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We have a lot of things on our bucket list, and whitewater rafting is one of them. Well, it is mine anyway. Dustin had done this before. Since I’m not a strong swimmer, I’ve always been hesitant to do whitewater rafting. As luck has it, after our adventure group did the Salt River float, Nancy proposed that we all go whitewater rafting on the Kern River. The next thing we knew, we were heading to Kernville, CA for a whitewater rafting trip. Since we had 4 beginners and also weak swimmers in our group, we chose the half-day trip with Whitewater Voyages. The one we chose was “The Big 5,” a beginner/intermediate whitewater rafting trip featuring the last five Class IV rapids on the Lower Kern River. It was a perfect choice for our group because we wanted something more challenging but not too crazy.
The portion of the Kern River where we will be whitewater rafting is near Kernville, CA. It is about a 4-hour drive from Orange County. There are a few rafting companies in Kernville. You can choose from any of them for your rafting adventure. We went with Whitewater Voyages because they had the tour that we wanted.
Whitewater Voyages’s address:
11316 Kernville Rd, Kernville, CA 93238
You can book your trip with Whitewater Voyages either online or by phone. Reserving your spot online is super easy and convenient. We highly recommend reserving your spot in advance. They sell out quickly.
Whitewater Voyages offers many options, from a quick 2-hour trip to half-day, full-day, and overnight trips lasting 2 or 3 days. Your cost varies depending on which tour you’re going with. For our trip, at the time of the article, it was $160/person.
Kids are allowed on whitewater rafting trips. However, the minimum age varies depending on which trip you’re taking. For example, the minimum age for Lickety Split is 5, while the Big Five minimum age is 12. You can see the minimum age requirement under each trip’s description on Whitewater Voyages’ website. While age is important, weight is also important. ALL adventurers must weigh at least 50lbs to participate.
Whitewater rafting season at the Kern River usually goes from April through September. Depending on which section of the Kern River you want to paddle and what kind of experience you’re after, your best time to go can change.
For a typical trip, you won’t need to bring much. Here’s a list of things you can bring and wear on a half day/full day trip.
Spring and Fall (before June and after September)
Summer (June through September)
Items to bring in general
“The Big Five” is a beginner/intermediate whitewater rafting trip on the Lower Kern River. This section is about 5 miles long, featuring five Class IV rapids.
As soon as we got to Whitewater Voyages, it was time to check in. We were also given a quick brief about what we can and cannot bring. Then, we went around the back of the building to pick up our helmets, lifejackets, and have our official orientation. This was where we met Joe, our captain. He was also our personal guide on our raft. After the orientation, we got on a big bus that took us to the launch spot. The bus ride was about 45 minutes.
Since our group had 8 people, we were split into 2 groups of 4. A standard whitewater raft usually has around 4-6 people. Aaron, Claudia, Phil, and Nancy were in one raft while Raymond, Mila, Dustin, and I were in another boat. There were about 7 or 8 rafts for our whole trip. After everyone got on their boat and pushed off, each raft found its own spot so all the raft members could have a quick paddling practice. The key here is to pay attention to your guide’s directions and paddle hard. After everyone was comfortable with paddling, we were ready to take on the Big Five!
Our Whitewater rafting adventure on the Kern River is about 5 miles with 5 Class IV rapids. They are spread out a distance from each other. In between each rapid, there are mellow sections that are perfect for a swim.
The first major rapid we came across is called “Surprise.” This is a class III/IV rapid, depending on the water flow. It was a great warm-up for us. Joe, our guide, asked if we wanted the details about the rapid; however, we all opted to be surprised. We figured with a name like that, the choice was obvious. The rapid starts with a fun wave train before dropping into larger waves. The larger waves may catch first-timers off guard, hence…. SURPRISE!!!!
After the first rapid, we got a nice little break. I’ve done some small Class III rapids before on the Boise River float; however, this was my first Class IV. And it was really fun! Excitement was in the air, and we were on our way to the next rapid.
After a good break, we arrived at Hari Kari. This Class IV rapid is considered to be the signature rapid of the Big Five. By this point, we were like a well-oiled machine as we plummeted into a steep drop. After this drop, our raft accelerated into a sharp bend with 2 enormous waves at the bottom. It was a pretty thrilling ride for paddlers of all skill levels. Before we started the rapid, Joe told us that there might be a photographer station on shore, so make sure to look our best. The photographer won’t be there all the time. Lucky for us, she was there when we went. She got some really great shots. They can be viewed and purchased back at the shop.
After Rapid 2, we got the opportunity to take a dip. We were grateful for this because it was warm out. The water was surprisingly quite pleasant and much warmer than the Colorado River that we paddled down in Black Canyon. We floated in the calm water for about 5 minutes before it was time to hop back in and get ready for the next rapid.
As we went further into our whitewater rafting trip, the rapids on the Lower Kern River got progressively more intense. Rapid 3 has a technical ledge-style drop into a horseshoe-shaped rapid that is packed full of powerful waves and hydraulics, hence the name. It is awe-inspiring to see the raw power of Mother Nature. It reminds us of Niagara Falls but much smaller. While these aren’t anywhere near the hardest rapids in the world, they will definitely command your respect.
After Horseshoe Falls, we had another treat in store. As we rounded a bend, we saw a cliff jump. This one is probably around 15 feet tall. All the rafts pulled in to the side so we could either watch or jump off the cliff. Most of us in our group opted to watch while Dustin, Phil, and Mila jumped off the cliff.
After a nice calm stretch of river, we came to one of our favorite rapids of the day…. SIDEWINDER. This rapid is split into 2 sections with no time to rest in between. In the first section, there is fast-moving water and narrow channels. You really need to listen to your guide’s commands to make it through unscathed. The second section has more twists and a few boulders that you can get stuck on if you’re not careful. One of the rafts got stuck on the rock as we zipped past them.
Once we made it through the rapids, we had a chance to relax again. This stretch of calm water is quite long, so everyone went for another swim.
Soon, we were climbing back into the raft because it was time to take on the main boss. If you have ever played pinball, you know that the ball flies all over the place, bouncing off of bumpers and other objects. Well, the name is very appropriate for this rapid. There are TONS of boulders and hydraulics you need to try to avoid. This rapid, Pinball, is considered to be the best rapid on the lower Kern River. Even with Joe’s expert steering, we somehow managed to beach our raft on 2 boulders. That was what we get for laughing at the other stuck raft earlier…We didn’t stay there for too long, though, because Joe quickly guided us off the boulders and got back on our way.
This rapid is chaotic, fun, and awe-inspiring. It was the perfect grand finale to the technical section of this experience. We were giggling for probably 5 minutes after the rapid because we just experienced something truly special.
After the last rapid, Joe guided us through a narrow section of the river that he called the “Jungle Cruise.” It really reminded us of the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland with the lush foliage and low-hanging trees. It also reminded us of when we kayaked at Silver Springs in Florida. Right after the Jungle Cruise, it was time for our whitewater rafting adventure to come to an end.
We all had an amazing time rafting with Whitewater Voyages. Everyone already talked about going back for more intense trips. Maybe soon!
Happy Adventuring. Don’t forget to check out the related posts below for more inspiration on your upcoming adventures. While at it, follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel! We’ll love you forever!
These are the gear that we personally use and find helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.
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Hi! We are Dustin & Vy, the proud creators of Live That Adventure. We created this website because we wanted to inspire others to live their lives to the fullest. On here, you’ll find everything from hiking, canyoneering, kayaking, and snorkeling to adventure and travel tips, gear reviews, and bucket list items such as bungee jumping or wing walking. We’ll show you the ropes so you can do them too!
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