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Truckee River: Verdi to Mayberry

Guided

Duration: 3 hours

Lake Tahoe • Truckee

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Features

Free Cancellation
Beginner Friendly
Kid Friendly
Instant Book
Shuttle Included
Locally Owned
$100 Adult
(Ages 13+)
$90 Child
(Ages 7-12)

Description

Truckee River Verdi to Mayberry Half-Day Whitewater Rafting Adventure

Add some excitement to your day with this fun and fast-paced rafting trip just minutes from North Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and Reno. The Verdi to Mayberry section of the Truckee River is perfect for adventurous first-timers, families, and anyone looking to get outside and enjoy a few hours on the water.

This half-day trip combines splashy Class II-III rapids with beautiful high desert scenery and shady cottonwood groves. You'll start in historic Verdi, Nevada—famous for the first train robbery in the West—and paddle east through a dynamic stretch of river that includes mellow riffles, exciting rapids, and plenty of opportunities to jump in and swim.
The highlight of the trip is “Gorilla Falls,” a 15-foot diversion dam that offers a big splash and a rush of excitement, followed by continuous Class II rapids leading into the technical Class III “Powerhouse” rapid. Along the way, our experienced guides will keep things safe and fun while sharing stories about the area’s natural and cultural history.
The trip ends at scenic Mayberry Park, just outside Reno, where you'll shuttle back to the starting point. Available only in the spring and during high water years, this seasonal adventure is a unique way to experience the Truckee River.

Duration

  1. Half Day Experience
  2. 7 River Miles
  3. Roughly 2- 2.5 hours of river rafting
  4. Roughly 3 hours total time commitment from arrival to our office to saying farewell
Morning trips meet at 8:45 AM, and afternoon trips at 1:00 PM
Trip Timeline: Arrival and check in, Transportation to river put in site, Gear ourselves up with rafting gear, Safety talk/ river instruction, Hop into rafts for day, Load back into vehicles, Drive back to meeting location. Say farewell.
Runs every day, typically from May to mid-September (dependent on river flow)

Location / Where to Meet

Our Truckee River Rafting Office is located inside the Truckee River RV Park located at the above address. Follow our signs for parking and check-in. Here, you’ll find safe, secure parking, clean restrooms, changing rooms, shaded picnic tables on our patio, and a general store to pick up any last-minute items you might have forgotten, including sunscreen, water shoes, hats, and much more. This is the perfect place to start your adventure.
Rough Drive Times to office location:
  1. 10 minutes east of Truckee on I-80
  2. 30 minutes West of Reno on I-80
  3. 30 minutes from Tahoe City
  4. 45 minutes from Incline Village

Ages & Requirements

Ages 7+
On this section of the river
  1. Everyone is given paddles and asked to participate.
  2. All participants must be in good health and weigh no more than 250 lbs.
  3. No experience is necessary.

What's Included

  1. Experienced guides
  2. All rafting equipment
  3. Transportation to and from the river
  4. Helmets
  5. PFDs (personal flotation devices), also known as life jackets
  6. Paddle
During spring and cold weather trips, we also provide at no additional cost:
  1. Wetsuits
  2. Fleece base layers
  3. Splash Jackets

Not Included

  1. Gratuity
  2. Lunch

What to Bring / Wear

Getting ready for a whitewater rafting trip is similar to getting ready for a day at the beach. Everything that goes on the river will get wet so dress in clothing that you’d be comfortable swimming in.
  1. Bathing Suit or shorts
  2. Sun shirt or layer to protect from the sun
  3. Baseball hat
  4. Sunglasses (retention strap if expensive)
  5. Sunscreen
  6. reusable water bottle with a hard loop that can securely attach to the raft
  7. Most Important: Shoes are required that will not come off, such as strap-on sandals, water shoes, booties, and old tennis shoes.
Things to Leave at Home
While on the river, Everything gets wet, has the possibility to fall out of pockets and be lost in the river. We ask everyone to leave cellphones, wallets, Car keys and valuables home, at our office location or locked away.

ADVENTURE PROVIDED BY Tahoe Whitewater Tours

FAQs

Can I wear flip flops?

No! Shoes are required that will not come off, such as strap-on sandals, water shoes, booties, and old tennis shoes.

Flip-flops or slip-on shoes are not allowed for rafting. If you go for an unintentional swim, you will lose your flip-flops immediately. If you end up on shore or in a random place, you need to have good footwear to get back to the rafts or to be able to walk along the shoreline.

What type of rapids will we encounter and what is the trip difficulty?

Type of trip: Adventurous Beginner/ Intermediate rafting

This section is Class II-III+ Meaning Adventurous Beginner/ Intermediate rapids, Family Friendly, perfect for first time river rafters with some exciting moments in the Class III’s. We refer to this section as adventurous beginner due the navigating of boulder gardens and maneuvering needed for a successful run.

As you navigate the river, you’ll encounter a mix of class II rapids, offering a perfect balance of thrill and relaxation. The real excitement comes with the exhilarating “Gorilla Falls” and “Powerhouse” rapids, which add a rush of adrenaline to your adventure.

Should I tip my guide?

If you guide did a wonderful job and you had a fun experience tipping is an acceptable form of showing appreciation to your guide at the end of the tour.

What size rafts are used, and how many guests fit in a raft?

  • 13’ self-bailing river rafts are used
  • On the Truckee River, our rafts can take up to 6 guests + a guide.
  • River flows on the Truckee River fluctuate throughout the year and dictate how many can fit in a raft. Later in the season (July and August), we may only be able to put four guests + a guide to keep boats nimble for technical sections as the river flows may cause rapids to be tighter and more technical.

What should we do with personal items?

Personal items should be locked in your personal vehicle throughout the day. Wallets, Cell phones, and Car Keys can also be kept in our river office while out for your rafting adventure!

Where does the water come from on the Truckee River?

The river is fed by five different water storage areas: Lake Tahoe, Donner Lake, Prosser Reservoir, Stampede Reservoir, and Boca Reservoir. These dams work together to supply the water that flows into this beautiful section of the river.

Cancellation Policy

  1. Up to 48 hours prior to your reservation start time, you may cancel or change your reservation (including reducing your group size) with no penalty.
  2. Within 48 hours of the tour time, any cancellations, changes, or “no-shows” are responsible for payment in full.
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Availability

April 2025
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There is no instant booking availability for this adventure. Drop us a line using the contact form below and we'll do our best to help you book this adventure or suggest some alternative options

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Location

Address

10068 Hirschdale Rd

Truckee, CA, 96161

US

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