--- title: "Knights Ferry rafting | Arnold Haven" description: "The gentle summer float on the lower Stanislaus at Knights Ferry — season, flows, shuttles and how far it is from Arnold." lang: en json-ld: --- [Skip to content](#main-content) [![](/__l5e/assets-v1/84bf9984-9cf8-406b-aaf5-dbde0a9f8c6a/arnold-haven-mark-white.png)Arnold Haven Arnold · California ](/) [Cabins](/cabins)[Explore](/explore)[Guides](/guides)[Membership](/circle)[Support](/chalet-bruin-future)[Merch](/merch)[Book a stay](/cabins) ![Knights Ferry rafting](/assets/knights-ferry-float-CYx_ymYy.jpg) Explore Arnold # Knights Ferry rafting The easy one: a slow green stretch of the lower Stanislaus through golden hills, floated in rafts and tubes all summer. About an hour and a quarter from both cabins. [Check availability](/cabins)[See the cabins](/cabins) First things first ## First things first This is not whitewater. The lower Stanislaus at Knights Ferry runs wide, green and cold out of the bottom of the dams, through low golden hills and cottonwoods, and the trip is a few hours of drifting with the occasional riffle to wake everyone up. It is the rafting day you can do with grandparents and seven-year-olds in the same boat. The classic run goes from the town of Knights Ferry downstream to Orange Blossom, taking roughly three to four hours depending on flow and how long you stop to swim. Outfitters in the town rent rafts and run the shuttle back; you can also bring your own boat and sort the shuttle yourself. ![A gravel launch beach on a slow green river below dry golden hills in summer](/assets/knights-ferry-launch-BUqMcNa4.jpg) Geography ## Where Knights Ferry rafting sits ![Illustrated antique-style map of California inside the United States with a gold marker on the lower Stanislaus River at Knights Ferry](/assets/knights-ferry-rafting-ULdaTA9H.jpg) Illustrated locator map — for orientation, not navigation. The float runs from the town of Knights Ferry down to Orange Blossom, roughly three to four hours of slow green water with a few riffles. The river comes out of dam releases, so it stays cold through the hottest weeks of the valley summer. About an hour and a quarter from both cabins, down Highway 4 through Angels Camp and out into the valley. Region Central Valley edge, the lower Stanislaus River County Stanislaus County Elevation About 200 ft Nearest town Knights Ferry, with Oakdale twenty minutes west Getting there Highway 4 to Oakdale, then Sonora Road east to Knights Ferry 02 ## What the day looks like You park in town, sign in, get a raft and paddles, and put in below the covered bridge. The current does most of the work. There are gravel bars to pull out on, deep pools to swim in, and long slow bends where the only sound is water and birds. The river comes out of dam releases, so it stays cold even in a heatwave — which is precisely the point in the valley in July. Take out at the arranged spot downstream and catch the shuttle back to your car. Bring shoes that stay on, a hat, sunscreen, more water than seems necessary, and something to keep phones dry. Glass containers are not welcome on the river. ![Families drifting in small rafts down a slow wide green river between golden foothills](/assets/knights-ferry-float-CYx_ymYy.jpg) ![A gravel launch beach on a slow green river below dry golden hills in summer](/assets/knights-ferry-launch-BUqMcNa4.jpg) 03 ## Season, flows and booking The float season runs roughly from late spring into September, driven by irrigation releases rather than by rain. Flows are published by the water agencies and outfitters watch them closely; a very high release week can shut the rental season down for a few days, and late-season low water makes for more scraping and slower going. Summer weekends are the busiest stretch of the year here, and the first launch slots go first. Check current rates, launch times and river rules with the outfitter when you book rather than assuming last year's information. ![Shaded picnic tables under big trees beside the green water of the lower Stanislaus](/assets/knights-ferry-takeout-Cver8lu6.jpg) 04 ## Making a day of it Knights Ferry itself is worth an hour: the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi, the stone mill ruins beside the water, shaded picnic tables and a recreation area run by the Army Corps of Engineers. Plenty of people float in the morning and eat lunch under the trees afterwards. Coming back up Highway 4 you pass Angels Camp, so a stop for supplies or an early dinner fits neatly on the way home to the pines. ![Shaded picnic tables under big trees beside the green water of the lower Stanislaus](/assets/knights-ferry-takeout-Cver8lu6.jpg) ![Families drifting in small rafts down a slow wide green river between golden foothills](/assets/knights-ferry-float-CYx_ymYy.jpg) 05 ## Where to stay near Knights Ferry The valley is hot and the river is a day trip, not a place to sleep. Both cabins are about an hour and a quarter up Highway 4 in Arnold at 4,000 feet — cool evenings, a hot tub, a full kitchen and a swimming river of our own five minutes away when nobody wants to drive. - [CHALET BRUIN — 12 guests, 5 bedrooms→ ](/cabins/chalet-bruin) - [KODA LOFT — 4 guests, 2 bedrooms→ ](/cabins/koda-loft) ![A gravel launch beach on a slow green river below dry golden hills in summer](/assets/knights-ferry-launch-BUqMcNa4.jpg) ![Shaded picnic tables under big trees beside the green water of the lower Stanislaus](/assets/knights-ferry-takeout-Cver8lu6.jpg) Nearby ## Keep exploring [ ![Knights Ferry covered bridge](/assets/knights-ferry-bridge-Dg2JlII_.jpg) ### Knights Ferry covered bridge The 1863 bridge, the mill ruins and the shaded picnic ground beside the water. Discover ↗ ](/explore/knights-ferry-covered-bridge) [ ![Rafting near Arnold](/assets/rafting-rapid-Yal92ryO.jpg) ### Rafting near Arnold Every rafting option from the cabins, ranked honestly by drive time and difficulty. Discover ↗ ](/guides/rafting/rafting-near-arnold) [ ![Knights Ferry](/assets/knights-ferry-mill-ruins-CjJZgy_u.jpg) ### Knights Ferry The town itself: Gold Rush history, the river park and what else is worth an hour. Discover ↗ ](/explore/knights-ferry-california) Good to know ## Frequently asked questions How long does the Knights Ferry float take? + Usually three to four hours on the water from Knights Ferry down to Orange Blossom, plus time for the shuttle. Low late-summer flows make it slower. Is it safe for children? + It is the gentlest rafting near Arnold, with no significant rapids, and families do it constantly — but it is still a cold, moving river. Life jackets on everyone, all the time, and check the outfitter's minimum age. How far is it from Arnold? + About an hour and a quarter from both cabins, down Highway 4 through Angels Camp and out into the valley. Can we bring our own raft? + Yes, though you will need to arrange your own shuttle between the launch and take-out. Check current river and parking rules with the recreation area before you go. ![](/__l5e/assets-v1/84bf9984-9cf8-406b-aaf5-dbde0a9f8c6a/arnold-haven-mark-white.png) Arnold Haven Cabin stays in Arnold, California — minutes from Calaveras Big Trees State Park, White Pines Lake and Bear Valley. 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