Eel River Multi-Day Rafting Trip

The Eel River is a classic spring whitewater run with a very short season, typically flowing from February through May, depending on rainfall and snowpack. Our guided multi-day trips are offered in April, and occasionally into May when water levels allow. Because it's a free-flowing river with no upstream dams, conditions are entirely dependent on nature, and the window for running it can be brief.

Availability is typically released in October for the following spring season. If there's no availability online, we recommend checking back in the fall for trip dates.

The river has a way of taking items from us, so if it’s not tied down or secured, you could lose it. General rule: don’t bring anything you’d hate to lose. Don’t wear expensive jewelry, don’t bring your only pair of prescription glasses, don’t bring electronics, and we don’t recommend bringing your phone (it doesn’t work in our area anyways). There is a professional photographer on the run, but if you’d like to document the trip and have a GoPro, consider using one of our helmets with a GoPro mount. If you’d like to bring your phone or camera, we’ll supply you with a dry bag.

Our guide-to-guest ratio is typically 1:6.

The only reason a trip would be outright canceled is for wildfires and air quality/safety issues. Rain is normal, and we have all the gear needed to keep people warm and cozy. We have canceled trips due to snow but always check in with guests to see how they’d like to proceed. Some folks are happy rafting in the snow, so it really depends on the guest!

On the River:

Spring:

When wearing a wetsuit:  Fleece layers to go on top of wetsuit and under drytop.

When wearing a drysuit: Long johns and Fleece Pants on bottom, Wool and Fleece for your top, Wool Socks(medium thickness), 1 Pair of Shoes with drainage and with Grippy Tread and for wet rocks- for drysuit, please size up a half of full size to fit over the sock on the drysuit, as well as the sock under the drysuit. For example, put on a pair of lightweight socks, and a pair of mid weight wool socks, then try on your shoes. If you can’t wiggle your toes, they are too small, keep sizing up.

Summer:

Temperates can range wildly during the summer months. Nights are usually in the mid 60s to low 70s, be sure to check the current forecast for daytime temps at least 1 week prior to your trip.

For Camp:

• Pants and Shorts
• Casual Shirts
• Socks
• Hats (Depending on season)
• Appropriate Shoes: River Shoes, Camp Shoes, Hiking Shoes. Your feet are the most harmed body part during river trips, protect them by being mindful of the shoes your wear, especially those toes!

Cozy Wear! 

• ***Spring: Fleece Jacket/Down Jacket, Hoodie or Long Sleeves. Wool Socks(2 Thick, 3 Medium and 1 Light thickness for all activities)  Fleece Pants, Long Johns, and other Quick dry material.  Wool and Synthetic material are always best for cooler temp adventuring.  
• ***Summer: Sundresses, Shorts, Light pants, UPF Material clothing, light pajamas, Quick dry material for clothing is always your best bet for any month.
• Rain Jacket (Optional in Summer Months)
• Sleeping bag (Can be provided, must be reserved in advance)
• Pillow – Regular sized pillows recommended, must be able to be packed into a dry bag
• Towel
• Headlamp/Flashlight
• Beanie for the Spring Months, Hat for Summer
• Book, Journal, Cards, etc for downtime
• Personal hygiene items (Lotion,Toothbrush, Sunscreen, Bug Spray, etc)

****Pro Tip:  For small items such as personal hygiene of book, instead of having them loose in your large drybag with all your clothing, we recommend placing them in a small soft pack bag that is easy to reach in, grab, and go when you get to camp at the end of the day.  This can also be done to clothing.

All of these will go into a provided drybag just for you. They are large drybags, but be mindful about how much you bring.  When sealed properly, they don’t leak. But as a precaution, don’t bring anything that is susceptable to water damage.

All reservations must be made at least one week in advance to allow for preparation. Availability of specific trips depends on the flow conditions and other reservations. Most overnight trips run from April through September.

Yes! There's a space at checkout for you to let us know your dietary restrictions.

Sleeping Bag & Tent must be reserved in advance if needed. After booking, just email us to let us know.

All of the guides at Six Rivers Rafting are thoroughly trained and have a river or swiftwater rescue cert, an advanced first aid cert (usually of the wilderness variety), and a CPR cert. Guides have also completed a guide training/school and have proved proficient on all sections of the river they are taking clients on. The experience level of our guide team ranges from well over 20 years to first-year rock stars. Our guides tend to come back and work for us for many years, providing a wealth of experience and stability to our operation. All of our guides are also knowledgeable when it comes to river ecology and the surrounding wildlife. They passionately share information about local species, landmarks, and conservation issues in a friendly and interesting way.

We make many efforts to reduce our waste. Food is packaged in reusable containers and served with real plates and silverware. Reusable water bottles allow us to hydrate without creating waste. Leftover food is turned into compost. All other waste is either recycled or reused at the owner’s house. (Plastic Ziploc bags can be cleaned and used over and over!)

We are locally owned. As an active member in our community, we enjoy donating rafting gift certificates to local charities for their fundraising efforts. We love seeing our gift certificates generate income for the local Creekside Charter School and the Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka! Plus, we get the added benefit of later enjoying the company of the gift certificate recipients!