kern river tours

Just finished a repeat of the Gusto with Kern River Tours and it was just as much fun as the first trip our family took with them two years ago. The folks here are all friendly and lots of fun (even the bus driver!) and our guide Cody was great to raft with. The water is fun, the natural setting is beautiful, and the entertaining personalities of all of the guides here tops the whole thing off to make this trip an awesome experience.

We took the one-day tour, which was suppose to be a Class II-III, but was luckily upgraded to a Class IV. Overall, was a fun day with Cody as our Team Leader. We went out in 2 boats, that had 5-6 clients, plus the guide. I was hoping it would be more challenging, but we kind of knew that it was the lower class tour. It was fun. We stopped for lunch, where some were allowed to jump off a 20-ft rock into the river, if they desired. There was plenty of food. They were very creative, as they forgot the utensils, and instead used large celery sticks as spoons to scoop things into the sandwiches. They actually cut the tomatoes & onios there on the spot. It was not bad overall. The river water was beautiful, after having been seemingly cold initially. The only other hiccup was there was that Scott the photographer, who was to take our pictures while going through one of the more exciting rapid, was late, but Cody & the other guide had us play some fun games with our paddles while we waited, so it was not bad at all. Actually, to our surprise, there were quite a few pictures of the boat & its occupants having fun, from several different locations, some of which we were not awrae of until we returned to the "warehouse"- their main office. We were allowed to split the cost with the other group of 4 in our party ($42 each), which I though was pricey for no more than about a dozen pictures or less, but you pay of course for the memories. back at the place, there were hot dogs & water melon waiting for us, as well as hot showers (in the open & coed), with private places to change clothes, which was fantastic. The price for the trip was about $180 each (weekend rate) & again I thought it was kind of pricey, but then again, this was my first time, and I do not know the comparison prices, as we went on a personal recommendation from a friend, who went with the saem company. We also encountered other companies on the water, and some had groups that were much larger than our 2 boats, so the small size was also nice. Cody told us that he was born & raised in the area & was very skillful, and everyone in the company was super nice. Would definitely recommend. The only nervous part was putting all your valuables in the car & leaving it there. The place was on a cul-de-sac, and everything was OK, and we were told that they have never had a break-in in 37 years of operation, however, their web site indicated that they were no t responsible for any damage or theft of the car or its contents

The water wasn't high enough to have provided a thrilling rafting adventure. We had a great guide who gave us directions throughout the rafting which prevented us from getting stuck. We were the only raft that didn't get stuck going down the river. Overall, the adventure was not worth the $200 per person price tag we paid.

I'm 61 and my wife and me took our 14 year old grand daughter with us on the 1/2 day Picto trip the we went on a Class 2-3. It was fun, exhilirating, relaxing, a great workout!This was fun and well worht the money, some class 2 and class 3 rapids but ok for someone my age, yet exciting for 15 year old also.You will not go hungry on this trip, food was amazing, we had lunch right along side the river. Chicken salad, Fresh Avocados, fresh fruits, cheeses, breads cookies. I don't know where they had all that food stored but wow what a spread.If you stay the night try the Paradise Cove Lodge, Lake Isabella Great food quaint little lodge

My friends and I are moderate thrill seekers. We first called up kern river tours and wanted to go on thrilling day of white water rapids on the kern river. We tried to book their more adventurous "thunder run" day trip. We were told that they were not running the thunder run and offered the "gusto" run as comparable alternative. to say that it was a thrill-less waste of money would be an understatement. Our guide "gravy" a 40 year old burn out, toiled with us, lying and telling us we were in for a "rocking roll good time" (his words, not mine). He kept blabbing on about stuff that made no sense and luring us to believe that our next set of rapids would be epic "class 4", he said, and it was something we could've gone down on a inner tube. The biggest thing that irritated our group was he made out our trip to be something that was it definetly was not. At times blaming persons in our boat for the mistakes that he had made himself. (by getting us stuck in trees; I'm sorry but one person paddling one time without him saying is not gonna fling the raft to the other side of the river into a set of low lying trees.) that's just ridiculous. Just when we thought it was going to get interesting we make it to a rapid that looked pretty sweet, we had to dock our boat and walk around it. Apparently is was too dangerous, but looking at it it looked challenging but not undo able. According to our guide Gravy it was "certain death" class 6, which is a bunch of bull. Our group had lost interest in the trip by lunchtime realizing that it was not going to get any better. Bottom line know what your getting into because listening to them your going to be persuaded into doing something you don't want to do. They over exaggeratted everything. Our 3 ft drops were 9ft drops out of their mouths and so on. So myself and 4 other friends dropped 220 dollars a piece to go down something less thrilling than the rapid ride at magic mountain.

From the minute Linda greets you, to the character who drives the bus to your destination, you feel like you are already having fun! The guides are extremely professional, knowledgeable and friendly. The equipment is in excellent condition. They serve a lunch which is fresh and delicious and treat you to a hot dog and watermelon upon arrival back at the office after a fantastic day on the river. I was impressed that they sold some needed articles such as water shoes at prices that were very reasonable despite the fact you were a captive audience.Everyone involved had an upbeat, positive personality and a spirit of fun and adventure that put everyone in the perfect mood to enjoy the day.Yet safety nor respect for the river was never compromised.

My husband and I took my teenage sister and her friend white water rafting today in the Kern River. It was a blast! I signed us up for the 3 hour "Sampler" and Fez was our guide. We had such a fun time - it is really hard work but such an adrenaline rush! Will definitely do this again! Booked through Kern RIver Tours and they were very professional and knowledgeable.

Forsränning i Kern River är bland det roligaste jag gjort i mitt liv och min familj som var med håller med. Guiderna var superbra, trevliga och roliga och även om floden var låg var det fantastiskt roligt att åka nerför floden i vars en uppblåst kanot. Ett lyckominne för all framtid!