Heavy Sierra Nevada snowfall creates ‘perfect float’ conditions for Sacramento rafting
Conditions for river rafting in the areas surrounding Sacramento have been historically good throughout the season — and there’s still time to enjoy them if you haven’t already.
“Right now, the best thing is that we are finally having that perfect float where the paddles are just in the rafts for steering,” said Kent Hansen, owner of American River Raft Rentals. “But the reality is, you can just lay back and enjoy the float right now, where the last couple years you had to actually actively paddle to get down the river.”
Hansen said the previous two years represented the most severe drought since 1977, creating arduous conditions for water sports along rivers in and around Sacramento arduous. But intense snowfall in the Sierra Nevada mountain ranges during the winter was the highest measured since the mid 1980s, according to the California Department of Water Resources.
All that snow, of course, meant more run off into the rivers, and thus better conditions for river rafters to enjoy.
“These are exactly the flows that we’re looking for right now,” Hansen said.
However, the improved conditions haven’t necessarily meant a business boom like the nearby ski resorts enjoyed over the winter. More snow meant those resorts could stay open longer. The length of the river rafting season remains mostly unchanged despite this year’s ideal conditions, with July and August being the peak months.
“I wouldn’t say we’ve had a busier season,” Hansen said. “We open in April and then closed down the day after Mother’s Day because we believed anything over 8,000 (cubic feet per second river flow) may be doable for us with the extra guidance that we give, but we feel it’s a bad example to people that see us as open and think that means the river is safe, so we closed down.”
The river flows these days are around a far more manageable 4,000 cubic feet per second, which Hansen says is perfect for those looking to get out on the water.
Labor Day, the first weekend in September, is often the demarcation between the peak season and the natural slowdown that comes with school being back in session. Which also means time could be running out to enjoy some of the best rafting conditions the region has seen in years. The season typically ends in October when it becomes too cold to be on the water.
Sacramento has a robust river rafting scene with a number of companies offering rentals, like Hansen’s, and others providing guided trips. The American River through Sacramento has three forks towards the Sierras — the north, middle and south — that offer more intermediate and advanced rafting challenges.
Further south, there are other options like the north fork of the Stanislaus River, Tuolume River, Cherry Creek River and Merced River, which can be done while visiting Yosemite.
This story was originally published August 5, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
