Rafting in California? These are the best 8 rivers to paddle this summer
Snow is the lifeblood of California rivers, and this year a historic bounty fell in the high Sierra. In April, the California Department of Water Resources reported the biggest snowpack in 70 years — 237% of average in the Central Sierra. The only comparable year is 1983, a mythical season at the dawn of the commercial rafting industry that is still reverently, if dimly, remembered in guide camps throughout the state and around the world. Those tales tend to focus on epic runs and high-water records, but the takeaway for regular folks planning a whitewater adventure this season isn’t just about big water. It’s also about an abundance of options. Free-flowing rivers that rarely run past May will enjoy ample flows into midsummer, while many dam-controlled rivers will be in through Labor Day.
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