Fancy yourself a rafting guide?  Test your mettle with other amateurs on Cali’s only do-it-yourself whitewater adventure. Just two hours from the city, Cache Creek is rated Class III, and with a limit of two Cache Creek people per raft you get to choose the captain and first mate.

The eight-mile-long rafting stretch begins with a 15-minute dry-land lesson from resident expert Rick Wilson. After the (very brief) briefing, grab your paddle and a raft and drop into the swiftly moving current of Cache Creek.

During your self-guided journey, you’ll be introduced to more than a dozen rapids, one of them a Class III named Mother…(you fill in the blank).  If you happen to get ejected, take heart—the water’s warm. The route has diverse scenery, from rolling hills to volcanic-born canyon walls.  Keep your eyes peeled for tule elk, black bears, and bald eagles.  After the trip, you can hang around the "Cottonwood Bar" (read: picnic table and ice cooler), chugging lemonade or Budweisers and deciding when you’ll run the river next. The waters of Cache Creek are guaranteed to flow all season.

Despite the lack of rain this winter, we’ve scouted three rivers that are brimming. Here's a range of floats from merely chill to raging thrill. Grab a paddle.

Letters to the River Rat:

Dear River Rat,
My boyfriend insisted that I go with him to Cache Creek, boy was I surprised - great food, fun people, exciting rapids, and when I fell in the water was warm! You guys are great.

Tammy

p.s. Do you do weddings?

Dear Mr. Rat,
Thanks for the great ride on the river! At first we weren't sure if we would "make the grade" on the river, but after your introduction to whitewater safety and techniques we discovered that even a pair of city girls can have a fun, safe time. The food was great, and we loved the special care you took in helping a pair of novices become "river rats".
Thanks, we'll be back next year!

Mary and Melissa

Hey Rat,
The Angels and I had a blast. The ride on the river was even more fun than the back of a Harley holding on to "Pig Nose". The whole gang is looking forward to next year - can we get the same weekend as that great group of Nuns from St. Cecelia again?

See ya,  Screwball