As with our other trips you have the option, for a minimal cost, of arriving the afternoon or evening prior to the trip and enjoying breakfast with us that first morning. These trips are appropriate for both experienced and first-time adventurous paddlers. Our minimum age is 12, though that can move to an older threshold if high water or other factors make it necessary to do so.
Get ready for two great days on the river!
Arrive the evening before the rafting begins at our private South Fork American River Campground. There are several restaurants if you are passing thru Auburn or Placerville, as well as a few tasty local places within 2 miles of camp. Dinner is not included for this first evening.
The following morning you awake to the sound of the river and the nature around you. There are coffee, teas, and beverages are available in the kitchen shortly after sunrise followed by a hearty breakfast. After breakfast we’ll gather together, talk about our day and then head just upstream to the out in. At the launch site you will receive your paddle, your life jacket, and a helmet. We warm up practicing paddling skills with our guides before heading for the rapids. The trip begins with Class 2 rapids.
We stop mid-day for a delicious lunch along the river and then run more rapids such as Satan’s Cesspool, Bouncing Rock and Hospital Bar before we return to camp tired and happy with time to relax over dinner (including soda, beer, and wine) and campfire.
The next day, after breakfast, we head for the Middle Fork for the excitement of the Tunnel Chute and Kanaka Falls! We stop mid-day for a delicious lunch along the river and then run some more fun Class III and IV rapids like Chunder and Parallel Parking.
We will return back to the South Fork Campground. You’ll head home with fond farewells about 5:00 p.m., relaxed and full of memories from a great river trip experience! OR stay for another evening of riverside camping!
Raft California South Fork American River Campground
Address: 6500 Highway 49 Lotus, CA 95651
Please note that cell phone reception in our remote area is not guaranteed, although it is getting better. Therefore we suggest you print out the directions or save for offline on your phone. Please be sure to check drive times when booking your rafting trip and allow for additional time on Holidays and weekends.
With over 25 years of running the highest quality rafting trips and river tours, Raft California invites you to join us on one of our spectacular rafting adventures!
We have whitewater rafting trips on over 12 rivers in Northern California, Oregon, and into Nevada! Rivers include the South Fork American, Middle Fork American, North Fork American, North Yuba, Truckee, Tuolumne, Kaweah and more!.
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