Middle Fork American One Day Trip Information Sheet (PDF format)
  South Fork / Middle Fork Combo Two Day Trip Information Sheet        [get PDF reader software]

All Middle Fork American River trips meet on the banks of the South Fork American river at our privately owned, exclusive camp area, located near the town of Coloma.

Depending on the trip you’ll be taking, meeting times will vary from the night before your trip for all two day trips, and 7:00 a.m. for all one day trips.

If you are coming from either northern or southern California begin with driving drive to the city of Sacramento. Once there, take Highway 50 towards South Lake Tahoe through Sacramento and into the foothills. Take Exit #37 (Shingle Springs/Ponderosa Rd), found one mile past Cameron Park, then turn left and cross over the Highway. Once you reach the second stop light, turn right onto N. Shingle Rd, following it approximately 4.2 miles to the Y. Once at the Y turn onto Lotus Rd, and follow it 7 miles until it dead-ends into Highway 49, here you will turn Left onto Highway 49 on drive 1.7 miles. Begin to slow down at the 1.5 mile mark and look for the 6580 WHITEWATER EXCITEMENT SIGN to your left. Turn here and follow the Whitewater Excitement signs to the parking area. Park and then walk forward to our Store/Check-in area.

Guests traveling from the South Lake Tahoe area will need to take Highway 50 west towards Placerville. Make a right onto Spring Street, at the Highway 49 sign, Spring Street turns into Highway 49. Follow Highway 49 to Coloma State Park. Once past the park you will cross a bridge, after which you will continue 1.5 miles past the bridge and look for the WHITEWATER EXCITEMENT SIGN to your left. Make a left at the sign and follow the signs to the parking area. Walk forward to the Whitewater Excitement Store/Check-in area.

If you are traveling from the North Lake Tahoe area, start by taking Interstate 80 west to Auburn. Take the Elm Street exit, make a right across the overpass and merge to the left lane. You will drive down a short decline before turning left onto Lincoln Ave., which will lead you to Highway 49, following Highway 49 to Cool. Five miles past Cool is the town of Pilot Hill (a one gas station town, BP Station). Drive 5.5 miles from the BP Station and look for the WHITEWATER EXCITEMENT SIGN on your right. Turn right here and follow the signs to the parking area. Walk forward to the WWE Store/Check-in area.

WWE Camp Store

Once at the meeting area, you’ll find that we have a camp store with many different items for sale. Sweat shirts, T-shirts, river shorts and hats, sandals along with lip balm, sunscreen, waterproof cameras, plus many camping items, drinks and snacks. The store will be open in the morning before & afternoon after your trip.

We recommend for day trips that all guests bring with them shorts or a swim suit, tennis shoes or Teva type sandles, sunglasses, hat, lip balm,sun block, poly-pro or pile sweater, a windbreaker in the case of cool weather. We also recommend that you have with you a disposable waterproof camera, a garbage bag to store wet clothes, some money for souvenirs, as well as an extra set of dry shoes and clothes (left in the car) for the trip home.

Wet suits will be required for spring trips (prior to Memorial Day) as well as trips during HIGH WATER times, which can sometimes last until mid-June). Suits can be rented from our Camp Store or from a local dive shop. For your safety, guests who do not wet suits when required will not be able to participate in the trip.

On Two Day Trips guests will need the above items plus in addition to a sleeping bag and ground pad, tent (optional after Memorial Day), camp clothes (long pants, dry shoes, shirt, jacket or sweater, personal items, flashlight and insect repellant.

On all of our one day trips guests are provided with a riverside deli-styled buffet lunch that includes an all you can eat sandwich bar boasting an impressive variety of breads, cheese, meats, veggies, pasta or potato salad, potato chips, fresh fruits, cookies, and ice cold drinks.

Guests on our 2 day trips are provided with breakfast, lunch, and dinner the and second day. All meals include fresh fruit and veggies, and hot & cold beverages. Dinners consist of Grilled Chicken, Filet Mignon, Cesear Salad, Baked Potato, French Bread, Corn on the Cob, Wine, Beer, and Sodas, and our Great Dutch Oven Baked Desserts.

WWE has a private camp area, available to WWE guests only. Located along the banks of the South Fork of the American, facilities include: bathrooms with flush toilets and hot showers, mirrors and sinks, recreation areas with basketball, ping pong, volleyball and horseshoe pits. All of our camp areas are group areas, and our guests are assigned such areas before they’re arrival. It is possible that small groups may share a site with each other.

Reservations for the WWE Camp Area can be made by calling our office at (800) 750-2386. Cost for camping is $10.00 per person per night. We do also have areas for RV’s, however, we do not have any hook-ups available.

Coloma Resort (530) 621-2267
American River Resort (530) 622-6700
Camp Lotus (530) 622-8672

Super 8, Cameron Park (530) 677-7177
Best Western, Cameron Park (800) 601-1234
Best Western, Placerville (800) 854-9100

Bed & Breakfasts
American River Inn, Georgetown (530) 333-4499
Coloma Country Inn, Coloma (530) 622-6919
Chichester_Mckee House, Placerville (800) 831-4008

San Jose 160 miles/3 hours
San Francisco 110 miles/2.5 hours
South Lake Tahoe 80 miles/2 hours
North Lake Tahoe 95 miles/2 hours
Los Angles 420 miles/7 +/- hours