Tributary Whitewater Tours has been guiding safe and exciting whitewater rafting trips since 1978 and offers more than 20 raft adventures throughout California. We are thankful that we are just one of a few outfitters permitted to offer rafting trips on some of these rivers like Truckee River and North Yuba River which we pioneered in the early 1980s.

Options include half-day express excursions, multi-day wilderness and hot-spring camp outs, or all the comforts with historic lodgings nearby. Rafting trips range from a few hours to 4+ days in California (April-September). Many river trips are located close to travel destination areas like Lake Tahoe, Reno, the Gold Country, Sacramento, Mount Shasta and Sequoia National Park. Rivers we guide on include the American, Truckee, Yuba, Trinity, Klamath, Carson, Smith, Sacramento, Kaweah, Salmon and Scott.

Tributary started as a small family business in 1978. The founder and relatives are still actively involved in the day to day operations. Many of our guides have been employed with us for more than 10 years, and there are some who started off as pre-teen clients and have grown with us through our guide schools and now have families of their own. Our guides have diverse personalities, and we have many return guests who have rafted with us since the early 1980s.

We offer trips for all levels, from family vacation trips suitable for kids (ages 4 years and older), to extreme white water for the expert. With so many choices, we have something for everyone. We've customized mellow trips suitable for seniors and young children (from 4 yrs) on rivers like the East Fork Carson, Lower Middle Fork American and others. Also, some of the toughest whitewater in California on the Class 5 sections of several rivers like the North Yuba, Burnt Ranch Gorge, Scott and Cal Salmon.

Some of the rivers are more accessible than others for people with disabilities. We have hired a sign language interpreter to assist with groups of deaf people on the Truckee River. The owner has carried a person and taken a wheel chair on the river when needed. Some sites, however, are just not so friendly to those with special needs, but we will always try and find a trip for those who require that assistance. Just ask us.

Tributary Whitewater Tours has always practiced the reuse, recycle mentality. In fact, we some times have to pry things out of the owner's grip and convince him he really does have to part with an item, a raft, or vehicle. We print our brochures and rack cards on FSC Certified recycled paper, with printers who prove themselves to be as avid about protecting the environment as we are. Our general office paper is 100% recycled content and though of course these things cost more, we know in the long run we cannot afford to do otherwise to protect our environment.

Our guides and owner spend their vacations on the river, so you can bet that they want to keep these areas pristine, and available for the next generation.

We take our own dogs on private trips, but generally pets are not compatible with a commercial rafting trip.