Home / About About ARTA Exceptional Whitewater Vacations, for everyone We are The American River Touring Association, known to one and all as ARTA! We have been in the business of proving the best possible rafting experiences for over 60 years on the most iconic river sections of the Western United States. Welcome! Welcome to ARTA! We keep it simple: Run the best river guide training program in the world, recruit and train the most awesome individuals to come work with us, provide them with everything we can think of to deliver the best possible whitewater experiences anywhere, and when it's all done, give back. Our Philosophy We are a non-profit rafting company No owners, no shareholders, no mega yachts or fancy corporate jets. Just a team of dedicated, hardworking river guides making it all work. Our mission is to provide the best possible rafting trips anywhere, and at the end of the year once the dust has settled, we reinvest all profits back into the company then donate to conservation groups working to protect the places most dear to us. By taking a trip with us, you are keeping the magic alive and helping protect the wild places we frequent. Our Style Our trips are congenial, spontaneous, and welcoming; like having dinner at the home of a good friend. We create a comfortable and fun environment that allows you to relax and enjoy your vacation. Explore Our Trips Our Guides Interesting, friendly and highly skilled, our guides are what everyone talks about after their trip. They are considerate, competent and committed to helping you get the most out of your time on the river. Meet the Team Our History It all started in 1963... ARTA began at the golden age of river running. The gear was mostly home-made or army surplus, the vehicles were questionable (bread trucks and old jalopies), but the rivers were magical, so magical we've kept coming back, year after year.... Our History Behind the Scenes 3 old buddies, years of experience Rafa, Isaac, and Nolan started guiding rafts when they were teenagers, now, 25 years and a million river miles later they are behind the scenes making it all happen. Call the ARTA office and you will get decades of experience running every river we run (and then some), wild river stories and expert advice from a couple of down to earth guys that live for running the Wests best rivers. We are proud to be recreation service partners with the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. We operate under Special Use Permits granted to us by the Stanislaus, Klamath, Siskiyou, Bitterroot, Nez Perce Clearwater, Salmon, and Challis National Forests, the Folsom, Medford and Moab Districts of the BLM, and under a concessions contract at Dinosaur National Monument. ARTAÂ is an equal opportunity service provider and all trips are operated on a non-discriminatory basis. Fourteen Rivers, Infinite Possibilities! Explore all of our destinations. Explore