This is the perfect 2 day American River rafting trip for youth groups, scout groups, and corporate groups looking for a wilderness rafting trip. We are conveniently located close to Sacramento, San Francisco, and Lake Tahoe!
This is suitable for non-swimmers. We recommend a starting age of 7-8 for kids, the Class 3+ action starts early on Day 1 and we want everyone to have a fabulous time. If you do have younger of more timid members of your group, we offer a 2 day that starts with more Class 2 rapids, but also on the South Fork American River.
Join us at our established South Fork American River Campground, with showers and flushing toilets for the first night of camping. The 2nd night is spent at a more primitive location with a beautiful beach (there are no showers or flushing toilets on night 2). This night of camping in the wilderness is memorable for all ages. Guests usually sleep under the stars and wake to the amazing sounds of the river and her beautiful nature surrounding in the morning. Both nights are included with the trip, and you are welcome to add more before or after!
There are 5 meals included with the trip as well, all prepared and cooked by your amazing river guides! With this trip we do take all the gear on the river with us for the 2nd night of camping in the wild. There is an extra guide (sometimes 2) rowing a boat with all the equipment.
The first morning coffee & tea is available in the kitchen early morning followed by a hearty breakfast before we head out for a day of rafting! This is an earlier morning than day 2, we will shuttle you put in for the upper Chili Bar section that we will run that day. There are many Class 3+ rapids finishing with the infamous Troublemaker Rapid. We float past the historic Marshall Gold Discovery Park where gold was first discovered on the River starting the California Gold Rush of 1949! There are a few more miles of Class 2-2+ rapids back to camp like Old Scary and Barking Dog and we will stop there for lunch. The gear boat(s) will join us on the river for a few more miles of rafting before we reach the BLM campground for our overnight stay. Our guests help us get the gear onto shore and there is time to explore, play games, swim, fish etc. You might be surprised at the spread our guides are able to create for appetizers and dinner in the evening! Drinks are also included and we will reach out about alcohol preferences as we can provide a moderate amount for adults.
The second morning is quite leisurely as we enjoy our coffee/tea/juice with breakfast and watch the water flows start to rise. This is a dam controlled river so the following evening you will have seen a major drop in the river levels. We launch mid-morning and travel down a few Class 2 rapids before lunch. After lunch we head into the Gorge section of the South Fork American River for several Class 3 rapids including Satan’s Cesspool & Hospital Bar. We end in Folsom Lake, load the gear up & shuttle back to camp. There is time to shower if you like before departing, you can also join us for another relaxing evening by the river after your trip.
