california rafting trips & vacations

South Fork American 1/2 Day PM Gorge Run

Middle Fork American – Run the Famed “Tunnel Chute”

50% Off Kids on Weekdays

Middle Fork American River – Flows Update & Flash Sale

Middle Fork American River trips now available everyday & great discounts on weekday trips!

The PCWA (Placer County Water Agency) recently announced they will be releasing more water out of the Oxbow dam in Foresthill, CA starting August 2, 2022 until September 30, 2022. The Oxbow Dam feeds water into the Middle Fork American River canyon providing enough water (typically 1100-1300 cfs) for our white water rafting adventures. 

What does that mean for our Middle Fork American River rafting trips?

  • Flows will remain at the same cfs we usually get this time of year
  • Trips are now available 7 days/week until 9.30.2022

Information about the recreational flows released on the Middle Fork American River can be found here: middleforkfun.com/recreational-releases (website run by PCWA). 

$50 off weekday trips!

American river rafting deal – better than Groupon!

  • $99/adult (reg. $149)*
  • $89/kids (reg. $139)*
  • This special discount is only available for a limited time
  • Discount applied to all weekdays trips NOW UNTIL 9.30.2022! (originally only until 9.2.2022)
  • Must reserve and pay deposit by 8.15.2022
*8% river use fee is applied to all rafting trips, new reservations only

Full day of Class IV action

The day starts with a meet and greet at the Crooked Lane Brewing Co in Auburn, CA. You will park your car and our skilled drivers will bring to to/from the river. 

Once we arrive at put in, guides will rig boats and get guests geared up with PFD’s, helmets, and paddles. We put in just below the Oxbow powerhouse where the dam controlled flows are pouring out of the station. 

The rapids start quickly after getting on the river and Tunnel chute is sure to get your adrenaline pumping early on. 

We continue paddling through many Class IV rapids in the morning and will get a break in the afternoon. Mid-day we can relax a bit more as the whitewater calms down and we raft several Class II rapids, some suitable for swimming too!

We stop for lunch and guides will prepare the deli spread for our guests. We provide sandwiches/wraps, fresh fruit, cookies and chips. After lunch we clean up – leave no trace – and head back on the river. 

After lunch we get back into some big whitewater action again, with many Class IV rapids. 

The Class V Ruck-A-Chucky waterfall is a mandatory portage (walk around) for our commercial guests. There is a short hike around this major rapid that you can watch your guide drop before getting back on the raft. 

We float several more fun rapids to the take out where your friendly driver is waiting for the group. 

Gear/boats etc are all loaded onto the shuttle vans and head back to Crooked Lane. 

2 day Middle Fork American River Adventures:

More miles & more rafting on this 2 day American River combo trip! Start with Class 3 on the first day on the South Fork American River and step it up to the Class 4 Middle Fork on the 2nd day. Offered on:

  • Thursday/Fridays
  • Some Saturday/Sundays

Spending 2 days in the wilderness Middle Fork American River canyon is not only a guest favorite, but also one of our guides favorite trips! Raft 2 days on the river, exploring waterfalls & more. Offered on:

  • Tuesday/Wednesdays
  • Some Saturday/Sundays

 

READ MORE

Rafting Trip Update

  Oh, hey there! Were you searching for whitewater rafting trips on the North Santiam, Tuolumne, Merced, Upper Sacramento or Kaweah rivers? As of the

Sacramento Sportsmen’s Expo

Enter to win a $250 river rafting gift card! The Tributary team will be at the expo this upcoming weekend January 18-21 and we would

Tributary Blog

Continue reading… Thanks for joining us here – want to read more about the changes coming for 2023?   A New Tributary in 2023