask it be put in the snack bag.
Our guide was Maureen, she was great! Friendly, athletic, and apologized for "yelling" at us, which really wasn't yelling, and we were so bad at paddling in unison that I'm surprised she didn't just walk off. She gave us a gun show, and for a petite little thing, she has some mega muscles! Everybody in our group responded to her humor and personality, and she was part of what made our trip fun.
This trip is not about being rowed down a river. You will paddle, be sore, get bruises, be jostled about. You wear a helmet and life jacket for a reason. You need to be at a very basic level of physical fitness; there is some climbing up and down rocks and on uneven ground, and it's slippery. If you can't do that, this isn't the trip for you. You need to be able to lean over at an awkward angle and paddle. You have to be able to get up and down quickly. You have to listen and respond to directions. If you can do that, sign up!
Our boat sort of sucked. We had not very good paddlers, our listening skills were a bit impaired, one nephew frequently spaced out and had to be reminded to paddle in unison, and we had 7 people, rather than 6, so we had a very heavy, difficult to maneuver boat, which lead to us going through rapids ass backwards, ping ponging off the big one, the Tunnel Chute, like a pinball, which was fun but I think frustrating to our guide.
There are porta potties at the meeting site and lunch break, as well as changing rooms at the meeting site. Take warm, dry clothes and shoes to change into afterward, you'll need them. Purell is provided at the lunch table for those of us who are germphobic.
At the end of the day, don't be an ass. Somehow my group helped carry three boats up, although we didn't occupy three boats. We're all tired, we're all sore and bruised, so what, help take your boat up. Not doing that is rude. And don't come hungover and obnoxious, the behavior isn't becoming and it annoys the people around you trying to hear the guides and have a fun day with family and friends. Kids can go, but they need to be at least 90 lbs, at least 12 years old, and they need to be good swimmers and good listeners.
Finally, we had a waterproof camcorder but didn't use it much because you have to paddle, not hold a camera. Strap it to your lifejacket and then turn it on before rapids to get great video. I wish we had done that, but we didn't.
Have fun! We did. -
Review from Anne C.
Torrance, CA
6/7/2010
AO Rafting is AWESOME~!!!
Our river guide REALLY knew what he was doing and guided us well.
Couple of times I felt that my life was on the line and I'd be thrown off the raft, hit some rocks, faint, and rushed down the river by the strong current.
Luckily none of that happened and our guide trained us well~!
I could still hear the "over left~! over right~! hang on~! paddle forward~!" in my head ringing... -
Review from chris b.
Shingle Springs, CA
9/25/2011
Rafted Goodwin Canyon with AO in September 2011. Enjoyed the entire experience. Knowledgeable guides that were friendly and tried to make the run interactive and exciting.
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Review from Zhi Q.
San Francisco, CA
6/3/2009
I'm not sure what I'm reviewing here:
White water rafting, the activity in general? 100% must try for anyone who is able to do it and is looking for a thrill. It's like a roller-coaster ride, but if the riders don't participate, the coaster derails.
The stretch of Merced River outside Yosemite, near Midpines, CA? Two thumbs up. Great flows for late May 2009, making a few extra miles raftable. Not too cold and terrific views.
All Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting as a business? 5/5 Yelp stars. A great website that has a lot of information so you can easily pick what trip destination you want. Also made it easier to find a good place to stay near our rafting point. Really easy to book reservations and the knowledgeable agents follow-up with you and answer all your questions. Their cancellation policy is a bit harsh, but I think that has more to do with the limited capacity of this kind of business to handle last-minute changes on the number of boats/guides needed.
The guides were wonderful, using just the right amount of encouragement and motivation to get us down the river safely. I enjoyed the way they treated us like adults regarding river safety. I've taken a trip with another company that took hours to explain to you every situation you could possibly come up with on the river and how each and every little thing is important. Think about it, if you do fall in, you're not going to remember any of it, and you have to trust your guide to do and tell you the right thing at the very moment.
Our guide, Joe, was awesome. Really knew his way around this specific river, as well as rafting in general. He was also a really friendly guy to hang out with for a few hours on the river.
The lunch they provided was decent, and they also had snacks in between.
If someone wanted to go rafting out here in CA, I'd recommend All-Outdoor in a heartbeat. Our trip ended up being about $150 per person, which is steep, but well worth it. -
Review from jason c.
San Francisco, CA
10/6/2011
I had so much fun with these guys. They do an excellent job and take really good care of you. Cherry Creek is BOMBER, check it out!
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Review from Julia C.
San Francisco, CA
10/1/2007
Passengers who've enjoyed the thrill of riding in car with me (especially when I drove in LA) would say that such an adventure requires courage, a settled stomach, and a "live in the moment because it could end anytime" philosophy to life.
I'm happy to report this perspective was reinforced on the South Fork of the American River during my first whitewater rafting trip ever.
All of my uncoordinated and klutzy skills made for an exciting ride in the calmest of waters. I can really rock the boat! As luck would have it, our guide was very knowledgeable and experienced with disaster-aversion techniques, and successfully pushed me back into the raft at critical moments. And when the whitewater came in and nearly capsized us, he even grabbed my hat as it flew off my head in midair...amazing!
Catastrophe preparedness sets this company apart. Before we left the launch site, we spent a lot of time reviewing an extensive list of things not to do on the river, as well as tips for saving your own life (and the lives of your fellow rafters), should someone fall into it. They also packed a nice lunch with cookies (to prevent paddling fatigue) and stopped at a lovely picnic site with porto-potties...avoiding river contamination is always a good thing, especially if you end up swimming in it.
They also provide wetsuit and splash guard rentals and have a frequent-rafters program with discounts. All in all, this was one of the best death-defying trips I've had the pleasure of surviving to-date...and my friends lived to tell about it, too. Fantastic! -
Review from Merrill H.
Redondo Beach, CA
8/10/2007
AO Rafting offers some kick ass (literally) whitewater rafting on the American River. Some friends of mine and I took a 2 day rafting trip on the Middle Fork of the American, described as "the perfect step up into more difficult whitewater" and for "experienced rafters and adventurous beginners." This trip has class III and IV rapids, so if you're scared, I highly suggest starting with a II or III run.
As soon as you arrive, they give you safety instructions and then off you go in the bus to the launch site. Once you're in that raft, it's non-stop, with one good, tough rapid after another.
However, adventure does come at a price.
We were coming up to the longest class IV rapid in the trip. For some reason, our guide angled our raft into the rapid at the wrong angle, so the left side of the raft went into the air and everyone (including me) on the right side of the raft got dumped into the river. As I was told later, I was under the water for quite some time. To me, it felt like forever. Luckily, I remembered the safety lecture and tried to position myself like I was sitting in a chair, with my feet angled up. My back hit a rock pretty bad, but at least I surfaced. We finally got pulled out of the water and into another raft. Man, that water was so cold! I ended up limping like a cripple for the next few days because of where the rock hit me, but, oh, it was soo much fun!
The meals provided are really tasty. The guides are friendly, athletic, and have some great stories to tell. At the end of the first day, it was nice have a good meal, rollout a sleeping bag on the shores of the river and look at the millions of stars overhead.
Whitewater rafting is a great way to bond with your friends or to meet new people. If you have a free weekend during the summer, you should make your reservation with AO Rafting soon!Listed in: Guide to the Great Outdoors
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Review from Susan Y.
8/26/2009
The address that Yelp has up there is a little confusing, because I guess that's where their office is?
The location of the actual place is:
1026 Lotus Rd.
Lotus, CA 95651
It's about an hour away from Davis.
Anyhow, this company is really great!
First off, planning and scheduling this trip was really easy. We weren't exactly sure what we're doing, but a friend gave us the number to AO and the person on the phone was very helpful when booking us.
Finding this place isn't too difficult, but it took us a few tries because we kept turning into the wrong place. This place is to the right of The River Store.
Once there, we registered and everything went very smoothly. All of the staff members were really friendly and the orientation was thorough.
Our guide, Analisa, was awesome. She made us feel very safe and have a lot of fun as well. She was very down to earth, and not only guided us down the river, but talked about some of the ecology of the river and she even told jokes and riddles haha.
We did the South Fork run that goes up to class 3. It starts off more tame with bouts of class 2's in the first half and the second half after lunch is much more fun and thrilling. Lunch was really good too. There were appetizers like chips and salsa and fruit while the guides prepared the sandwich makings. There was a lot of variety too, including all kinds of veggies, hummus, avocado, etc. which was really nice.
Once again, the second half of the trip was a lot of fun where we actually hit some class 3's. Next time we'll go for Middle Fork, where they have class 4's and we'll go with this company :).
Recommendations: Wear shoes that you may not want afterwards if you're going to wear sneakers and no flip flops! And bring and reapply sunblock! You'll be in the sun for 5 hours. -
Review from Rami R.
San Francisco, CA
7/11/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
I went on a tour with AO yesterday on the Southern Fork of the American River. Three friends and I had purchased a deal on Yelp. It was so much fun. The tour felt a little shorter than I would have wanted and I wish the rapids were a little more intense, but the experience was so worth it. AO's staff is extremely friendly and professional and provided a delicious sandwich spread for lunch. I'm definitely interested in booking with them again in the future.
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Review from Abby W.
Alameda, CA
9/15/2006
For my first whitewater rafting trip, my husband and I decided to go with All Outdoors and we were incredibly happy with our decision! We did the one-day South Fork (American River) trip and it was a blast!
I did have my moments of panic up at the front of the raft as I tried to pull my weight and help to ensure a safe passage through some of the bigger rapids, but it was a good panic! I'm sure I had a look of sheer terror on my face, but, I made it through safely and enjoyed the adrenaline rush!
The whole group stopped along the way for lunch that was set up by the guides. I had worked up quite an appetite and was worried that I would only have cheese and bread to eat since I don't eat cold cuts. I was wrong. Tons of fresh veggies, including avocado. Lots of other snacks, and even cookies for dessert.
During the trip, we were able to jump out of the raft for a dip in the river when the water was calm and we weren't close to any rapids. That was one of the best parts of the trip since it was about 110 degrees that day!
The guides were clearly very experienced and the customer service from start to finish was flawless! -
Review from Lise L.
Oakland, CA
8/11/2007
I've been on at least a dozen rafting trips now, ranging from mellow class III through fairly intense class V waters, and the majority have been with AO. The guides are knowledgeable and have the right balance between careful and fun - they are great at assessing the general skill-level on board and adapting the run accordingly.
We did go on one run in which we were thrown from the raft in the middle of a class IV. Hubby seriously panicked (I thought it was kinda fun!) and they did a great job of retrieving us and getting us back on board quickly and safely.
I am particularly fond of the over-nighters, and AO provides great food they have never once failed to adapt meals to feed the veggie in the house (I always tell them Im a veghead when I make the reservation).
Bestest of all, AO has a frequent rafter program. I get a free river run next time I book - woo hoo!
Unfortunately, hubby isn't so into it anymore, so any rafters in the house, PM me!! -
Review from Chris K.
San Francisco, CA
8/7/2007
OMG. This was sooo much fun. I felt like I was 8 again.
My best man organized a trip with All Outdoors Whitewater Rafting for my batchelor's party. Whitewater rafting is something that I've always wanted to do, and AO did not disappoint. We went on the one-day rafting trip at South Fork. The trip starts fairly leisurely so that people can get into the swing of it, and we were worried that it wasn't going to be a dud. However after lunch things really pick up and before long you're paddling your little heart out towards the next rapid, grinning like an idiot.
Our guide was great - cracking jokes, telling stories and completely in control. As I was the lucky guy she made me sit bull in the front of the raft without a paddle where I got drenched at every rapid (much to the amusement of my friends). The highlight of the trip was entering Satan's Cesspool with our eyes closed and then opening them at our guide's command to see us racing into a roaring maw of white-water, spray and fury.
The weather was super warm, so being thrown into the river (thanks boys) or taking a dip is a welcome relief. The scenery is fantastic and I think we only referenced Deliverance about 10 times. We are already thinking about a trip back with AO to do class 4 rapids. See you there! -
Review from Worthington P.
Mill Valley, CA
7/9/2011
Our run of the Stanasiaus started with manually fording the first "Beginner's Luck" rapids. Too dangerous, our guides told us. We watched in chagrin as Oars, a competitor, took 6 boats of lesser-experienced rafters over it. Meanwhile, I fell on the rocks while helping ford the boats around it and injured my elbow. This company has a confused perspective on safety!
Our guide, supposedly with 9 years experience, had us going down river more sideways and backwards than forwards. Our boat capsized while taking the rapids sideways, throwing 3 of us into the Class 4 rapids - maybe that's why they weren't comfortable with the first rapids?
Do yourself a favor - use another boating company! -
Review from Sara Ann S.
San Francisco, CA
8/13/2008
A weekend of rapids, drinking, eating, and sexual inuendos. Need I say more?
7 of us embarked on a 2-day trip on the middle fork of the American River. Saturday was on the River from 9-6pm, and was filled with rapids, lunch on the river, and some amazing hikes. Our guide Colin (bless his heart listened to my dirty jokes all day, and still seemed to like us) was amazing, he made us feel safe, but knew how to have a great time, and let us do some amazing stuff.
We camped by the side of the river (ladies no running water, so I'll let your imagination fill in the rest about restrooms) The guides cooked dinner, while we hung out and drank beer. The food was awesome and the scenery was spectacular.
After a nights sleep under the stars, the guides cooked breakfast and then we were back in the water from 10-4. 2nd day had the most rapids and made for an all around fantastic trip.
We are already looking to do other trips, and would be honored if we could have Colin and subject him to our potty humor for just a few more days....
Noteable inuendo:
Guide: Tighten your life-jacket as much as posssible, they get loose when they are wet.
Reply: "Dont we all" -
Review from Jane N.
San Francisco, CA
7/12/2007
I have rafted with AO for 3 years now and every time the experience improves. This year I even organized a private charter for 35 coworkers to the Middle Fork and it was just the perfect trip. We had some noobs and a boat even wrapped but the guides were so supportive and nice that it became a thrilling excitement (we kept retelling the story weeks after the trip) instead of it being a downer.
Next year definitely Toulumne and when I'm ready to break my ultimate ClassV cherry at Cherry Creek I'd definitely go with AO too!! -
Review from Sean W.
San Jose, CA
9/26/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
We chose All outdoors because of the Yelp deal. I have to say that we were very impressed with the guide and the service. From the initial phone call till the end of the trip everyone was very polite and seemed to care about our experience. They were very detailed in explaining the trip knowledgable about the river and fun. We even received a personal thank you post card from our guide. We will be using this company again next year.
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Review from Brian D.
Danville, CA
7/15/2010
Just a heads up the location in Walnut Creek is just their reservation office; their actual main base is at 1026 Lotus Road, Lotus, CA 95651, (530) 626-8306
This is my second time using this group the first was for a bachelor party back in 08 and we did class III and IV, which just gave me a small taste of what it was like. So this year I took my g/f to the 2 day Middle Fork trip. This is a Class III-IV rapid trip. I wanted to break the g/f in slowly to see if she even liked it or not. She was hooked after the chute.
The meals were better than what I would have expected to be able to be cooked on a rafting trip. It wasn't hummus and green beans all day, at lunch we had salsa and cheese with a pita bread sandwich that consisted of 3 different meats, avocado, 2 kinds of cheeses, fresh fruit, water or tea and dessert. For dinner they had tri-tip, pork loin, chicken, salads, pesto pasta, and brownies that were made on the spot at our camp site. For breakfast we had Bagels, bacon, sausage, eggs to order, coffee / tea, fruit and a vegetable concoction that was really good.
I give them 2 thumbs up for the meals they gave us
When I got to the camp site I was pleasantly surprised that there was bathrooms, sure they weren't the running water kind but still a place to sit and do my business. After we helped unload the gear raft they let us find out own tent location while they prepped for dinner. They brought out the bocce balls and we played for hours, then someone decided we should play for who is to do dishes... it think our guides lost on purpose.
After dinner, bocce and the brownie with a Butterfinger topping we sat around the fire and some of us went fishing. The fish were laughing at us when we cast but whenever the guides dropped a line they got a bite right away.
The G/F and I are planning on doing the Cherry Creek run later this year that is the Advanced Class V with a nice 8-foot drop and huge whitewater. 6 Class IV warm-up first mile then 14 Class V and V+ for the next 8 miles.
Tips for going on the trips
- Wear Bullfrog waterproof sun block... I got cooked!!!
- Bring a pair of sweatpants you don't mind getting wet if you don't bring the waterproof sun block.
- Bring a long sleeve t-shirt that can get wet. It's not cold out but the amount of sun you get in a 2 day event even turned my sun worshiping g/f into a crispy critter.
- Only pack the bare minimum that you need to survive a 2 day event. I brought a change of cloths for each day and ended up only wearing 1 outfit the entire time.
- You favorite adult beverage in a non breakable container (example: wine or Jäger in a 2-liter bottle). -
Review from Aaron L.
Larkspur, CA
8/24/2011
I rafted the Middle Fork/American with AO on Aug. 20th with my wife and four of our best friends. The entire experience was amazing, from start to finish. I wanna be sure to give props to all the crew that deserve it.
I'll begin with booking the trip, and the really nice people in the AO office that I spoke to and exchanged emails with in getting the trip planned. I should also mention that I didn't do due diligence in making reservations well ahead of time, which I'd recommend. That said, and although I frantically called only a week and a half out, Lenka was AWESOME and got us on the river on the only day that would work for our group. Too cool.
As for our whitewater adventure, it was all that it was cracked up to be and more. Our guides name was Kevin, a real American River O.G. as it turned out. Many of our group had a good deal of rafting experience under their belts, but a couple although really fit and capable did not. So the fact that Kevin knew that river in the freakish way that he did really put every body's mind at ease. I mean that too, that guy knew every line and every rapid so well that we were able to get everything we could out of our runs and from that beautiful river. Everyone wants to feel safe, but you gotta have fun and rip it up a bit too! We did plenty of ripping. There are still a few mellow spots along the way, and it's the perfect opportunity to take in some pretty incredible scenery, or learn a few things about the area and it's rich history. Our guide Kevin knew plenty about all of that, and even threw down some hilarious f-ing jokes. All I can say is that if your lucky enough to get Kevin steering you down river, ask him about being "deep in despair." It was the only point on the trip that I almost fell out of the raft, laughing that is. Seriously... request Kevin if you can.
As for the food, it was a really pleasant surprise. I didn't expect anything fancy or over the top, needless to say. But the spread was killer; really fresh deli meats, cheeses, veggies, fresh fruit, and every sandwich fixin' you can think of. I was stoked. And like any hard earned lunch that comes on the heels of a long, exciting, exhilarating morning, it tastes like the best sando you've ever had.
Everyone at AO was really the best, hopefully... if you're lucky you'll meet Kate, she led the expedition, so to speak, and was totally cool. And perhaps the most upbeat and bubbly person I've ever met in my life. But that's what you need to get you amped-up and ready to hit the river. Kate... you're awesome!
There's no doubt in my mind that I'll be back to take another adventure with AO, the only question is how soon, and whether or not I have the huevos to run Cherry Creek. There's only so much time in a season, and way too many rivers to hit. I think I've found my new passion....... -
Review from Johnson L.
8/17/2009
My friend and I took a 2 day rafting trip down the Middle Fork of the American River. Keeping this short and sweet. Awesome/Fun/Professional guides who definitely knew what they were doing. Great food, great camp site, awesome rapids. overall great trip.
Definitely planning my next rafting trip with AOR! -
Review from John M.
Sunnyvale, CA
5/2/2011
The antithesis of professionalism, AO is at the top of fostering ill-will on the river. They think nothing of bullying their way through rapids and setting up potentially fatal situations and get indignant when running over a kayaker results in the rapid deflation of their raft.
Ao is the reason I bought my own rig.
There are plenty of other outfitters with better attitudes. Better yet, save yourself a couple hundred bucks a pop and check out the California Floaters Society where it's all about the fun and not about the profit. -
Review from jen n.
Long Beach, CA
7/30/2007
I went this past weekend with some friends and took the South Fork American River trip. We had so much fun. The class III rapids were perfect for us whitewater virgins. Our guide, Tiffany was great and easy going and got us down the river in one piece. The weather was super hot and dry, so the water felt so nice, though when submerged, it is f*cking cold! I preferred being in the raft and getting splashed. :)
I recommend doing this trip for any first timers out there. Just know that you are going to be sore the next day. (My ass still hurts) -
Review from Bubbachuck B.
San Francisco, CA
8/6/2007
They really do a great job.
The staff are young, athletically gifted, knowledgable, confident, skilled, and entertaining!
I had never done this before but despite several challenges throughout the day, I never felt like they were not in control of things. -
Review from Nathan C.
Oakland, CA
6/30/2008
I would HIGHLY recommend doing a trip through these guys.
They're a family operation with great guides, and have been operating on the river longer than any of the other commercial companies. Doing the middle fork during 2 days in the middle of the week is great for those who like to hike and explore the canyon. The food were top notch and the service was amazing. Overall, it was an educational, adventurous experience. -
Review from Johnny S.
Walnut Creek, CA
3/19/2011
I found about this place through Yelp and I have to say the other reviewers are spot on! Lots of fun, great guides and good time was had by all. Be sure to wear lots of sun screen - 2 of my buddies didn't and now they are beet red.
