As spring turns to summer and we say goodbye to those chilly mornings and afternoons for a few months, it’s time to start planning for the next season’s adventures. We have plenty of fun swimming holes here in Northern California, but why go for a dip when you can float along the incredible Russian River instead?

Here’s a brief video that shows how much fun a river float like this can be. We don’t know who Alexis is, but I bet her birthday was a blast!

And here’s one more family friendly experience that makes this adventure look like so much fun:

This video gives you a little preview of some of the choppier sections of the river. Remember, there’s no shame in walking around these if they look a little too intense!

Now that you are pumped to try out this fun floating adventure, here's is what you need to know: You can rent or buy everything you need in one of the nearby towns such as Guerneville, Forestville, or Healdsburg.
Flickr/ Jennifer Morrow
It's a good idea to bring two cars and park one at the put in, where you get on the river, and one at the take out, where you will exit the river.
When in doubt, opt for the larger, sturdier inner tube rather than one of the fun little ones for kids. It will hold up much better on the river.
Flickr/ Jennifer Morrow
We also HIGHLY suggest wearing life jackets, even in places where the current seems mellow. This year was a heavy year for rains and floods, so the rivers will be much more dangerous than normal. Please take your safety seriously!
Of course, make sure you go on the river with a fun group of friends, whether they are two or four-legged!
Flickr/ iLoveDogFriendly

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A good route is to start at the Hacienda Bridge in Forestville and get out of the river at the Russian River Pub, also in Forestville. It's about 4.5 miles and will take you probably about 4 hours, maybe less if the river is running swiftly.
Flickr/ Nick Doty
Make sure you budget plenty of time. There will probably be beaches you will want to get out and explore as well as people to meet and talk to out there on the river.
The Russian River is clean, safe, and swimmable from mid-May through the summer. In cooler months, the current is swift and cold, so summer is definitely the ideal time to get out on the water.
Yelp/ Connie C.
There aren't many rapids along this route, making it one of the safer options compared to some other Northern California rivers where people go tubing.
Floating the Russian River in the heat of the summer is a time honored Northern California tradition. Grab your inner tube and we hope to see you out there!
Flickr/ Bill Williams

Here’s a few local businesses where you can rent equipment and get all the info. A few of them also offer paddling lessons for beginners and run a shuttle so you don’t have to bring two cars:

Johnson’s Beach
Church and First Streets, Guerneville
707-869-2045

Russian River Adventures
20 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg
707-433-5599

Burke’s Canoe Trips
8600 River Road, Forestville
707-865-1222

Have you floated this run and relaxing river? If you liked this article, here’s another natural water feature that you should also know about here in Northern California!

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