Truckee River Rafting

We booked these guys the night before, showed up 20 minutes early for our reservation time, and were on the water literally 10 minutes later. My family and I had a blast and we will definitely be back next year! Water level on the river is pretty low so we got stuck a couple of times but otherwise it was awesome. The ‘rapids’ at the end are enough to get the kids excited and to make you do some fancy paddling, but overall nothing to worry about at all. Bus going back to the drop in point/​main location was clean, safe, and on time as well. LOVED IT!

We took the whole family! It was a nice easy ride with a few «rapids» at the end. I think we hit every rock!

OVERBOOKED.DISORGANiZED.Took an hour and a half to start rafting from checked in. Obviously, they were overbooked and people were just out of control. I noticed they have a handful of staff working but not that helpful to guide the crowd. After they gave us a white slip after check in supposedly for raft assignments but mehhh… it was just chaos. Management should have controlled their bookings based on available rafts. Staff were not that trained to handle a busy Saturday like today .You don’t even know whom to approach for questions/​concerns –no uniform, badge or anything that would identify the staff from the crowd.
With the low water level, it’s actually more on river floating than rafting and didn’t enjoy that much specially after a bad start. I might try doing rafting/​floating again in Truckee river but definitely not with this company.

AWESOME EXPERIENCE!
My family of six were going to tube down the Truckee River on our own but I had some concerns about my two little girls, ages 8 and 10. I decided to book a rafting adventure through TRR for myself and the girls. I called in and made a reservation, i got $ 5 bucks off each reservation for calling in. $ 80 for the three of us.
We dropped off my wife and two older kids (15, 21) across the river with their tubes and headed to the parking lot, located just up the road. The lot looked very secure. There was someone there all day. A shuttle van took us back down the road to TRR. Super nice driver.
The little girls and I checked in and went down to the rafts. EVERY staff member was incredibly helpful. We got down the river and the girls were fitted for life jackets, and we were given a raft and two oars. Again, the guys on the dock — SUPER HELPFUL! They even took a picture of us in the raft for later purchase.
We started out and ran into the rest of my family who were waiting for us down river just a bit. Super fun experience on the river. The kids loved it. Super mellow ride. The «rapids» are very tame (i think the drought has caused this).
At the end of the trip, the guys on the dock were again, super helpful. I left the whole family there and road the Shuttle Bus back up to the parking lot. The driver was again, SUPER HELPFUL. He let know the best way to get back to pick up the family.
We did end up buying the picture.

Whenever my family and I visit Lake Tahoe we always pay a visit to Truckee River Rafting. The workers are always extremely friendly and attentive. They even offered us a $ 5 discount per person. This meant we ended up paying only $ 30 per person. I think $ 20 per person would be a more reasonable price but overall we always have fun riding the mostly calm and relaxing yet occasionally exhilarating river for a total of 2 hours.

We just finished our first attempt at river rafting and we had a blast. Got an early reservation on a perfectly slightly overcast day so it wasn’t blazing hot. Staff is extremely friendly and helpful. They didn’t make us feel like amateurs at all. Took our 5 yr old who loved it and it was a perfect start to our day. I highly recommend trying them out. Make sure you go to them — the ones with the yellow flags and umbrellas. And reserve online– you get some money off for early in the day reservations plus extra discount for paying online. Who can complain about that?

I made a reservation online and eagerly awaited our rafting trip. I scoured the website before we went because I wanted to make sure we were bringing everything we needed and not bringing what they were going to tell us not to bring, and because I am pregnant and wanted to make sure it was safe. They suggest in their FAQ section that it is not ideal (but they will make exceptions) for kids under two, and that it’s not advised for the elderly because it can be «bumpy in spots». No warnings about pregnancy. Many mentions of this being «leisurely». Yay!
We are staying in Truckee and drove 40 minutes to get to the rafting area. We got ourselves ready to go and as I went to check in, a big sign says that they do not recommend this for pregnant women. When we asked the manager about it, she said that it is all over the website (nope — not mentioned once), argued with me when I told her that it wasn’t, then told me that I wasn’t showing too much, so I should ask for a pillow to sit on and to brace myself through the rapids and I should be fine. Seeing as how she is a rude, argumentative rafting manager and not a doctor, we decided not to take the risk, but we wasted a lot of time and energy for something that should have been clearly stated on their website, since it is 2014 and that is how people get information about these things.
Worst customer service ever. We will make sure to use and direct everyone we know to the other rafting company in the future so that we do not have to encounter this horrible woman again.

Always have a great time every summer when we come up here. We have been using TRR for the last few years. Service has been great, we get to the office as it opens, and parking is never an issue. If you looking to go river rafting, in the area stop by TRR, and rent a raft for the day, you won’t regret it!!! Watch out when going down river the the «gum tube» you will know what I’m talking about when you see it… No to say that I or someone in my group has added to it… Lol …

Had a great time and service was excellent… I made a mistake on our reservation and showed up unexpectedly 1 week late AND on Labor day, and they accommodated our large group with no problem (and only made fun of me a little!). The trip was very relaxing and fun. Definitely recommend for anyone– the «rapids» are very minimal, really only at the end fo the trip, making this a great thing to do with a family or with your friends– coolers w/​beer are expected! They gave us appropriate food for the ducks too. Super fun and laid-​back trip.
I recommend the early morning trip if you can make it– we had the river pretty much to ourselves and maybe 3 – 4 other intermittent rafts; but later in the day the river looked pretty packed and much more noisy.

We were told by a friend that rafting from Tahoe City to River Ranch was a lot of fun, so when we were up here this past weekend we decided to try it out. We called in a Saturday AM reservation on Friday evening and headed to Tahoe City the next morning after breakfast. My wife and I along with our two sons, 7 and 4 yrs old.
Upon arrival the staff was very organized and friendly as they guided us to our parking spot and handled our payment and paperwork. They gave us free plastic bags for our towels and clothing and ziploc bags for our cell phones, which definitely helped.
After outfitting us with life vests and gear we were quickly on our way with a few simple instructions. We headed out, and down the Truckee at a very calm pace. The weather was perfect and the scenery is beautiful. Lots of ducks, some jumping fish and very few bugs. We stopped several times along the way to swim and play and take some photos. When we got to the end none of us wanted it to be over, especially my 7 year old. I think he wants to work for them. It was truly a phenomenal family experience that we will definitely be doing again, and again!
Sunscreen is a must. Hats are helpful too because there isn’t much shade on the river. Water shoes are very helpful as the shores are rocky and sometimes slippery. Definitely take some snacks or even a lunch and some beverages and take your time. There’s no rush!

I am a cheap SOB. I’ve lived in Reno for 25 years and never been Truckee River Rafting. I got close last year and earlier this year… but friends were in town and wanted to go… so we went.
This is a well run business. If you want some in depth stuff all of the other reviews are very helpful.
So I will just focus on our experience. We were first out that morning. I would highly suggest going early. It’s such a calm serene experience. If only the road wasn’t right close and less car noise going by. The ducks in the area have been trained for food begging. So be prepared for some fun little companions as you go down the river.
It rained for just about 15 minutes. It was a nice light rain. Loved it… too bad I can’t ask for this feature every time I go rafting. ;)
VERY bouncy bus going back to our cars. Didn’t really get wet other than the rain. Wish I would have brought my phone for pictures but if you worry about messing up your phone. Just leave it in the car.
They will keep your keys for you cause so many cars open electronically it’s nice they offer this.

A must do event on the north shore. We made reservations for our party of 10 in advance (saves you $ 5 a person). Very friendly staff guide you for parking and registration. Once you register and pay, then you follow the footsteps on the pavement to the launch area. You are greeted by the raft loaders and they hold the raft while you get in. Life vests available for all, and they have special ones for the small kids with the buckles. Just ask.
Wear your swimwear. Hats, sunscreen, coolers (no styrofoam), lunch, etc. You push off and it takes about 2.5 — 3 hours to float down to River Ranch. Great fun. Some small rapids, but nothing to worry about. Great river for getting out and swimming as there are some deep holes along the way. Many places to stop for lunch. Great social setting for interacting with the other rafters.
At the end at River Ranch, they have you come up to the dock, and you are able to depart from the raft safely. Bus there takes you back to start, River Ranch has a great patio that serves food and drink so might be worth checking out.
All in all, a great fun day floating down the Truckee.

This adventure is a ‘must’ for your summer Tahoe visit. We’ve been doing it every summer for the past 12 years. We’ve taken family and friends and our dogs just love it! They say there is a 50 lb limit on dogs but if your dog is friendly and chill, they are good with it. We brought our 2 German Shepherds. Bring lots of sunscreen, water guns and a wet bag for your supplies. No Styrofoam coolers or glass. Park your ride at the end of the trip and catch the bus up to sign in and begin your trip. Makes exiting a lot easier. There is a cool restaurant/​bar at the end of the trip on the river and make sure to enjoy a Rumrunner. Book online or by phone prior and get $ 5 off per person.

Awesome is the only word I can think of to describe this.
They have parking lots and even the further ones shuttles you to the entrance. It’s really cheap, only $ 30 per person.
Best part is that you can drink on the raft! This made the river into a 3 mile long party stream. Where people are drinking and cruising, having a great time.
My suggestion is to bring lots of sunblock & a water gun because what makes this pretty fun is that everyone is just trying to have a good time and shooting each other with their water guns.

Rafting with the Truckee River Rafting company is always a great experience. It’s the first place, on the left after the bridge. You’ll know your at the right place if you see the Dam Café’, which by the way — is awesome. They have great coffee, and to my knowledge one of the only self-​serve coffee stations I’ve been to.
The river was running full this year, the water was brilliant and we played a game with both boats. Any cans recovered from the river (full or empty) were worth $.25 (a quarter).
We were late due to traffic, and they still accepted our early reservation price. While it only saves $ 7 a person, it is $ 7 a person.

Our first rafting adventure and so glad it was a positive one. Super friendly staff, very helpful. They had everything we forgot in their little store! Highly recommend Truckee River Rafting — the people make the difference!

Undisputed 5 stars for the raft trip experience with Mountain Air Sports!
The self-​guided raft trips offered take one 5 miles down the Truckee River to River Ranch Pond. We were lucky to make this trip just before the rafting season closed (usually they are closed for fall and winter).
And what a 5 mile trip it was ! Expect to spend 2 – 3 leisurely hours sailing out on your raft as you gaze at the beautiful flora of the Sierra Nevada lining the banks of the river, catch a fleeting glimpse of salmon –trout beneath the emerald green waters and experience the rush of bumping along on stage 1 rapids.
Easily suitable for even the very young (pregnant women are discouraged from undertaking the trip due to the sudden movements in water and possibility of collision with rocks) a raft trip down the Truckee River is a must for visitors to the Reno-​Tahoe area.
Once can also bank one’s raft at several spots along the river and explore land on foot en route.
My favorite part was the last leg of the journey as our raft was sucked into a series of heavy rapids right before the tide deposited us safely at the banks of the raft docking station.
The waters are mostly waist deep initially and one can easily wade alongside the boat though there are places where the waters can get as deep as 20 feet, so do exercise caution!
Expect to get wet… so keep valuables away and ask the reservation desk for plastic covers for your cell phones, etc. Small coolers with drinks are allowed on the raft. After all, the idea is to make a picnic out of it!
Prices are $ 30 per adult and kids 6 and under are free. More pricing information is available online.
Here are some additional tips :
— Parking isn’t easy! If you are planning to take the raft from River Road, then a good place to park would be the North Lake Tahoe Visitor’s Center which is pretty close and walking distance to the rafting area.
— Make reservations in advance. On the day we went, things got pretty busy, and they had to turn away three families that walked in… also, we got $ 5 off for making an advance reservation.
— Photos taken by the rafting company are $ 15 a piece with $ 10 for additional copies.
Keep in mind that this is Stage 1 river rafting and if you want to get aggressively jostled around by foaming rapids, then this would probably not be what you are looking for ! This activity is more tuned towards extending a fun family experience and for those who like to do nothing more than to wade along and experience the beauty of the Truckee River at leisure.
This was so much fun that I honestly can’t wait to return next season. Highly recommend a stop here for visitors to Reno-​Tahoe.

This was our first time river rafting and I don’t think it will be our last! I was a little nervous as to how our youngest (2 years) would do because she didn’t enjoy her last boating-​type experience (going in a paddle boat on the lake). She ended up loving it and I think bringing our own life vest and not putting her in one of those bulky ones really helped.
We got there about 10:30 and the main parking lot was full, but they have a loading area and are very organized about directing traffic. We unloaded and DH parked the car and returned via shuttle. Once we turned in our ticket we waited about 5 minutes for our raft.
The ride was beautiful and we met so many characters along the way. The rapids at the end are pretty minor, but as you come off of them the dock is right there and we almost missed it, but we were able to paddle back a little ways.
At the end of our trip the bus was delayed, but this was due to a traffic accident on the highway and no fault of the company. People got a little panicked about getting on the bus to get back home since so many people were waiting, but several buses arrived at the same time so everyone got back pretty quickly.
Next time we would definitely bring our squirt guns… the kids and adults alike have fun squirting each other along the way! Definitely bring a cooler with lunch and beverages of your choice, there are so many great places to stop and have a picnic. I’d recommend a plastic cooler as a fabric one could get wet. We brought a rolling one and it worked out great so we had room to stow anything we didn’t want to get wet as well.

Another great trip down the Truckee River! We love the Truckee River Rafting family – professional service, easy registration (online & phone) and good pricing. This is the company with the YELLOW paddles and the great logo-​Riverman! What I really like about this company is you reserve a time slot and a raft big enough for your party. Everything was ready when we arrived – no wait at all. We have gone early (9 am) and in the middle of the day. Love the photos they take at the beginning.
What we really love are the people – wealth of information about the area and what you can do on the river – thank you Judy! Fishing is better in early morning or late evening – my sons scope out spots they can go to later. Plenty of swimming spots-​most of the river is pretty shallow (4 – 6 ft), but there are some deep spots.
Bring a cooler with drinks and food (no glass), sunscreen and hats a must. Water guns are always fun. Whatever you do bring will get wet. This is a calm river, with a few spots of large rocks and a low bridge. Largest rapids at the end, but nothing you can’t handle. We have lost sunglasses and hats there. Some days the wind is pretty strong.
The trip is as long as you want it – if you go with the current and don’t stop, it is about 2 hours or so. You can take your own rafts and inner tubes down the river, but we like the sturdy rafts (3 teenage boys love to hit rocks, etc). Our kids started rafting at about 5 years old and now they are teens. Great for kids and the whole family – we even took Grandma & Grandpa (in their 70’s) and they had a blast!
There is another company next door-​Truckee River Raft Co. ORANGE paddles and you only reserve a raft – not a specific time or a specific size raft (that is determined when you arrive).
We will stick to Truckee River Rafting (YELLOW) and the RiverMan!

This is one of a number of rafting businesses next to each other along Hwy 89 at Tahoe City. If you make reservations, you get $ 5 off a person.
They have limited parking, so you drive up and are directed to a space to park long enough to check in. Then you take a shuttle up the road to their overflow parking where another shuttle takes you back to start your raft trip.
You get paddles, a large raft, and life jackets that no one uses. It’s very safe and the only real problem with the «rapids» is that you can get stuck on a rock but not actually turn the boat over. I suspect that the fewer people you have on a raft, the less chance you’ll run aground.
Incredibly, there are a few areas along the Truckee where you can beach your raft and use a Port-​a-​Potty. One place even had an ice cream truck.
Tons of rafters on the river with you. Lots of young people drinking refreshing adult beverages, some straight out of the bottle. One area had lots of people standing in the shallows drinking in what looked like quite a party.
You end up after a few hours at River Ranch where they help you haul out. You can then hang out at River Ranch or go to the right and wait for the bus to take you back to the start to pick up your credit card you left as a deposit.
Very organized. Loads of fun for all ages.