Things are rolling on the river

The river-rafting season in California this year is looking to be the wettest, wildest and longest in years.

“People who have rafted before are thinking, ‘Wow, this is the year to go,’ ” said Sue Cawdrey, spokeswoman for Kern River Outfitters in Wofford Heights, Calif.

Outfitters are adding rafting trips, but with bookings for some companies 60% above average, you may need to get your reservation in soon. Some holiday dates already are sold out.

Industry insiders are expecting higher-than-average river levels, rougher rapids and a season that may extend a month or so later than usual, through August or September.

If you can’t get on the water until late summer, don’t despair -- the state’s rivers still may have plenty of life left.

On the other hand, if you hope to take your first-ever rafting trip this month or next, or if you have a child in tow, check with the outfitter. Because they anticipate riskier rapids in this period, some are raising minimum ages and screening clients for fitness and experience levels.

The cause of all this excitement starts in the Sierras, which were pounded by snowstorms. “We’ve not had this level of snowpack, and hence stream flow, since 1998 in the central and southern Sierras,” said Frank Gehrke, chief of snow surveys for the California Department of Water Resources in Sacramento.

Water volume in Southern California’s Kern River is expected to be 144% of normal through July, according to the state’s April 26 forecast. Farther north, the Kings, Merced and Tuolumne rivers are expected to run 139% to 155% of normal; the American was forecast at 120%.

Also, there have been few sunny days, so the mountains are holding snow better than they might otherwise, Gehrke said. A slow melt means a longer rafting season.

The word is out.

Cawdrey said Kern River Outfitters’ July 4th weekend trips on the lower Kern were sold out as of last week. Other dates had limited availability, she added.

At Zephyr Whitewater Expeditions in Columbia, Calif., weekends are filling up, and Memorial Day weekend was booked on the Merced, said owner Bob Ferguson.

Talk to several companies before booking, said Nate Rangel, president of California Outdoors, a statewide trade association of rafting outfitters. Ask each how long it has been in business and what types of trips it offers.

Rangel’s association, which has nearly 50 members, lists outfitters on its website, www.caloutdoors.org; so does the America Outdoors trade group, vwww.americaoutdoors.org.