Carson City, NV Outdoor Activities

Founded in 1978 out of a love of the plentiful whitewater rafting around Sacramento, W.E.T. River Trips has been outfitting rafters and leading trips continuously for the last 34 years. They maintain a ratio of one guide per six to eight guests on their trips to ensure less crowded boats and to make each trip more intimate and personal. W.E.T.'s tours explore more than 18 rivers' rapids ranging in difficulty from Class II to V. Trips often include camping, meals, river stories, and musical entertainment provided by the staff.

Groups meet at Camp Lotus for a brief orientation and safety prep before the rafting rally begins. Ideal for all skill sets, CRA's program accommodates passengers age 7 and up. Fourteen-foot self-bailing rafts equipped with first-aid river-rescue kits, and Coast Guard–approved life jackets safely seat eight passengers plus an expert guide. As a team, the boatload of adventurers navigates the water like a squirrel surfing in a washing machine, punching through whitecaps and splashing about wavy highs and lows during the two-hour water trek. Aqueous adventurers will encounter rapids such as the Meat Grinder, Race Horse Bend, and the Trouble Maker, who is on probation after an extended parental grounding. Wetsuits are required prior to June 1 and can be rented for $15 or brought from home.

To Action Whitewater Adventures' guides, setting is everything. During their full-day excursions, guides and groups mounted in rafts battle Class III and IV rapids just to make their way to a gourmet deli lunch set against the backdrop of the lush Lotus River Valley. Of course, they might argue the fun part is getting there.

They lead excursions down both the South and Middle Forks of the American River, some of the most popular rafting waters in the nation. On the South Fork, they conduct the "Chili Bar" run, a trip that covers up to 21 miles favored for its rough-and-tumble class III rapids and stellar countryside. The Middle Fork provides even rougher-and-tumbler Class IV rapids, the 18-mile journey punctuated by clear-flowing stretches populated by trout and adorable baby Poseidons.

Between all of the concrete walls, inflatable obstacles, and cleverly positioned barrels, it’s hard to get a good look at anyone at Reno Indoor Paintball. On any given day, the 27,000-square-foot facility hosts dozens of well-armored players, who sprint around the grounds and splatter their opponents until supplies run out or they accomplish their missions. During battles, the staff remains on hand to help players to gear up and to ensure things remain civil. And on select days, staffers also host training sessions or events for larger groups looking to celebrate occasions such as birthdays, bachelor parties, or a high-school graduate’s first successful load of laundry.

Fishing guru Chris Wharton has fly-fished on America's glassy lakes for more than 35 years, part of which he has spent passing on his extensive knowledge of the sport as the guide and instructor at Stillwater Guide Service. He regularly takes groups out to fly-fish on the calm, trout-filled waters of nearby Lake Davis and Frenchman Lake, among others.

Chris knows that fly-fishing is infinitely more rewarding once one has attained the proper skill set. That's why his lessons focus on precision casting and hook-setting techniques that help students reliably net trout of up to 7 pounds. He also teaches groups how to read the waters for clues that help determine where trout are most likely to hunt for food, shelter, and the sharks that ate their wives. When he isn't leading three-hour lessons, Chris organizes full-day trips and overnight adventures to numerous aquatic destinations.

The founders of Adventure Connection believe in magic. Not the trickery of the stage or spells cast by mysterious neighbors, but of the spiritual, environmental, and economic boons of the rivers they have spent their lives traversing. More than 25 years ago, a group of believers came together to share their love and passion for the rivers of California, building a company that combines whitewater rafting, wine tasting, and camping along the waterways they love.

Over the course of the last two decades, the staff has guided boats of up to 18 people through the rapids of the American, Kaweah, and Tuolumne Rivers, coasting through mild ripples or white-knuckling class V rapids. Groups often leave the rafts behind to explore the scenic countryside and renowned wineries of the surrounding El Dorado region or to pitch tents and sleep under the stars.