Campgrounds are gearing up for upcoming rafting season

By Jeannette Stalard

Despite the current drought in California, rafting companies are getting ready for a busy season and are teaming up with campgrounds to accommodate campers with rides to and from the rivers.

About two and a half hours away, the Kern River is the closest white water rafting site to the Santa Clarita Valley.  Rafting trips are priced around $150-$200 per person for a 1-day trip and about $350-$400 per person for a 2-day trip.  These tours provide adventures for both families and more experienced rafters.

When the water levels become too low to raft, tubing and wading in the water become popular.

“We get a lot of people who just come to relax,” explained Beverly Demetriff, manager of Frandy Park in Kernville. “Some people will put their folding chairs in the river and sit in the water and relax all day.”

Campsites such as Frandy Park which borders the Kern River, provide opportunities for people to go swimming, fishing, rafting, and paddle boating.  Other sites also offer kayaking, tubing, and canoeing.

Further north, the Kings River, Merced River, South Fork American River, and Middle Fork American River also provide travelers with a wide range of water activities.  Other popular sites include campgrounds along the Colorado River.

For an average of $20 a night, campers can enjoy various outdoor activities at campgrounds that border rivers.  With the relatively low cost of camping and the partnerships with rafting companies, taking a vacation to a river may prove to be an attractive trip in the heat of the summer.