TAHOE CITY, Calif. — The dam gates have finally opened and a flood of rafters are sure to follow.

The two Tahoe City-based companies — Mountain Air Sports/Truckee River Rafting and Truckee River Raft Company — that offer self-guided five-mile floats down the Truckee River will open on Friday, Aug. 5 and Saturday, Aug. 6, the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association announced Friday.

“Rafting the Truckee River is an absolute must-do every summer,” said Andy Chapman, director of tourism of NLTRA, in statement. “It's also one of Lake Tahoe's most popular families activities because its gets all ages out on the water, introduces rafting to the kids, and, of course, gets all parties wet on a warm, sunny day.”

Typically, the Truckee River opens for commercial rafting in proximity to the Fourth of July Weekend, but this year, a pronounced delay occurred due to copious amounts of precipitation and a lingering snowpack, which kept downstream flows above the federally regulated minimum required before water can be released from Lake Tahoe.

Most rafting trips are leisurely and take about two to three hours to complete. Patrons exit at River Ranch Lodge near Alpine Meadows Road along Highway 89 in the Truckee River Valley.

Parking is available in Tahoe City and customers can take free shuttles back to their vehicles after the float anytime before 6 p.m. Hours of operation for the rafting companies are 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. daily. Footwear is required. Trips include parking, shuttles, paddles, life jackets and commercial rafts for 2-20 people. Group rates are available.

To contact Truckee River Rafting dial 888-584-7238. To contact Truckee River Raft Co., dial 530-583-0123.