O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc.
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc., founded in 1969 and headquartered in Angels Camp, California, is a family-owned adventure travel operator running 75+ guided whitewater rafting and outdoor itineraries across the Western U.S. and international destinations for individual travelers, families, and affinity groups.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersAngels Camp, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. does
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. is a family-owned, private adventure travel company founded in 1969 and headquartered in Angels Camp, California. The company designs and operates guided outdoor adventure trips — principally whitewater rafting — across more than 75 unique itineraries spanning the Western United States and international destinations. It operates through regional subsidiaries (O.A.R.S. Canyonlands, O.A.R.S. Dories, O.A.R.S. West, and O.A.R.S. International) that segment operations by geography and trip style, and it runs an in-house guide school to train river guides, which is a critical input for safe guided operations on regulated waterways. Access to rivers and wilderness corridors is secured through an extensive portfolio of federal and state permits (National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service), accumulated over more than five decades.
The business model is direct-to-consumer guided travel: guests book individual or small-group trips on a per-person basis, with trip pricing ranging from roughly $121 for short day excursions to over $4,000 for multi-day expeditions. Customer segments include families, LGBTQ+ travelers (via partnerships with the Sacramento LGBT Community Center, Justice Outside, and Brave Trails), women-specific trips, corporate groups, and youth organizations. The company reports a 70%+ repeat and referral customer base, indicating strong lifecycle value in a category where brand trust and safety record drive purchase decisions.
Operationally, O.A.R.S. has modernized its reservation and communications stack with HubSpot CRM and Dialpad AI-powered communications, but its competitive position is anchored by permit assets, guide talent, and brand heritage rather than technology. Recent strategic moves include the announcement of a John Wesley Powell Retrace Expedition for 2027, ecosystem partnerships with Rumpl and Trailview Studios, and a 50th-anniversary fundraising initiative in 2019 that raised over $20,000 for conservation partners.
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc.
- Legal name
- O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc.
- Website
- https://oars.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc., founded in 1969 and headquartered in Angels Camp, California, is a family-owned adventure travel operator running 75+ guided whitewater rafting and outdoor itineraries across the Western U.S. and international destinations for individual travelers, families, and affinity groups.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Adventure Travel and Guided Whitewater Rafting Services
- NAICS
- Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (4872), Tour Operators (561520)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Whitewater Rafting, Kayaking & Canoeing Outfitters (THAAADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Whitewater Rafting, Kayaking & River Adventures (THAJABAB), Rafting & River Float Trips (Whitewater, Leisure Floats) (THAJAJAI)
Keywords
Where O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Angels Camp
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Guided Rafting Trips: Core revenue from multi-day and day whitewater rafting trips across domestic and international destinations. Trips range from half-day excursions to 24-day expeditions, with pricing from approximately $121 to over $4,000 per person depending on duration and destination.
- Specialty Adventures: Premium themed trips including Wilderness Gourmet culinary adventures, Wine Tasting tours, Stars & Guitars music trips, Yoga & Wellness retreats, and Geology-focused expeditions that command premium pricing.
- Guide School & Training: Revenue from Whitewater Guide School programs in California and Dinosaur, with tuition assistance programs available. Also includes Rowing Clinics for skill development.
- Merchandise: Online merchandise store (shop.oars.com) selling branded apparel and gear.
- Gift Cards: Gift certificates available for purchase, enabling gifting of adventure experiences.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Day Trips (0.5-1 day) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Multi-Day Short (2-3 days) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Multi-Day Medium (3-6 days) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Multi-Day Extended (5+ days) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Deposits |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. is a guided whitewater rafting and adventure travel outfitter selling more than 75 distinct vacation itineraries across U.S. Western states and international destinations, ranging from half-day to 24-day expeditions. The company supplements core rafting trips with dory boat expeditions, hiking, multi-sport, sea kayaking, rowing clinics, whitewater guide school, and themed specialty trips (culinary, wine, geology, wellness, astronomy). Revenue is generated through per-person trip pricing, deposits, gift cards, branded merchandise, and guide school tuition.
Product overview
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. operates a unified adventure travel platform centered on guided whitewater rafting experiences, supported by modular add-on activities. The core offering consists of whitewater rafting trips (divided into Multi-Day Trips of 2-24 days and Day Trips ranging from half-day to full-day), supplemented by specialty modules including Dory Trips (traditional wooden boat expeditions), Hiking Trips, Multi-Sport Vacations, Sea Kayaking Tours, Rowing Clinics, and Whitewater Guide School training programs. The company further segments its portfolio through themed specialty trips (Wine Tasting, Geology, Stars & Guitars, Wilderness Gourmet, Yoga & Wellness), demographic-specific adventures (Family Adventures, LGBTQ+ Rafting, Women's Adventures, Group Trips), and destination-focused sub-brands like Grand Canyon Dories. The platform is accessible through a web-based Online Booking System with regional portals. Founded in 1969, OARS holds permits and concessioner agreements with federal and state agencies including the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and multiple National Forests.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- OARS: Primary brand for whitewater rafting, dory trips, hiking, multi-sport, sea kayaking, rowing clinics, and whitewater guide school adventure travel services.
Products and services
- Whitewater Rafting Trips Guided whitewater rafting adventures across rivers in the Western U.S. and internationally, ranging from half-day to 24-day expeditions, including all-inclusive meals, equipment, and expert guides.
- Dory Trips Traditional wooden dory boat expeditions through Grand Canyon and Idaho's Salmon River, offering a classic river-running experience with low guest-to-guide ratios.
- Hiking Trips Hiking-focused adventures including Inca Trail trekking to Machu Picchu, Patagonia hiking, and day hikes combined with river trips.
- Multi-Sport Vacations Adventure packages combining multiple activities such as rafting, kayaking, hiking, and snorkeling in destinations like Costa Rica, Croatia, and Patagonia.
- Sea Kayaking Tours Sea kayaking excursions in locations including Baja Mexico's Espiritu Santo Island, Galápagos Islands, and Fiji's Navua River.
- Rowing Clinics Skill-building programs teaching participants how to row oar-powered rafts and dories on rivers like the Colorado, Green, Rogue, and Salmon Rivers.
- Whitewater Guide School Professional training programs for aspiring river guides offered in California and Dinosaur, Utah, with scholarship opportunities through the Pam & George Wendt Foundation.
- Wilderness Gourmet Culinary Adventures Culinary-focused river expeditions emphasizing gourmet dining experiences prepared by professional chefs in wilderness settings.
- Wine Tasting Tours Curated river experiences combining whitewater rafting with wine tasting events along rivers including the Tuolumne, Rogue, and Salmon Rivers.
- Geology Trips Educational adventures focused on geological formations, canyon landscapes, and natural history of river corridors.
- Stars & Guitars Astronomy and Music Trips Music-themed river trips featuring live performances, stargazing, and astronomy programming combined with whitewater rafting.
- Yoga & Wellness Retreats Mindfulness and wellness-focused river trips incorporating yoga sessions, meditation, and stress-relief activities on rivers.
- Family Adventures Multi-generational trips designed for families with age-appropriate activities and difficulty levels for children as young as 4 years old.
- LGBTQ+ Rafting Adventures Pride-focused river trips including dedicated LGBTQ+ departures on rivers like the Main Salmon River, created in partnership with the Sacramento LGBT Community Center.
- Women's Adventures All-women expeditions including rowing clinics and dedicated river trips designed for female adventurers.
- Group Trips Customized adventures for companies, organizations, and groups including corporate retreats, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and scouts/youth groups.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 70% of OARS travelers are repeat guests or referred by past travelers
Companies that use O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration14 records
Feature3 records
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Sac LGBT Community CenterminorOARS and the Sacramento LGBT Community Center partner for annual Pride Month events including 'Take Your Pride Outside' programming.
- Justice OutsideminorOARS continues annual support for Justice Outside, a nonprofit organization working towards equity in outdoor experiences. OARS has contributed to their programs supporting underrepresented communities in outdoor adventure.
- Brave TrailsminorOARS partners with Brave Trails for Pride Month celebrations, supporting LGBTQ+ youth through outdoor adventure programming.
- RumplminorNew partnership announced with Rumpl, a outdoor gear brand, likely involving co-marketing and promotional activities.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Backroads: Backroads is a leading active-travel company offering biking, hiking, and multi-sport trips worldwide — a broader incumbent in the premium guided adventure travel space, overlapping with OARS on multi-sport itineraries and affluent experiential travelers.
- REI Adventures: REI Adventures, operated by the REI co-op, offers guided hiking, rafting, and multi-sport trips worldwide — a broader incumbent leveraging a much larger membership base and retail brand, with overlapping whitewater and international adventure offerings.
Direct peers
- Arizona River Runners: Arizona River Runners is a long-established Grand Canyon outfitter operating motor, oar, and dory trips on the Colorado River through Grand Canyon — directly competing with OARS for the same NPS concessioner allocation and adventure clientele.
- ROW Adventures: ROW Adventures is an Idaho-based whitewater outfitter specializing in Middle Fork Salmon, Main Salmon, and other Idaho rivers under Salmon-Challis National Forest permits, with multi-day and international trip offerings — directly comparable to OARS West and OARS Dories operations.
- Hatch River Expeditions: Hatch is one of the oldest and largest Grand Canyon rafting concessioners, operating motorized and oar-powered trips on the Colorado River through Grand Canyon — a direct competitor for NPS concessioner permits and similar high-margin multi-day expedition customers.
- Mountain Travel Sobek: Mountain Travel Sobek is a pioneering adventure travel operator (founded 1969) offering trekking, rafting, and cultural expeditions worldwide — directly comparable to OARS in heritage positioning, international multi-sport portfolio, and direct-to-consumer booking model.
- Wilderness River Adventures: Family-owned outfitter operating guided rafting and fishing trips across the Western U.S. and Alaska, including Grand Canyon and multi-day wilderness expeditions — comparable in family-owned positioning, multi-day product mix, and Western U.S. permit portfolio.
- Arizona Outback Adventures: Arizona-based multi-sport adventure outfitter offering rafting, hiking, and cycling trips across the Southwest and into Mexico — overlapping with OARS on guided river trips and multi-sport vacations targeting similar experiential travel customers.
- Western River Expeditions: Western River Expeditions is a Salt Lake City-based outfitter offering guided whitewater rafting trips across the Western U.S., including Grand Canyon, Utah, and Idaho rivers — directly comparable to OARS in product category, customer base, and distribution model.
- Adventure Life: Adventure Life curates small-group adventure travel across the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Asia, including multi-sport and river-based itineraries — comparable in international multi-sport offerings and direct-to-consumer adventure tour operator model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceO.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc.
What does O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. do?
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. is a guided whitewater rafting and adventure travel outfitter selling more than 75 distinct vacation itineraries across U.S. Western states and international destinations, ranging from half-day to 24-day expeditions. The company supplements core rafting trips with dory boat expeditions, hiking, multi-sport, sea kayaking, rowing clinics, whitewater guide school, and themed specialty trips (culinary, wine, geology, wellness, astronomy). Revenue is generated through per-person trip pricing, deposits, gift cards, branded merchandise, and guide school tuition.
Is O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. a public or private company?
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. founded?
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. was founded in 1969. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. based?
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. is headquartered in Angels Camp, United States, in the North America region.
How does O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Guided Rafting Trips are the primary driver. The others are specialty Adventures, guide School & Training, merchandise and gift Cards.
Who are O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc.'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Backroads and REI Adventures. Direct peers are Arizona River Runners, ROW Adventures, Hatch River Expeditions, Mountain Travel Sobek, Wilderness River Adventures, Arizona Outback Adventures, Western River Expeditions and Adventure Life.
Does O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc..
What industry is O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc. in?
O.A.R.S. Companies, Inc.'s product category is Adventure Travel and Guided Whitewater Rafting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAADAB, Whitewater Rafting, Kayaking & Canoeing Outfitters, with a secondary code of THAJABAB, Whitewater Rafting, Kayaking & River Adventures. Its NAICS code is 4872 and its SIC code is 7900.