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Tributary Whitewater Tours LLC
Categories: Active Life Hotels & Travel Tours Active Life, Tours [Edit]
20480 Woodbury DrGrass Valley, CA 95949
(800) 672-3846
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
13 reviews for Tributary Whitewater Tours LLC
13 reviews in English
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Review from erin b.
Sunnyvale, CA
6/23/2010 3 photos
I just got back from an amazing 3 day trip down the Middle Fork of the American River. Our guides, Matt and Danny were awesome! They were totally laid back guys who were up for hanging out and making sure we all had a good time. Since they were both around our age (mid-20's) we felt like they were more-so a part of our group of friends rather than people we were paying to show us around. We had some flexibility as far as the schedule goes (ie no pressure to wake up at a certain time, eat lunch at a certain time, etc.) which made the trip more fun and less stressful.
Even with the flexible schedule we really got to experience a lot. Tons of rafting and hiking to gorgeous waterfalls (even saw a couple river otters!). Matt and Danny were also very knowledgeable about the river and its history. A couple of us got the opportunity to practice steering the raft while we were on the more timid rapids. Who knew the trip would end up being so educational!
The food was good and healthy. We had tasty fajitas one night, grilled chicken another night (plus vegetarian options for a couple of us). The campsites were nice. One of them was right next to a beach so we could lay out after a long day of rafting. There was also bocci ball and beer which always makes for a good camping experience. :)
The only scary part (but probably one of the most memorable parts) was when our boat flipped over at the beginning of the trip (right before the Tunnel Chute). This shook us up for a big part of the day but the guides were calm so the initial freak-out subsided after a few hours.
Overall, the trip was an awesome experience. I'd recommend it to any group of 20/30-something year olds looking to experience something a little more adventurous than they're used to. The next rafting trip we plan will definitely involve this company. (and hopefully the same two guides if they're available) -
Review from Dan Y.
Santa Clara, CA
9/27/2011
Great place for Class 3 whitewater rafting!
We had a lot of fun on a Saturday afternoon half day trip with Tributary Whitewater Tours. We were actually running a little late due to traffic on the one lane road to get to Coloma. After calling Tributary to tell them we were running late (the lady on the phone seemed a little confused at first), they graciously waited an additional 15 minutes for us. We were the last group to arrive at the meeting location and were glad to just make it.
The trip started slowly, gradually riding and paddling into more exciting rapids along the way, interspersed with calmer waters as a break. Quite a few rapids were pretty rough and everyone pretty much got soaked. A few of us fell overboard, but quickly were able to get back onto the raft.
Our guide was great. A very cool, laid back guy who actually came from the east coast to be a rafting guide for the summer.
We definitely had a great time and would highly recommend this place for a half day trip--good for beginners or people who just want a taste of whitewater rafting with some good rapids (nothing super crazy) and not taking up a full day. -
Review from Rochelle L.
Novato, CA
8/16/2011
I would like to start by saying compared to other companies tributary is great. My review includes their camping location though.
I just went rafting this past weekend and when we got to the camp ground in Colma no one was there as we were told there would be. We had to call them on the phone and they told us to set up camp and their were wheel barrels to use to move our stuff. Well there were no wheel barrels and we had to carry everything in which was a little over 1/4 mile. Now this would have been fine if we knew ahead of time but we didn't pack for this trek in. There was no one there the first night which was cool but it would have been nice to know a little more about what was going on. The 2nd night there were other campers and everyone was really nice and respectful.
There were groups that paid to have tributary do the cooking and it seemed to be good. We brought our own stuff. They had Ice cream and brownies and a stir fry for dinner. They did have to borrow some charcoal from us which was funny but we didn't mind we actually left them the bag when we were done camping.
Plus for the camp ground is they provide wood for the campfire and the showers have hot water.
Now to the rafting.....
I will start by saying I will use Tributary again. They have self bailing boats which is great. Our guide was new and inexperienced but we still had fun. He almost flipped our boat and literally ran us head on into some rocks more than once but he is just learning. I have been Kayaking for years and was surprised that they didn't teach boats how to turn just all forward or back paddle. you need more than that trust me. But for 2's and 3's my grandma could guide you down the river in one piece. The tow out is something that everyone has to do and the bus was ready for us and the rafts got packed up and we were on our way home soon.
I am personally already planning an other trip with Tributary. -
Review from Jennifer Z.
San Francisco, CA
5/24/2010 5 photos
My group came whitewater rafting for a birthday event (really fun idea for people who are into outdoor activities). Made it down the American River with our guide Jim (super cool Hippie). He told us all sorts of interesting stories along the way (about how he encountered the Red Hot Chili Peppers!). Most importantly I felt confident in his ability to guide us down the river safely.
Highlights of the trip:
During the beginning we got to dive into the water for a swim (the water was so cold we had to stick our hands/feet outside the water to get warm)
"Bull riding"- someone gets to sit up front on the tip of the raft and pretty much gets tossed back into the raft (as if they were riding a bull).
Jumping from the ledge- at one point there's a cliff that we can climb up and jump off of (I was a little nervous at the top, but it was soo fun!)
Tips:
Be sure to bring cash so you can tip your guide at the end (we didn't know about the tipping process so we had to scrounge for dollars in our cars).
Wear sun screen or you'll burn! (You should definitely wear a hat)
Be prepared to lose anything that can come off of you. My friend lost her shoe! (this sucked at the end when she had to walk back to the bus with one bare foot- ouch!).
Bring a waterproof disposable camera! Won't be a huge deal if you lose it and it's worth the great memories :) -
Review from Audrey T.
Evanston, IL
8/5/2008
I'm on a camping kick these days. Car-camping or boat-camping to be specific, mostly. So I was highly looking forward to our midsummer river-rafting-camping trip.
We did the Middle Fork of the American River trip with Tributary, which very conveniently starts around Auburn, a not-too-stressful two-hour drive from SF. You pile all your gear into the supplies raft, pile yourself into a human raft, and then careen down white rater ravines holding onto your hats. Just to arrive at the end of the day at a campsite with beer and wine chilling and food cooking.
And while we're talking about food, I'm on a wheat-free, red-meat-free, amongst-other-things-free diet ... tho thankfully not wine free! I'm not sure why, maybe because it's the one thing I can still control in life. Or I get a sick pleasure out of being difficult. Either way, typical.
I thought I'd have to be a little more lenient on my diet since the guides double as camp chefs, but armed with corn tortillas and two big ol' bottles of wine, I was able to find plenty to eat. Plenty of delicious to eat that at that!
Aside from their culinary talents, the guides' laid back attitudes definitely made the weekend the exact relaxing weekend getaway I was hoping for. If I do the raft-camping trip again, I would definitely check out the Yuba with Tributary for a weekend.Listed in: Where Ideas Follow Through…
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Review from Eric S.
San Francisco, CA
7/31/2008
Rafting, where have you been all my life? This was of the best weekend getaways I've had in a long time. We started early, early Saturday morning and drove about 2 hours to a grocery store parking lot where we met our guides. Don't be alarmed by their, um, casual attitude and unkempt appearance - these are some quality dudes. And be nice to them because pretty much, they do all the real work.
After a brief safely lesson (and if you are on the 2 day trip, a long wait for the 1 day people to leave), you hit the water in your helmet and lifejacket. We were on the Middle Fork American and on that river, things get pretty rad pretty quickly. You do some casual floating then hit the Tunnel Shoot rapids, which is definitely a highlight.
The rest of the first day was mostly calm but punctuated with some good rapids. It's really a very leisurely trip. Your guide tells your to paddle a few strokes occasionally, but most of the time you just float and enjoy the scenery.
Then there is the food. Holy crap, was the food good. I know that everyone tastes better outside, but the spread was truly spectacular: sandwich buffet, roasted garlic, fresh fruit, bacon, scrambled eggs, fajitas, beans and rice, bagels, chicken salad and beer and wine after dinner on Saturday night. You definitely don't need to worry about being hungry.
The one thing you do need to worry about, though, is the sun. I forget sometimes how hot California is when you are inland. I'd say the temp was around 90, but worse is that you are getting the full force of the sun all day for two days. So, lots of sunscreen and a good hat are musts.
All in all, the setting was beautiful, the guides were great, the camping was easy, and the cost was reasonable. It's a great weekend getaway, and I'd definitely recommend it for those who are not ready for hardcore camping, but enjoy some good outdoor time.
And don't forget to tip your guides! -
Review from melisa n.
Santa Clara, CA
9/8/2009
I had my first experience whitewater rafting this labor day weekend and it was incredible!
Tributary had a special for the holiday and since we had a group with 17 people, totaling 3 full boats we got a nice group discount. We received emails with documents on what we should expect, what to bring, what was provided and the safety forms we had to sign.
They showed up to the meeting point on time and ready to take everyone up to the beginning of our one day rafting experience. For such narrow mountain roads the lady driving that school bus has some serious skills!
Upon arriving to the starting point, you have some time to use the latrines (yuck but better now than later!), grab all the equipment and receive the safety briefing. The safety instructions were short and to the point. Good for that one person with ADD in the group.
At this point you bring your boat down to the starting point and start your trip down the first class 1-3 rapids. Sadly we had a man overboard but quickly following the instructions of our leader we rescued him shortly thereafter and in one piece. He decided to soldier on, awesome!
Then you do your first class 4 last-chance followed by tunnel chute and it is all excitement from there on until you get closer to the lunch area where things slow down. You stroll along, park your boats and have lunch (provided by Tributary) and dry off under the sun. Nothing fancy but covers all the bases for meat eater and vegetarians alike (deli spread, humus, fruit, vegetables, water and juice).
We jumped some waterfalls (8ft nothing too scary after you've done it hahah) and hit some rocks and spun around and laugh and had fun! When the day comes to an end you jump on the vans and are taken back to the parking lot.
We will definitely be doing this trip again next year. Highly recommended if you are adventurous! This means a lot coming from a scary cat like me! -
Review from Laurence W.
Oakland, CA
Updated - 7/28/2008
Just back from my third successful trip with the Tributary folks. The pros and cons were consistent with past trips. On the plus side: shockingly good food at every meal with a wide range of choices for even the pickiest of eaters, nice guides, good value for the money. My only minor complaint is that we had yet another late start, which just isn't cool when you're telling people to show up at 8am when they're driving up from San Francisco (but is still generally understandable since they're dealing with so many people).
Good trip again. Highly recommended...1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/19/2008 First to Review
I've gone on two trips with Tributary Whitewater Tours. The first was a 2 day trip on the Middle… Read more »
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Review from Tom B.
San Francisco, CA
5/30/2008
I went on the 1 day trip Middle Fork American tour and it was an experience memorable in many ways, both good and bad.
The ride from Raley's to the put-in point was a gentle one with some great background of the river inserted here and there. Typically the wetsuits cost $10 to rent but it was a pretty chilly day so TWT team let us have them for free. Perhaps not the best decision since we were left with more than a photo for a souvenir (more details below).
Overall the Middle Fork one day trip was the best choice if you're in it for the rapids action. The second day would have been a lot of unecessary paddling through still water. The best part of that leg of the river was the Last Chance chute and covered on the first day, so it didn't make much sense to be tired and sore the second day only to get more exercise pushing through tame water.
The quality of the food was good. A platter of fruit accompanied with chips and salsa, to be followed by a healthy cold cut sandwich with every possible condiment. Popping a squat in the camp area might cross your mind at this time, but be careful of the poison oak everywhere. Our tour guide Evelyn was a saint and spent a lot of her time really digging in to help with the paddling and giving us the freedom to go into certain rapids backwards as we wished. Her friendliness makes me feel a little guilty to mention the following but I must...
So the extra souvenirs we received were rashes covering our entire body. A few were well distributed and others looked much like chickenpox. I didn't want to press blame on TWT since it could have been parasites in the water; however, the lone member in our party who brought her own wetsuit escaped without any rashes at all, while the rest of us were left itching the following day. They weren't heat rashes either since the irritation covered our abdomen and other areas that were not exposed to the sun. I'm still baffled at what it could have been, which concerns me. Nevertheless it's pretty clear that they don't wash down the wetsuits and dry them appropriately. It was pretty clear when one team member scolded me for getting a little dirt on the suit as I took it off.
If you can't afford a wetsuit or the climate is cold, I'd pass on the offer. -
Review from Melissa C.
San Francisco, CA
8/19/2009
I had my first whitewater rafting experience with Tributary, and it was absolutely fantastic. The brief safety lesson at the beginning was a little unsettling as you pile into the boat still unsure of what you're supposed to do, but once you're out on the water and learning the basic strokes (there are only about 5 things you have to remember!), you get the hang of it pretty quickly.
We did the express half-day trip on the South Fork of the American, which was a bit tamer than what we were expecting, but our guide definitely made it exciting by having our boat try some cool tricks out on the river. Our guide's name was Jimbo, and he was super chill and a ton of fun. He shared his knowledge of some random facts about the river and put up really well with my group's rowdy behavior.
Overall, it was the perfect summertime experience: swimming in clear freshwater, water fights with water gun-toting rafters, laughing at the less-experienced boats who get stuck on rocks, and of course, splashing through the rapids (and maybe even falling out once or twice).
I'd highly recommend rafting with Tributary. Apparently they are one of the best and safest companies around, as they "overtrain their guides." I also suggest picking up a disposable waterproof camera at Longs or Walmart beforehand, so that you don't have to shell out a ton of money for the professional pictures. -
Review from R B.
Oakland, CA
9/20/2010
SUPER TIME!
Left off one star because I can see room for improvement and would like to see Tributary succeed! Hope you are reading this.
I will leave off the good stuff (see other reviews for that) Improvements follow.
1. Cold drinks at the end of the trip (Saw other companies did this)
2. New Vans- The one we were in was a bit scary.
3. Provide water proof disposable cameras (just an idea)
4. In addition to cold drinks you might have snacks or something on the van ride home, that way our trip continues all the way to our cars rather than abruptly ending after we load the boats. -
Review from Aaron N.
Santa Clara, CA
9/8/2009
Competitive prices. Most importantly, the guides are experienced and cool and will show you as much fun as you're willing to try to have.
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Review from Dan E.
San Francisco, CA
8/11/2009
We just finished a 2-day trip on the Middle Fork of the American and had a great time. It was a bachelor party and the guides that we had were a perfect fit. They have a great, laid back team that absolutely knows the river, encourages everyone to be active and works perfectly for a bachelor party.
While other companies had their customers sit in the middle of the boats during the rapids with only the guide steering, our guides made sure everyone was active throughout.
The food was also fantastic and the guides did all the work. Very nice for a large group that just wanted to sit back and ride.
The guides really allowed us to do whatever we wanted - take fishing breaks, beer breaks, whatever breaks.
The only negative (and this could really be a positive) was that it was a slow moving trip. The 2-day trip is just the 1-day trip spread over 2 days. If you're on the 2-day trip, you have a decent delay at the start of the trip as all the 1-day trips put out first. You also just move slowly through the river and have a number of breaks. Again, this could be a positive if you're like us and wanted to enjoy yourselves as a group more than rush through the river.
