Kings River 2-day Trips for 2024
Our Base Camp is Right On THE River
Perfect for families!
$225 – $295
About the Trip
- Overview
- Dates
- Pricing
- Itinerary
- What’s Included
- About Our Camp
- On the River
- Logistics, Directions & Accomodations
- Notes
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Our friendly office staff are ready to answer any questions and help you book your next adventure!
209-532-6249
Overview
Our 2 Day trips are by far the best way to experience the magic of the Kings River. These trips include 1 night camping in our beautiful riverside base camp, and 4 delicious meals including lunches served on the river. Enjoy 2 full days of rafting, and all the amenities of our base camp, including crystal clear river swimming, games, large sandy beaches, campfire ring, meals prepared for you in our large outdoor kitchen, and more (see our “Camp Description” below). These trips provide long lasting memories and you will leave totally refreshed, and hopefully with a lasting connection with the river. Please be at our base camp no later than 9:00 a.m. the morning of your trip. Meals start with lunch on Day 1, end with lunch on Day 2. We have you back in camp between 2:30 and 4:00 on Day 2.
- Meet at 9:00 a.m., back in camp by 3:00 to 4:00 depending on water levels
- Class 3-3+ — Beginner / Intermediate
- Min. age 6-10 depending on water levels
Kings 2-Day 2024 Trip Dates
Trips Daily from April 27 through mid-July or early August (depending on snow-pack).
Kings 2-Day Pricing
| Start Days | Options | Price Adult/Youth | Group Price (12+) Adult/Youth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon-Thu | 1 camp, 4 meals | $270/$240 | $255/$225 |
| Fri or Sun | 1 camp, 4 meals | $285/$255 | $270/$240 |
| Sat | 1 camp, 4 meals | $295/$265 | $280/$250 |
| All | Non-rafters | $85/$70 | N/A |
- Prices are per person and subject to an 8% Government access/service fee
- 5% discount for groups of 6-11.
- Group rates apply for 12 or more rafters, plus 1 free trip with 24 or more
- Also…see our 35% family discount special on our Group Discount page
Upgrade your trip
Add a prior-night camping and breakfast package for an extra $30/adult, and $20.00/youth 17 and younger. This upgrade can be selected during your online reservation process. With this upgrade, your trip would include 2 nights camping (the night prior, and the night of your trip), 2 full days of rafting (20 miles), and 5 fantastic meals, starting with breakfast on Day 1 and ending with lunch on Day 2. Also included are beers, wines, snacks, juices, and other beverages. Most trips, (depending on trip size), include an evening slide show after dinner showing photos of YOU rafting that day. Hoot and howl as you and your friends get to re-live the days events while you nibble fresh dutch-oven dessert and enjoy a glass of wine.
Note: Our friends at Picture This Photography will shoot photos of you rafting during the day, and these photos will comprise our evening slide show…again dependent of the trip size. You can purchase CD’s of your raft if you choose.
Non-rafters, if part of a larger rafting group, are welcome to participate in the camping and meals for an additional fee. Our on-river lunch is the only meal not available to non-rafters. Non-rafters must supply their own lunch(s). Sandwich makings in personal coolers is recommended.
Itinerary
Day 1
- 9:00 arrive at our Base Camp. Check in, orientation, safety talk, get wetsuits if needed
- 9:30 set up your camp
- 10:00 board bus for 45 minute scenic ride to launch area
- 11:00 load up in rafts, practice paddling, and begin your whitewater journey
- 12:30 pull over for lunch at either Mill Creek or Swimmers Eddy. Lunch and swim
- 1:30 continue rafting down the Kings river, and arrive at take-out between 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm depending on water levels (the higher the water, the quicker the trip).
- 4:00 to 7:00 swim, relax, hike, volleyball
- 7:30 dinner with all the trimmings including wine and other beverages
- 9:00 evening slide show showing YOU rafting during the day. Slide shows might not be available for every trip.
- 9:45 campfire, storytelling, guitar playing, bedtime in tents or under the stars listening to the river flow
Day 2
- 7:00 hot coffee and breakfast
- 9:00 get ready to raft, as our bus leaves at 9:30 instead of 10:00 on day 2
- 9:30 bus leaves for launch area
- Same as day 1, except we lunch at a different spot and have even more fun because you are much more relaxed and in tune with the river
- Back in camp between 2:30 and 4:00 pm (depending on water levels). Enjoy snacks, beverages, photos, and head for home when you are good and ready!
Itinerary for UPGRADED 2-day trips:
- Day 1: Same as Day 1 above, except that you will have camped with us the night prior with breakfast starting at 7:30 am
- Day 2: Same as Day 2 above
What’s Included
- Free use of our wetsuits and paddle jackets
- All river equipment
- All meals
- Parking and bus shuttles
- Full use of our Base Camp which includes flush toilets, rinse off shower (beach shower), volleyball, horseshoes, and great campsites right next to the river. Parking for campers and motor homes is available in our parking area just a 2 minute walk from our main camping area
About Our Camp
Our beautiful five-acre base camp boasts sandy beaches for camping, fresh mountain spring drinking water available in the kitchen area, a volleyball court and clean restrooms with low flush toilets, sinks, and changing rooms. Picnic tables, a horseshoe pit, and BBQs dot the camp for those wishing to cook your own dinner the night prior to your trip.
You will fall asleep listening to the flowing river…the best sound in the world. The Kings river is only 50 feet away from your tent, and swimming is fantastic (particularly our late season trips with lower water). We also have 3 platform tent rentals available which will sleep up to 5 people each.
On the River
2-Day Trips include 20 miles rafting, 1 night camping and 4 meals (lunch day 1 through lunch day 2). See our Food page for the delicious details.
As a service to our clients, Zephyr provides wet suits and paddle jackets free of charge. Wet suits are recommended on all trips through about mid June, depending on previous winter snowpack. The wet suits are designed for whitewater rafting, and are very comfortable. The suit is a full-length “farmer-john” style, with sleeveless tops. We also provide an optional nylon paddle jacket which can be worn over the suit when necessary. You are welcome to provide your own suit if you wish.
“What do I wear underneath my wet suit?” An important question that comes up often. We recommend wearing a thin nylon swim suit, or other non-bulky swim attire, underneath your wet suit.
Cars
Your cars are parked at base camp and are accessible when you are in camp. Since we do not need to carry gear on the rafts, you can bring along that extra-large tent, sleeping cot, guitar, etc. No radios or portable TVs however.
On the river
- Shorts/swim suit
- Tennis shoes or river sandals (no flip flops please)
- Sunglasses with tie-on
- Camera (see above)
- Light Windbreaker
- T-shirt or long-sleeve shirt
- and a wool sweater can be worn with our free wetsuits for spring trips.
- Hat/Visor with tie-on
- Sunscreen
- Wetsuit (we provide if needed)
In camp
- Dry shoes & socks
- Sleeping bag (we have rentals). Warm bag for spring trips, and a light bag for summer trips.
- Tent (we have tent rentals)
- Flashlight
- Towel
- Sweater or Jacket
- Ground cloth, pad or air mattress
- Comfortable clothes for camp
- Toiletries & medications
Optional
- Clean set of clothes to leave in your car for the drive home
- Fishing gear with license
- Books, games
- Extra beer or soft drinks
- Tent
- Rain Gear
Cool weather items
- Polypro or wool long underwear
- Wool or pile pants
- Wool or polypro sweater/jacket
- Wool hat/Wool gloves
Logistics, Directions & Accomodations
All trips meet at the ZEPHYR KINGS RIVER BASE CAMP located 2 hours east of Fresno on the eastern edge of Pine Flat Lake. Please scroll down for driving directions and maps.
See the location of our BASE CAMP on Google Maps.
- 1-Day Trips meet at 9:00 a.m. sharp on the day of the trip.
Travel time from the Fresno area is about two hours. You will be traveling around the entire northern edge of Pine Flat Lake on what seems like an endless windy road. Stay on all paved roads and cross all bridges until you reach our Base Camp.
Coming From the North (Sacramento/Stockton) on Highway 99
Stay on Highway 99 through the main part of Fresno. Just about one mile past the Belmont Ave exit, take the Highway 180/Kings Canyon Exit. This exit will take you over Highway 99, and you will then be heading EAST towards the mountains. Stay on the 180 Freeway about 12 miles to ACADEMY AVE. TURN LEFT ON ACADEMY AVE, and proceed one long block to BELMONT AVE. Turn right on Belmont Ave (heading East) and now follow the directions for “EVERYONE” below.
Coming From the South (Los Angeles) on Highway 99
As you approach the town of KINGSBURG, take the 18th AVENUE EXIT ( also signed as “Road 12, 18th Ave exit”). Turn right onto 18th Ave (18th Ave turns into Mendocino Ave after a few blocks) and head EAST following the signs to SANGER, which is 14 miles away. Heading north on Mendocino, go through Kingsburg and into Parlier. Go approximately nine miles on Mendocino until you hit ADAMS AVENUE. Turn left (west) on Adams, and drive 1/2 mile to ACADEMY AVENUE. Turn right on Academy, and you are again heading North towards the town of Sanger. Continue traveling through Sanger, until you come to the stop sign at BELMONT AVENUE, which will be about 1.5 miles out of Sanger. Turn right (East) on Belmont. Now follow directions under “EVERYONE”. Last gas stops are in Kingsburg, or in Sanger on Academy Avenue.
Coming From the Coast on Highway 41
Heading North on Highway 41, continue north through Fresno and you will merge onto the 180 FREEWAY heading EAST toward Kings Canyon and the mountains. Once you have merged onto the 180 FREEWAY and are heading EAST, continue approx 12 miles to ACADEMY AVE. TURN LEFT on ACADEMY AVE, and proceed one long block to BELMONT AVE. Turn right on Belmont Ave (heading East), and now follow the directions for “EVERYONE” below.
Coming From Kings Canyon/Sequoia Park
Take Highway 180 toward Fresno. In the small town of SQUAW VALLEY, turn right on ELWOOD ROAD. Stay on Elwood road until it hits PIEDRA ROAD. Turn right on Piedra Road until you hit Trimmer Springs Road (Trimmer Road). You are now in PIEDRA. Turn right (heading east) and pick up directions from Piedra detailed below under “EVERYONE”.
EVERYONE
- At the BELMONT AVE/ACADEMY AVE intersection in the town of SANGER, set your trip odometer to zero. You have a 1.5 hour drive ahead.
- Proceed East on Belmont, which eventually turns into Trimmer Springs Road. Stay on Trimmer Springs, and match your trip odometer with the following checkpoints:
- At approximately 13 miles you will pass the tiny community of PIEDRA (no services)
- Last gas is at the I Forgot Store ( open 7am to 7pm daily) 4-5 miles past PIEDRA
- The community of Trimmer (no services) will be at mile 25.6.
- At mile 30.7 you will pass Sycamore Campground (Closed).
- Big Creek bridge is mile 33.3. You will cross this bridge!
- STAY ON ALL PAVED ROADS AND CROSS ALL BRIDGES until you reach our Base Camp.
- LAST CELL PHONE RECEPTION is at “Cell Phone Point” ( the highest hill you will climb before our Base Camp). This is a large right side turnout at the top of the hill with a small sign saying “Cell Site”
- You will be getting close when you pass a power station on your right (brightly lit at night).
- At mile 42, you will pass Kirch Flat Campground (good campground), and immediately past Kirch Flat you will cross the Kings River bridge.
- Once across the bridge, stay on the paved road and go approximately 1/8 mile to our Base Camp. The sign there says ZEPHYR RIVER EXPEDITIONS BASE CAMP. You will also see our blue buses and our parking area.
Important: Make sure you have a full tank of gas before you leave Fresno.
NOTE: Driving time from the Belmont/Academy intersection to our camp is approximately 1.5 hours
- As you approach our Base Camp, there will be a large marked parking area on your right. This is where your vehicles will be left for the duration of your trip.
- To unload your gear, go 100 yards or so past our main parking area, and there is a small turnout on your left. There are steps leading down into our main camping area from this turnout, and this is the best place to unload your car. After your gear has been unloaded, please drive back to the main parking area to park your car for the duration of the trip. Up until 11 p.m., this turnout spot is lighted.
If you elect not to camp with us the night before your trip, there are plenty of motels in the Fresno area.
The closest camping to our base camp (other than our base camp) is Kirch Flat campground operated by the US Forest Service. Kirch Flat is only 1/4 mile from our base camp, and right on the river.
Camping is also available at the Choinumne Campground, located near Piedra on the Kings River. For reservations, please contact the Fresno Department of Parks and Recreation at (559) 600-3004. Driving time from Choinumne to our base camp is about 1 hour.
Additional lodging in Kings Canyon, try Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP Lodging.
For lodging in Fresno, check out the Best Western Fresno Inn, only 1.5 hours from our meeting spot.
If you do stay in the Fresno area, don’t forget it will take you about 1.5 to 2 hours to drive to our base camp, and we need you there by 11:30 a.m. sharp!
Notes
We feel that the Kings River is one of the most magical rafting/camping trips in California, and our 2 day trips are the best way to experience this river, get away from devices, and fully relax.
