Rafting season in Sacramento County along the American River Parkway is starting this weekend. The runoff from the winter snowpack is allowing seasonal businesses to open on time—or even early. “We had a fast transition this year and already are in the high 80s,” Kent Hansen with American River Raft Rentals said. “With the water flows the way they are, we feel it’s time to open.” But it’s important to know the conditions are unlike peak summer months. The river level is considerably higher, the water colder and the flows faster, according to Chris Vestal with Metro Fire. “The water is very cold. It’s only 55 degrees. Water below 72 degrees takes only a few minutes of exposure to cause respiratory and muscular compromise,” Vestal said. “It is really swift and what some people don’t recognize is just because the water looks smooth on the top, you can’t really see how fast it’s moving.”There have been no water rescues this year, according to Randy Bickel with Sacramento County Park Rangers. However, he said that is likely due to the water temperature. “The temperatures are rising but the waters are very cold,” Bickel said. “It’s still a very fast river. The water is moving almost quadruple it would in the summertime between Fourth of July and Labor Day weekend.”The American River Parkway is open with the exception of Howe Avenue River Access and Discovery Park.

Rafting season in Sacramento County along the American River Parkway is starting this weekend.

The runoff from the winter snowpack is allowing seasonal businesses to open on time—or even early.


“We had a fast transition this year and already are in the high 80s,” Kent Hansen with American River Raft Rentals said. “With the water flows the way they are, we feel it’s time to open.”

But it’s important to know the conditions are unlike peak summer months. The river level is considerably higher, the water colder and the flows faster, according to Chris Vestal with Metro Fire.

“The water is very cold. It’s only 55 degrees. Water below 72 degrees takes only a few minutes of exposure to cause respiratory and muscular compromise,” Vestal said. “It is really swift and what some people don’t recognize is just because the water looks smooth on the top, you can’t really see how fast it’s moving.”

There have been no water rescues this year, according to Randy Bickel with Sacramento County Park Rangers. However, he said that is likely due to the water temperature.

“The temperatures are rising but the waters are very cold,” Bickel said. “It’s still a very fast river. The water is moving almost quadruple it would in the summertime between Fourth of July and Labor Day weekend.”

The American River Parkway is open with the exception of Howe Avenue River Access and Discovery Park.