Fun and exciting rapids Shorter 1/2 day morning trip Great for families & groups! Camping available! Close to San Francisco, Sacramento and Lake Tahoe

Meet 8:00 a.m. @ our South Fork American River Camp We gather at the check in area & load our shuttle to the put in location At put in your guides will provide you with an orientation and safety information and gear We launch our boats, practice paddling skills with our guides, and head for great rapids Encounter exciting Class 3 rapids such as Meatgrinder, Race Horse Bend, Triple Threat, and Troublemaker for the first 7 miles Relax as we meander thru a few miles of Class 2 rapids past the Marshall Gold Discovery Park and back to camp Our trip concludes back at camp around 1:00pm. You are welcome to bring a picnic lunch with you and enjoy that at our riverside camp, we have lots of picnic tables!

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Trips Close to Sacramento and San Francisco

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More South Fork American River Trips

South Fork American River – ½ Day AM Chili Bar Rafting Trip

Q: What Gear Do You Provide?

Included with this trip: PFD (Personal floatation device / aka life jacket) Paddle Helmet Professional raft guide for each raft Shuttle to the put in (trip ends at our camp where your vehicles are parked)

Q: What Gear Should I Bring?

Required Items: Re-usable 20oz or more water bottle (filled with ice water) shoes (no flip flops) Suggested Items: sunglasses (with a strap) baseball hat Cell Phone (at your risk, it will sink) DO NOT BRING: Wallets Expensive jewelry Pets

Lotus, CA /

Half Day /

Medium Spice: Intermediate (Class III)

Monday – Friday

$99 per person

Saturday & Sunday

$119 per person

The morning Chili Bar white water rafting trip on the South Fork American River is a favorite for first timers and return rafters! This is suitable for non-swimmers at regular summer flows. Kids are welcome, we suggest a min. age of 8 years old and up for first time rafters.

The action starts right off the bat with challenging rapids like Meatgrinder and Triple Threat. The fun continues for 7 miles ending with the big Class 3+ Troublemaker. Immediately following we float thru the Marshall Gold Discovery State Park, a historic park designating the location of the first gold discovered in the rivers, igniting the California Gold Rush!

We continue down at a mellower rate with some fun Class 2 rapids like Old Scary and Barking Dog. The trip ends back at the same camp where we met you.

This is a popular trip for folks traveling to/from the Lake Tahoe & Reno areas.

Water flows in the South Fork American River result from releases from hydroelectric facilities located upstream. Such water releases are not subject to the control of El Dorado County or rafting companies operating under Permits from the County of El Dorado.

Trip Highlights

Fun and exciting rapids
Shorter 1/2 day morning trip
Great for families & groups!
Camping available!
Close to San Francisco, Sacramento and Lake Tahoe

Trip Itinerary

Meet 8:00 a.m. @ our South Fork American River Camp
We gather at the check in area & load our shuttle to the put in location
At put in your guides will provide you with an orientation and safety information and gear
We launch our boats, practice paddling skills with our guides, and head for great rapids
Encounter exciting Class 3 rapids such as Meatgrinder, Race Horse Bend, Triple Threat, and Troublemaker for the first 7 miles
Relax as we meander thru a few miles of Class 2 rapids past the Marshall Gold Discovery Park and back to camp
Our trip concludes back at camp around 1:00pm.

You are welcome to bring a picnic lunch with you and enjoy that at our riverside camp, we have lots of picnic tables!

River Map

Put in: @ Chili Bar (the top)

Take Out: Raft California Campground (mid river, just after Barking Dog Rapid II)

Who Can Go On This Trip

Kids ages 7-8 and up
non-swimmers
great for groups

What Gear Do You Provide?

Included with this trip:

PFD (Personal floatation device / aka life jacket)
Paddle
Helmet
Professional raft guide for each raft
Shuttle to the put in (trip ends at our camp where your vehicles are parked)

What Gear Should I Bring?

Required Items:

Re-usable 20oz or more water bottle (filled with ice water)
shoes (no flip flops)

Suggested Items:

sunglasses (with a strap)
baseball hat
Cell Phone (at your risk, it will sink)

DO NOT BRING:

Wallets
Expensive jewelry
Pets

Directions

Meeting Location: Raft California South Fork American River Campground – 6500 Hwy 49, Lotus, CA 95651

Get In Touch

Call Us: (530) 626-7385

Text Us: (760) 270-8112

Tributary Whitewater

Incredible River Experiences

We launch trips on many different rivers in California, Oregon and Idaho. For questions give our main office a call – we would love to talk with you about our trips and rivers.

Whitewater specials, news & river trip updates

the Rivers we run

Our vision is to create a sustainable and equitable reality where our rivers are enjoyed and protected, a place where families and friends can be inspired and challenged.

Tributary Whitewater Tours has been running rivers since we were first founded in 1978. Since we opened 40+ years ago we have expanded to include Adventure Connection, Mariah Wilderness Expeditions, High Desert River Outfitters, Canyon Outfitters and are the parent company of Raft California and Raft Oregon. While some things have changed over the years, Tributary remains a family-run small business with the same passion for the river and the mission of leading others to experience it.

Tributary Whitewater Tours is a permitted outfitter under the National Forest Service, the CA Dept. of Parks & Recreation, Nevada County, El Dorado County and Bureau of Land Management. Tributary Whitewater Tours is an Equal Opportunity Service Provider.