Eagle Rafting

I have to say that this was an amazing experience. My husband took me white water rafting for my first time with Eagle Rafting and I had so much fun. We went out on the river towards the end of the day so we had the whole river to ourselves. This place is so beautiful. We went out with Joe, the owner of Eagle Rafting, and even though the water was low, he made the experience so much fun. He was very informative, and educated us on the different ways the river behave and what to watch out for. I felt very comfortable and safe with the company as they have the most experience on this river. We cant wait to go back out there when the water is higher and we will definitely use Eagle Rafting when we go again. I would highly recommend using Eagle Rafting if you want to get a good experience and use a company that is friendly and trustworthy.

While the water levels are certainly down in the river, Joe and his guides made the outing a real adventure for our family of eight! They emphasized safety, were very clear before we got in a kayak about how to handle the thing, and were watchful and helpful as we navigated our way down the Kern. I’d do this trip again with Eagle Rafting in a heartbeat, and we have already recommended this company to our friends.

Was here yesterday!
Shout out to Joe & his awesome crew guides that cooked for us & made us feel so welcome!
So, for my girlfriend’s 27^th birthday she decided to check White water rafting off of her bucket list, but since we’re in drought & the water level was so low, we ended up kayaking instead.
All of us had sooooo much fun & definitely will come back! This trip was one for the books and Joe, if you were reading this, next time we come back we & all you guys need to grab a cold one after the runs! You guys deserved a beer for being patient with us 9 girls lol (especially me)

This review is way overdue! I went to Kernville on a trip with 4 of my girlfriends and we wanted to go rafting. I found Joe’s info online and I gave him a call to arrange our adventure.
Joe was so nice and honest from the get go and let me know that the water levels were pretty low and gave his personal opinion that we wouldn’t get the full experience rafting. However, he mentioned that kayaking was an alternative option and I was a little hesitant that it would be boring… But was I wrong!
From the moment we arrived, Joe made sure that we had a fun and safe time. It was so much fun riding in the Zambini to begin rafting. The kayaking was so fun and adventurous! The thing I really loved about Joe was that he guided us but also let us have our girl time still and gave us a little distance to try our hand at kayaking from the skills and tips he taught us.
We will be back this summer and look forward to kayaking with Joe again!

I took a girls’ trip to Kernville this past summer to check out Kern River Brewing Co and we decided to camp by the river and do some kayaking as well. We met Joe and immediately knew that we were in for a great experience. Joe is quite the character and he wanted nothing more than to show us a good time. He was very honest with us, as the water level was low, but we still went along and had a blast. Joe filled our kayaks with air for us and loaded them into his zambini. All of us girls were so glad to kayak with Joe because he was an excellent guide and showed us all kinds of skills and tricks to maneuver our kayaks down the river. The most important thing was how safe we felt. We are planning another trip to Kernville this summer and we cannot wait to go back!

My family, including our boys ages 12, 10, and 9, just spent three incredible days on the Kern River with Eagle Rafting. We hadn’t rafted before I can’t recommend this company strongly enough. Joe is a consummate host and operator, and his staff — including Keith, our awesome guide — reflect his friendly, customer-​first attitude. If you’re lucky, Joe and Keith will even sing you a John Prine song after your amazing day on the river. We’re definitely coming back next year and wouldn’t go anywhere else. We are Eagle Rafting customers for life!

When we called to book a trip, we called several companies. We got a lot of mixed messages, including different prices for the same trip. It was pretty confusing. Then we talked to Joe at Eagle Rafting. He explained that the upper river was really low due to the fact that it was pretty late in the season. He was really honest with us, assuring us that we would still be able to have a good time, but left the decision up to us. No pressure. He let us know exactly what to expect. As a result of his honesty, we booked with his company.
Not only did we have the time of our lives, the guides that took us were so professional, made the trip a complete blast, and had us laughing and relaxing at the same time. They encouraged us over the rocks, schooled us on the rapids, and gave us trivia and history about the river that made us feel a part of all of it.
At the end of the day, armed with more knowledge about the river, we asked them if they could take us down the lower river the next day. We were so disappointed when they told us they did not have a permit for the lower river, but they did recommend a couple different companies. We decided that we wouldn’t go without the guidance of Eagle Rafting.
Next year, we will go a little earlier in the season for the upper river, and keep our fingers crossed that they get a permit for the lower Kern.
You simply can’t go wrong with these guys!

Dear Artie,
It was my great honor to be a guest in your beautiful Sequoia National Forrest last weekend. My ten year old son, C and I truly had a life changing experience. If you will indulge me, I will start at the beginning.
I am a single mom who works full time in Los Angeles. C usually spends Summer at day camp held on his school campus. One night as we were driving home a small timid voice from the back, «Mom, do you think maybe, even if we just drove, and sat somewhere?» What honey? «Do you think we could go somewhere where there are no buildings? Maybe?» Yes dear. «Really? Do you promise? Do you double pinkie Mommy promise.» Yes, honey, but not while I am driving.
It was such a small request and yet he had been afraid he was asking for too much. I knew we never took vacations like the other kids at school and he had quit asking for them. Now all he wanted was to sit somewhere out of the city for a bit where he would not be surrounded by buildings. It broke my heart and I got busy planning.
There were to be 12 of us, three families, going camping and rafting. By the time we worked out everyone’s schedules the date was set for the last week of July. Sure the water would be low on the river but who cares we are just going for fun, not to get radical. My good friend had been calling around for rafting reservations and I was growing concerned. None of the information she was getting matched what was listed on their company websites. Oh, no problem they would say we can accommodate your group on Friday for half price for a half day on the Upper Kern for $ 118 per person in our large rafts. When the going price for those runs was half that price and everyone said the water was so low they were using kayaks.
That is when I found Joe at Eagle Rafting. I called and left a message. He called me back and told me the truth. He said the water was really low and that he had been closed for three weeks. After we talked for awhile and I explained my group, situation, and mommy promise. He agreed to re-​open his business for us. He would just never want to disappoint a group coming up expecting big rapids when the water is low. We knew what to expect and were just glad to deal with someone honest who would charge a fair price. For $ 60 a person we even got lunch but that does not include the tip for your guide. Tip your guide they keep you alive out there.
Anyway at the last minute everyone in our group cancelled. I was in a panic. I emailed Joe right away. My best friend, son, and I still wanted to come. Could we pay extra? I felt terrible, here he had agreed to reopen his business for our group and then everyone flaked. He had not even asked me for a deposit. I got an email back from Joe saying to come anyway. Who does that? Joe, that is who, Joe my hero.
So we pull into Frandy, where Eagle Rafting is, and there are more guides than there are of us. Even though part of group had cancelled, they love the river and spend as much time on it as possible so they all showed up anyway. C took to Pete right away. He is more mature and quiet yet still funny. All of the guides were amazing.
What sets this group apart is there passion for what they do is so authentic. As we spent the day with them and watched them give their safety talk to another group. It was not the exact same one we got. It was not cookie cutter. They were all adults not with children. The guides had them go and hydrate. I saw other rafting companies out there on the docks yelling safety information over the heads of their group and again on the river yelling back to their groups. The guides at Eagle Rafting talk you, explain how things work, they teach you how to raft. They would never be way out in front of you yelling back at an entire group. They are always right in the middle helping, encouraging, cheering you on. Even C picked it up, he was saying come on guys you can do it ! Keep going, you got it, follow the flow of the river. People saw us having so much fun on our first run. They had 12 walk-​ins for their next run.
What I wanted you to know Artie is I never thought as a single mother that I could take my son by myself on a trip like this. If we had walked into one of those other companies with those young guys and all their false comradery followed by a day of being yelled at, I would of had to have C pried off me. I know how active you are with the youth not only in your community but in the surrounding areas. I watched my timid ten year old boy blossom into a confident rafter. He was so proud of himself and it is all thanks to Eagle Rafting. Since I have been home I have told everyone of my experience and they all want to go next season. I know I am not alone in counting the days till Joe is given a license to have Eagle Rafting operate on lower Kern. They are sincere in their desire to keep everyone safe, informed, and having fun.
Sincerely yours,
Lauren E. Jackson

Running the river with Eagle Rafting was an awesome experience!
I dealt with Joe via email trying to accommodate my group with an unsure date with such a short notice.
He was able to squeeze us in on a Saturday afternoon… Perfect !!!
We arrived and they were pretty busy… What do you expect for a weekend with beautiful weather in Cali?
They got us geared up in a pretty timely fashion and we loaded up into the bus and we were off.
Our guide Ashly was great !
She explained the paddling and rafting techniques to us which three in our group were first timers.
Going down the river she was preparing us for what was next to come.
YeeHaww !!!
It was a blast and we all had a great time.
A few side notes I’d like to add:
Be sure to tip your guide. They really work hard and it’s quite exhausting as they make multiple runs with many other rafters.
I also noticed these guy’s/gal’s really care about their guests as well as guests of other rafting companies.
I saw Joe helping out many other rafters/​kayakers that were having trouble or were stuck on rocks.
He even attempted to get a «swimmer» overboard passenger into his raft from another company.
We all had a great time with a great company with great employees !!!
At times it can get a little hectic, Just have a little patience and enjoy the trip.
Way to go Eagle Rafting !!!

Great river rafting company, we signed up for a full day of rafting about two month ago not knowing what the water levels are going to be the day of the trip, on May 27, 2012 the water levels were disappointing when we arrived at the river, not knowing what to expect our group of 20 set off for a day that will be in our memories for a life time, forget the water level the staff and guides made the trip so enjoyable, and on our 4^th trip down the river Eagle Rafting allowed 9 in our party to change to inflatable Kayaks, un heard of with other companies, our group even before we headed down the mountain that evening were talking about returning next year.
Great job Eagle Rafting

Just went up to Kernville for a rafting trip this weekend and with this being our first time going, these guides made it a great experience. They guided us through these rivers and gave us great instructions and tips. We had 3 rafts and each one had a guide and there was also another guide in a canoe helping us along the way. They couldn’t have made it easier for us first timers. Also, these guys are a lot cheaper then their competition and they use the same rafts and equipment.

This was the best rafting experience. Great experienced guides. Flexible staff all the way around. Matt, Mark — thank you!

This past weekend, the little river was all dried up on Campground #3…but we saw all these people river rafting down the big river. I said «I WANNA GO TOO!» So… while we went down to the little market, I asked the checker how much she thought it was, and who was the cheapest. She gave me the name of Frandy, so we went on the hunt! That was when we met Mark at Eagle Rafting. With my dog in the car, he asks «what about the dog, you aren’t gonna leave her are you?» That was when he won in my eyes!
Later that day, at $ 25/​pp; 3 of us went (planned 2 dogs for free) but mine stayed behind. They took care of her for me. I couldn’t believe how extremely nice they were. She was shaking and crying, because she was hurt. I didn’t want to take the chance and make her worse, had she really been badly injured.
We hopped on the bus with other people, then arrived at our destination! As we went down the river, Mark just guided us along, it was not only FUN, relaxing, enjoyable… but EASY for me… which was so nice as to date– today 2 years ago I got injured at work and haven’t been able to do anything like this… so THANK YOU MARK! He said we only got to level #3…but in a few weeks they should have their permit for the higher level rapids.
WE WILL BE BACK… Eagle Rafting was SO AWESOME…
I highly, highly recommend them. And, they are the least expensive. 30 minutes well worth it! Dogs love it too :)

Best river guides ever. I remember going down the river with them and then partying in the evening with them. Bomb ass guys. If you ever get a river guide named John Brown, tip him well. He was definitely a cool guy.
If you ever want a good rafting trip, hit these guys up.