This Class 2 American River Overnight Rafting trip is one of the few trips suitable for families with youths younger than 7 years. Due to the water release on the Lower Middle Fork American River, the first day must start after lunch.
We meet on day one after lunch and we transport you from Auburn for a short ride down into the Middle Fork American Canyon where you will get glimpses of the river far below as we descend. When we arrive at the put-in location your guides will ready the rafts and you receive pre-trip instruction as well as proper gear. We than board the rafts for a fun afternoon!
You are welcome to bring snacks for the kids to take on the rafts as there will be stops on the river. There are safe beach areas for picnicking and play, as well as side hikes up creeks into shady dells with waterfalls (seasonal). Very few people are seen on this trip, but we often see nesting ducks, deer, heron and fish jumping. Late in the season, we also stop to pick the most incredibly juicy black berries!
We usually return to Auburn around 5:00 pm, and you head out as soon as possible for a 30 minute drive to our overnight camp in Lotus-Coloma. Dinner will be being prepared by other river guides, so enjoy some appetizers and a delicious 3 course dinner is served shortly. This is accompanied with a moderate amount of beer, wine, and soft drinks.
You will spend the night at our exclusive riverside campground, which has flush toilets, hot showers, volleyball net and horseshoe pits.
On the second day, awake to the sound of the river, the aroma of coffee brewing and breakfast being prepared by your amazing river guides. The morning is fairly relaxed and you will rendezvous in the car park around 10:30 am for your departure from camp for the 2nd day’s trip.
We will shuttle clients from the camp to the Highway 49 bridge put-in for the “Lotus run” section on the South Fork American River which is easy and only contains Class 1 & 2 rapids including ‘Barking Dog’ (Class 2+, you WILL get wet!) near the end of the trip. The trip finishes back at our camp where we serve lunch and cold drinks. Unless some in the group have opted for the Class 3 Gorge on the 2nd day, your trip ends after lunch.
