california rafting trips & vacations

Trips Close to Sacramento and San Francisco

Middle Fork American – Run the Famed “Tunnel Chute”

50% Off Kids on Weekdays

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

Lotus, CA /

PRICING
Monday – Friday

$99 per person

Saturday & Sunday

$119 per person

Fun Half Day Morning Trip!

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!

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.

We know you have choices when it comes to rafting on the South Fork American River. So why choose to raft with us?

  1. The South Fork is an extremely popular, classic whitewater run. Because it is a busy section of river we specifically curate our meeting times around other outfitters for an uncrowded, more intimate, rafting experience.
  2. One shuttle is better then two! While other rafting companies need to shuttle you twice, our meeting spot allows us to only have to shuttle you one time for this trip.
  3. Our guides are experts and have a wide range of rafting experience on a handful of different rivers. While many outfitters only raft on the American River we operate on over a dozen rivers giving our guides a deeper knowledge of the water.

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 INFORMATION
  • 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!

Put in: @ Chili Bar (the top)

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

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

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)

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

Flash Sale! Take 30% Off South Fork American 1/2 Day Rafting Trips when you book by July 17.

Trip must be booked online with coupon code to redeem discount. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Flash sale runs through July 17, 2025.

Truckee Trips end August 1st

Don't worry, We're not gonna do what everyboy thinks we're gonna do and freak out man... All we wanna know is, who's coming with us... to the American river that is.