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

South Fork American River – ½ Day PM Gorge Rafting Trip

Lotus, CA /

PRICING
Monday – Thursday

Adults (14+) $99
Kids $99 Half Off! $49

Friday – Sunday

Adults (14+) $119
Kids $109

Half Day Afternoon Adventure!

A great family whitewater rafting trip, perfect for first time rafters & a quick camping weekend get-away from the city!

This is the perfect afternoon run featuring Class 2-3+ rapids like Satan’s Cesspool, Hospital Bar and Recovery Room. We meet you at our South Fork American River Campground right off historic Highway 49 in Lotus, California.

There is a camp store on site in case you need any last minute items. We will launch from our campsite, and will collect your keys prior to getting on the river. Personal gear can be left in your vehicles.

We will practice a few paddling skills before tackling our first rapid right at camp, a fun Class 2 called Current Divider. There are several Class 2-2+ rapids to follow before we enter the Gorge. The river will narrow and we will travel a bit faster as we paddle thru the Class 3 white water.

At the end of the day, we end up in Folsom Lake where our shuttle awaits. We will bring you back to camp after a fun filled afternoon.

 

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 afternoon half day trip
  • Great for families & groups!
  • Camping available!
  • Close to San Francisco, Sacramento and Lake Tahoe
  • Meet 1:00pm @ our South Fork American River Camp
  • After meeting your guide we gather for orientation and safety information where you will receive your gear.
  • We launch our boats right there from camp. Once on the river we take a few minutes to go over some basic paddle commands, and head for some easy rapids.
  • After a few miles of warm up on some Class 2 rapids the real fun begins when lollipop tree is in sight and encounter your first Class 3+ rapid of the day – Fowlers Rock! There is a nice amount of time between the rapids and we will paddle through more Class 2-3+ rapids including Satan’s Cesspool and Hospital Bar.
  • The South Fork American River flows into Folsom Lake. If Folsom lake levels are high, our jet-skis will meet to get through the the upper reaches of the reservoir to the take-out. We return you back to camp around 4:30pm full of memories of a great river experience.

We suggest you come early and have a picnic lunch at our camp/meeting location. There are also some great spots just minutes from camp you can get food, we just ask than you give yourself enough time so that you are at camp and ready to go rafting by the meet time in your email confirmation.

 

 

 

Put in: @ Raft California Campground (mid river, above Current Divider Rapid II)

Take Out: Salmon Falls (Folsom Lake commercial boater only access)

  • Kids ages 7 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 back to camp (and your vehicle) at the end of the trip

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

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.