Most Experienced California Rafting Outfitter

No Substitute for Experience

We have learned a lot since 1962, when our founder George Armstrong put his raft into the Stanislaus River for the first time and became a pioneer of California whitewater rafting. It was trial and error in those days, but year after year and decade after decade we have improved technique, refined equipment, and learned how to put on rafting trips leading people down rivers in a responsible, safe, and enjoyable manner.

Having explored and set up 10 river operations throughout the State that vary from the easiest float trips to the most difficult whitewater and everything in between has given us a broad experience level and a hard-to-match expertise.

Over the past 60+ years, we have established ourselves as the most knowledgeable and experienced California rafting outfitter. This is one reason why more people have trusted All-Outdoors for their California whitewater adventure than any other rafting company.

The All-Outdoors History: 1962 - 2022

1962: George Armstrong takes his first raft down the Main Stanislaus River with his family. Listen to George recount his very first rafting trip.

1963-68: Armstrongs continue to raft with family and friends on the Stanislaus and explore rivers throughout the U.S.

1969: George, a high school teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area, starts an outdoor recreation class for students which becomes All-Outdoors Adventure in Nature for Youth.

1972: AO opens its doors to the general public offering trips on the Main Stanislaus.

1973: First Guide School is conducted as the growing popularity of whitewater rafting demands more and more trained guides.

1974: Operations expanded to the South Fork American River.

1977: Merced River operation begins near Yosemite National Park.

1979: Armstrongs begin exploring rivers internationally.

George Guiding High School Students - mid 1960s

Early student trip in the 1960's

1980: AO purchases 10 acres of land in Lotus CA, and moves Operational Headquarters to this location. Corporate Headquarters and Reservations Office remain in Walnut Creek.

1981: Stanislaus River is inundated by New Melones Reservoir. Armstrongs begin searching for new rivers to run in California.

1982: Tuolumne River, California Salmon, North Fork American and Middle Fork American River operations initiated.

1985: First commercial Class V trip. Tuolumne River at high water (7,000 cfs) in conventional rafts.

1988: First rafting trip on Class V Cherry Creek / Upper Tuolumne River and first year of operations on the North Fork Stanislaus River near Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

1992: George Armstrong travels to Washington, DC to lobby for the preservation of the North Fork and the Middle Fork American River threatened by the proposed Auburn Dam project.

Spring Guide Training on the Stanislaus 1979

First Guide School, Main Stanislaus River

1997: Kaweah River operations begin near Sequoia National Park.

1998: All-Outdoors obtains a permit to offer commercial rafting trips on the Class IV+ Goodwin Canyon section on the Lower Stanislaus River.

1999: Chosen Best of the West by Sunset Magazine, All-Outdoors and the Armstrong family are featured in the Walnut Creek Journal.

2000: AO purchases 7 acres of riverfront property on the South Fork American River and establishes the All-Outdoors River Center.

2001: AO wins The Best Small Business Sites in America Web Award presented by Inc. Magazine.

2004: Owner Scott Armstrong joins the first successful human-powered expedition to descend the Nile River from its source to the sea. He is the lead guide for the 800-mile whitewater section. Read the article.

George on the Bio Bio River in Chile, 1990

2009: Three generations of Armstrongs featured in an educational video created by California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, CA for their exhibit focusing on global warming, California rivers, and snowpack.

2019: Reservations Office moves to Lotus, CA. Corporate Headquarters remain in Walnut Creek, CA, where the company originated.

2022: Celebrating 60 years of connecting people with California’s best whitewater rafting rivers. George Armstrong turns 95 years old and continues to work for the company.

60 years of California Rafting Experience