What is the experience and fitness level of each participant?
You should choose a river that is appropriate for each participant in your group. Consider everyone’s fitness level, swimming ability, and experience level. For instance, don't choose a Class IV river trip if your best friend has trouble swimming. For most bachelorette party trips, we suggest the South Fork American River, or its more challenging sister, the Middle Fork American River. A summertime overnight Tuolumne River trip will be great for those looking for a bit more challenge. These rivers boast some excellent whitewater while still allowing you and your friends time to goof-off as opposed to continually concentrating on paddling (which can be the case on more difficult rivers).
How far are you willing to travel?
Do most of your guests live in the Los Angeles area? If so, a springtime trip on the Kaweah River is your closest option (provided your guests are experienced paddlers). Will you be coming from the Lake Tahoe area or Sacramento? Then one of the three forks of the American River is a perfect choice. For a complete list of rivers near you, visit our California Rivers Page.
How long do you want your Bachelorette party to last?
All-Outdoors offers 1-Day, 2-Day and 3-Day river trips. If you have a limited amount of time, an Express or 1-Day trip on the South Fork American will be perfect. If you'd like to enjoy a longer bachelorette party, consider a 2-Day or 3-Day river trip that allows for more on- and off-river time.
What time of the year will you be hosting the Bachelorette party trip?
During a normal water year, the whitewater rafting season runs April-October. However, some rivers are raftable only in the spring. This is because they don’t have upstream reservoirs and rely on snowmelt for their flows. Rivers like the North Fork American, Kaweah, Merced, and the North Fork Stanislaus are not regulated by water releases from upstream reservoirs. If your Bachelorette party falls in the spring, you may want to consider a trip on one of these rivers. If your Bachelorette party will happen in the summer to early fall months, you might want to try the South Fork American, Middle Fork American, or the Tuolumne River. For more information on all the rivers All-Outdoors runs, visit the California rivers page.