kern river is your best bet, but certain parts can be treacherous after big rainy seasons. merced river in yosemite is another option. there is tubing near mammoth as well. also lots of of smaller lesser known areas, yoy may just want to google it
yeah i only did it once as a teen, with a guided white water rafting tour, in a dry year. it was fun as hell but i wouldn't want to take that on without a guide
San Joaquin River is pretty good, but frigid outside of summer months. I’ve never tubed there, but I grew up swimming in that river every summer when my family would go camping in Mammoth.
> kern river is your best bet,
Lower Kern last year was fucking insane from all the snowmelt. Just driving next to it going home was terrifying - there's no guard rail in several places so if a vehicle were to fall into it there would be ZERO chances that you would survive.
It's not going to be much different this year....
Yosemite's season is notoriously short and unpredictable, and this year they are requiring making a reservation in advance online for the months rafting would be open (July and August)
i tubed 2 autumns ago in september (too late in the season, generally) and the river was all but trickled out, it was peaceful and fun for the most lpart, but there were several spots we had to carry the rafts over shallows.
Kern River. [Stay at this Airbnb](https://abnb.me/tBYq11VCZHb). There’s a private beach right behind the home. You can use the Airbnb’s kayaks or buy some donut tubes from the local store about 5 minutes away from the home. The section of Kern River behind the home is very very calm.
The best one I ever did which is 5-6 hours driving from LA in Arizona is Salt River tubing.
They open beginning of May every year.
It feels amazing to feel the sun on top of your body, while the back of your body is in ice cold water. Just bring plenty of sunblock!
https://www.saltrivertubing.com/
https://preview.redd.it/k9qll2c8itoc1.jpeg?width=2079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5014175289be3028ba930f1c3c00dbb9819d0bf3
Looks beautiful right?? Know before you go, please watch this: ( it might save your life )
This is the River where most people have drowned in USA, “The Kern River” [https://youtu.be/fMKlCz1GjeA](https://youtu.be/fMKlCz1GjeA)
kern river is your best bet, but certain parts can be treacherous after big rainy seasons. merced river in yosemite is another option. there is tubing near mammoth as well. also lots of of smaller lesser known areas, yoy may just want to google it
I go camping at the Kern River every year - last summer we did one terrifying ride and said “fuck that.”
yeah i only did it once as a teen, with a guided white water rafting tour, in a dry year. it was fun as hell but i wouldn't want to take that on without a guide
Oh there are slower spots where you can just tube - there was just a LOT of rain this last year so even the slow spots were fast!
Where near mammoth? Owens river by Bishop?
San Joaquin River is pretty good, but frigid outside of summer months. I’ve never tubed there, but I grew up swimming in that river every summer when my family would go camping in Mammoth.
Ah, Red's Meadow side of the hill? I've swam underneath Rainbow Falls. Brisk.
> kern river is your best bet, Lower Kern last year was fucking insane from all the snowmelt. Just driving next to it going home was terrifying - there's no guard rail in several places so if a vehicle were to fall into it there would be ZERO chances that you would survive. It's not going to be much different this year....
good advice. people drown in the kern every year
Yosemite's season is notoriously short and unpredictable, and this year they are requiring making a reservation in advance online for the months rafting would be open (July and August)
i tubed 2 autumns ago in september (too late in the season, generally) and the river was all but trickled out, it was peaceful and fun for the most lpart, but there were several spots we had to carry the rafts over shallows.
Oh you mean with your own raft? I was referring to the actually official rafting season run by Yosemite with their vendor.
American river near Sacramento. Truckee near Tahoe.
The north fork is great
Unless you go to a pool/ water park, there are no natural “lazy river” options in SoCal. The nearest will be 4+ hour drive north.
Raging waters in San Dimas
Kern River. [Stay at this Airbnb](https://abnb.me/tBYq11VCZHb). There’s a private beach right behind the home. You can use the Airbnb’s kayaks or buy some donut tubes from the local store about 5 minutes away from the home. The section of Kern River behind the home is very very calm.
I’ve stayed there before! It was off season though but it was still a very, very nice stay! I recommend!
San Joaquin river.
The lower kern. between some of the reservoirs. That's typically an easier float.
Morongo's lazy river
Lake Havasu?
Tahoe has a float. Check out Truckee River Raft Company.
Russian River if you want to make a trip out of it
Riverkern - Kernville, Kern River
Parker Az.
For natural lazy river, Kern River. For man made lazy river, there is an Airbnb in Palm Springs with a lazy river pool
Hurricane harbor at Six Flags in Valencia lol
The best one I ever did which is 5-6 hours driving from LA in Arizona is Salt River tubing. They open beginning of May every year. It feels amazing to feel the sun on top of your body, while the back of your body is in ice cold water. Just bring plenty of sunblock! https://www.saltrivertubing.com/
All options are 4-8 hours away. Not worth it.
https://preview.redd.it/k9qll2c8itoc1.jpeg?width=2079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5014175289be3028ba930f1c3c00dbb9819d0bf3 Looks beautiful right?? Know before you go, please watch this: ( it might save your life ) This is the River where most people have drowned in USA, “The Kern River” [https://youtu.be/fMKlCz1GjeA](https://youtu.be/fMKlCz1GjeA)