We at Whitewater Excitement take great pride in every aspect of our trips from start to finish! From the first time you speak with one of our professional office staff, to when you arrive at our river-front campsite, to when you’re packing to leave for home after a thrilling rafting adventure, you will see the Whitewater Excitement difference. It’s the friendliness and professionalism of our team, the top-of-the-line equipment we use, and the extraordinary campsite and facilities that you’ll call home during your adventure. All told, you will never consider another rafting company once you’ve experienced the WWE difference. Below you’ll find answers to common questions and if the answer to yours happens to not be here, please call us so we can help you make the best decision.

Which Trip is Best for me?

We take special care to design trips suitable for every age group, beginning with age 5. Young or old, those who have taken an adventure with us have had one of the most amazing experiences of their lives. First-time rafters and those quite young are advised to begin with the gentle waters of the South Fork of the American, and then progress up the ladder of difficulty from there. However, we can also please first–timers who are adventurous and in good physical condition who may be looking for more of a challenge. Because you will be wearing life jackets at all times on the river, you need not be an outstanding swimmer.

How do I Make a Reservation or Request a Catalog?

Our weekend trips tend to book up the fastest; at times up to a year in advance on runs like the Middle Fork of the American river and the Merced. On other rivers, we may have space for several rafters a few days prior to the trip.

Guests can check availability and/or make reservations by calling WWE’s office at 1-800-750-2386. Phone reservations will be held, but not confirmed, for 10 days. After 10 days, a 50% deposit of your total trip cost is required to confirm the dates you request. If our office has not received your deposit within 10 days, your reservations will be canceled, opening those spaces up on a first-come first-served basis. For confirmed reservations with deposits made, the remaining balance is due no later than 40 days prior to the start of your trip.

To receive a FREE full-color Whitewater Excitement catalog, fill out the online Request a Catalog form, or call us at 1-800-750-2386.

What about Cancellations & Refunds?

Please be sure that you fully understand WWE’s cancellation policy prior to making any reservations: If you have to cancel for any reason, a $50 per-person cancellation fee will be kept by WWE, and the rest refunded to you. This is provided that we have received written notice of your cancellation at our office at minimum 60 days before your trip. Cancellations made less than 60 days before your trip are non-refundable. In these cases we encourage you to find a substitute date for your reservation.

Please appreciate that when you make trip reservations with us, we will then hold that space for you and thus turn away other clients from those dates. If you cancel it becomes very difficult for us to re-book so near to the departure date. We are, therefore, required to be firm with our cancellation policy.

Whitewater Excitement, Inc. reserves the right to cancel a trip due to water flow, weather, insufficient reservations, or for safety considerations.

What kind of physical condition must I be in?

Whitewater rafting, just as any other activity or sport, requires a degree of physical exertion. It is therefore important that we have the following guidelines to ensure the safety and enjoyment of each participant.

Every rafter must be able to properly wear a WWE life jacket, which accommodates torsos with a circumference of maximum 56 inches.

Participants with potential health concerns: if you are in poor physical condition or are overweight, have a history of asthma, allergic reactions to bee stings, heart trouble, epilepsy or any other medical condition that may endanger yourself or others or diminish your enjoyment of the trip, you should consult a physician prior to making a reservation.

We strongly discourage women who are pregnant from participating in our rafting trips, for obvious reasons.

How safe is rafting?

At Whitewater Excitement, Inc., your safety and enjoyment are our utmost concerns. However, whitewater rafting, just as any adventure sport, involves a level of inherent danger and risk. Injury through accidents can indeed occur, and participant belongings can be damaged or lost. WWE does not assume responsibility for any injury or death to participants, nor for the loss of personal belongings, damage to cameras or any other item, or for the loss of time and/or expenses incurred by an accident while on one of our trips. In order to best accommodate a variety of experience levels and/or physical conditioning, we offer a wide range of trips. Because we are not qualified, nor in the position to, properly assess your health and/or physical condition, we rely solely on your judgment to choose a trip that is suitable for your fitness and experience level. If you have particular concerns regarding your physical condition, we recommend that you first consult a physician. All trip participants are required to read and sign an Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability form prior to the trip departure. Please call us with any concerns or questions or if you would like a copy of this form sent to you.

Can I get trip Insurance?

We strongly advise and offer trip insurance which covers the insured for injury, accident, loss of baggage, and cancellation claims. This very affordable insurance offers our guests protection from most possible mishaps. An insurance application form will be included with your trip information. You may also request an application directly from our office. 1-800-750-2386.

What about Trip/Travel Information?

Upon receipt of your deposit, our office will send each guest a complete package with all necessary trip information including your confirmation receipt, equipment list, map and directions to the meeting point, recommended places to stay, and a copy of the Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability form that every member of your party is required to read and sign prior to the trip.

Do you offer Chartered Bus/Air Service?

Whitewater Excitement, Inc. has for many years offered a luxury round-trip bus service for large groups, departing from the Southern California area to all of the rivers we run. Please call for more information on bus transportation. 1-800-750-2386.

Special airfare to Sacramento from the Southern California area is also available. Once in Sacramento, WWE can arrange either a car rental, or (for large enough groups) bus service for the remaining one-hour drive to our campground. Please call for more information on air transportation. 1-800-750-2386.

May I bring Alcoholic Beverages?

For safety reasons Whitewater Excitement, Inc. cannot and does not permit alcoholic beverages while on the river. There are, however cold beer and local wines to taste and enjoy following the trip with dinner. We must note that excessive drinking and whitewater simply do not mix. Whitewater Excitement Inc., therefore, reserves the right to refuse a registered guest or terminate a trip if we believe that any person or persons is creating a safety hazard to himself, other passengers, or staff.

What about Tipping?

Although our guides do not expect tips, if you feel that he or she went out of their way to make your trip special, a small gratuity is certainly a nice way to say “thank you for a great trip and a job well done.”

What are Whitewater Excitement’s permits for running these rivers?

Whitewater Excitement, Inc. is a licensed outfitter that is granted the use of these rivers by the Bureau of Land Management, California State Parks, U.S. Forest Service, and El Dorado County which requires the following notice: “In its natural state the South Fork of the American River would not have sufficient flows throughout the summer season to support rafting or other river activities as we know them today. Adequate flows for such activities are the result of releases from hydroelectric facilities located at Chili Bar and above. Such releases are made when necessary for power generation, and are not subject to the control of El Dorado County or commercial rafting companies operating permits from the County of El Dorado.”

Whitewater Excitement, Inc. is a proud member of America Outdoors, California Outdoors, Friends of the River, and the El Dorado Professional Outfitters Association.