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Upper Sacramento River

Whitewater Rafting in California with Turtle River Rafting Co.

Highlights

  • Take on 40+ rapids in 14 miles
  • Great early season whitewater action (starts in April)
  • Riverside camping and tasty meals
  • Special inflatable kayak trips

Full Description

Spring whitewater action in the shadow of Mount Shasta.

The headwaters of California’s largest river, the Sacramento, are located in a canyon between Redding and Mount Shasta. In April, as the snow begins to melt on Mount Shasta, the Upper Sacramento springs to life. Side creeks cascade into the river, spring wildflowers blossom in the warm sun, and animals return to forage along the riverbanks (deer, otter, and osprey are often spotted).

It’s the first river we run each season as veteran guides warm up and new guides train in our guide school. Because this section of the river is un-dammed, it is always changing - and challenging - 14 miles of almost continuous Class 3 whitewater.

Includes:

Everything except your clothes and camping equipment is included in the trip price:

  • Life jackets, wetsuits, helmets for kayakers, dry storage bags
  • Professional guides & instruction
  • Meals from lunch on the first day through lunch on the last day
  • Water & snacks during the day
  • Shuttles from the take-out point back to the departure point

Excludes:

  • Transportation to or from the departure point
  • Personal beverages (sodas or alcoholic drinks)

Day by Day Itinerary

One-Day Trip

The starting point for all Upper Sacramento rafting trips is the parking area for Sims Campground; approximately half way between Mount Shasta and Redding. You’ll meet us at 9 am. We’ll do a short orientation and change into appropriate clothing for the day. Since this is a spring river, wetsuits are needed and provided. The action begins at the end of the first pool and continues for miles. With only very short pools to catch your breath between rapids, the paddleboat learning curve is steep. You’ll be an expert – with a little help from your guide – after the first set of rapids. You’ll also be very wet – remember that wetsuit! Since the upper Sacramento flows through a steep walled canyon there aren’t too many beaches, but right about lunch comes a beauty. On the sunny side of the river is a fine sand bench where we’ll stop and prepare a very welcome deli-style lunch. You’ve worked up an appetite and deserve it. After lunch we’ll continue our descent of the canyon, as the river weaves back and forth under old railway bridges. After a final splash landing you’ll arrive at our take-out point – Mosquito Creek. No mosquitoes this time of year.

Two-Day Trips

If you’d like to tackle the Upper Sacramento for two-days, we’ll set up camp at Sims Campground, build a great warming campfire and get out the snacks and drinks. Settle in as your guides prepare the barbecue dinner with marinated chicken or fish, baked potato with all the trimmings, a fresh garden salad and, of course, desert hot out of the dutch oven. The next morning you’ll have a choice of another run on the Sims to Mosquito Creek section, switching to an inflatable kayak, or if the water levels are up, going up river for the more challenging Box Canyon run where we finish by sliding behind a waterfall. A well spent weekend.

About The Operator:

Turtle River Rafting Co.

Headquarters:

Mount Shasta, CA

Turtle River Rafting Company is based in Mount Shasta, California just below the Oregon border. We have trips on six rivers in the mountains surrounding our home in addition to the Owyhee River in the high-desert of southern Oregon. The rivers running through the Siskiyou and Marble mountains offer some of the best whitewater rafting in the western United States. This rugged, mountainous country is also treasured for its solitude, exceptional wildlife, and fabulous scenery. We invite you to travel with us on a river rafting adventure and share our love of whitewater, wilderness, and friendship. 

Safety is a top priority at Turtle River. Now in our fourth decade of operation, most of our guides have been running rivers for 8 to 29 years. All are certified in first-aid and CPR and many have Swiftwater Rescue training & EMT certification.

From April through September, we offer 1- to 6-day river rafting vacations: one- & two-day river trips where families can take children as young as four; more adventurous multi-day wilderness journeys; and some of the wildest Class 4 and Class 5 whitewater in California and Oregon.