South Fork A.M. Half Day Trip Information Sheet (PDF format)
  South Fork P.M. Half Day Trip Information Sheet (PDF format)
  South Fork Whole River One Day Trip Information Sheet (PDF format)
  South Fork Gorge Run One Day Trip Information Sheet (PDF format)
  South Fork Two Day Trip Information Sheet (PDF format)
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Meeting Place and Times

All South Fork American River trips meet at our Privately Owned Camp Area right on the banks of the South Fork of the American river, near the town of Coloma.

Meeting Times:
One Day Whole River - 7:45 A.M.
One Day Gorge Run - 11:00 A.M.
AM Half Day - 7:45 A.M.
PM Half Day 12:00Noon
All 2Day Trips can come in the night before their trip.
Middle Fork One Day - 7:00 A.M.
Merced One and Two Days - 8:00 A.M.

Guests traveling from the northern or southern California area drive to the city of Sacramento, then take Highway 50 towards South Lake Tahoe, driving through Sacramento and into the foothills. Take Exit #37 one mile past Cameron Park,.. Turn left and cross over the Highway, turning right at the second stop light onto N. Shingle Rd (follow the signs to Coloma). Follow N. Shingle Rd approximately 4.2 miles to the Y, where you’ll take a Left at the Y onto Lotus Rd. Follow Lotus Rd. 7 miles and it will dead-end into Highway 49. Turn Left onto Highway 49 on drive 1.7 miles. Start slowing down at the 1.5 mile mark and look for the 6580 WHITEWATER EXCITEMENT SIGN on 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 coming from the South Lake Tahoe area will have to take Highway 50 west to Placerville. At the Highway 49 sign, turn right onto Spring Street, which eventually turns into Highway 49. Follow Highway 49 to Coloma State Park, just past the park you will cross a bridge, continue 1.5 miles past the bridge and look out for the 6580 WHITEWATER EXCITEMENT SIGN on your left. Take a left at the sign and make your way to the parking area where we’re waiting for you att the Whitewater Excitement Store and Check-in area.

Those who are coming from the North Lake Tahoe area will need to take Interstate 80 west towards Auburn. Take the Elm Street exit, turn right across the overpass and merge into the left lane, soon taking a left onto Lincoln Ave, which will lead you to Highway 49. the 49 will soon bring you to the town of 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 keep an eye out for the 6580 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 you reach the meeting area, you’ll see that we have a small store with many different items for sale. Sweat shirts, T-shirts, river shorts and sandals, waterproof cameras, hats, lib balm, and sunscreen, plus many camping items, and drinks and snacks and drinks. The store will be open in the morning before & after your trip.

We recommend that for day trips all guest bring shorts and a swim suit, sandals or tennis shoes, sunglasses with retaining device, hat sun block, lip balm, poly-pro or pile sweater along with a windbreaker in the case that we meet some cool weather, disposable waterproof camera, garbage bag to store wet clothes, and an extra set of clothes and dry shoes (left in the car) for the trip home.

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

For two day trips guest will need the above list of equipment in addition to the following; sleeping bag and ground pad pad, tent (optional after Memorial Day), camp clothes (dry shoes, shirt, long pants, jacket or sweater, toiletry items, flashlight and insect repellant.

Guests on all day trips are provided with a riverside deli-styled buffet lunch that includes a plentiful sandwich bar with a variety of breads, cheeses, meats, veggies, pasta or potato salad, potato chips, fresh fruits, potato chips, cookies, and ice cold drinks.

The meals we provide on our 2 day trips includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner on day one, and breakfast and lunch on day 2. All meals include fresh veggies and fruit, as well as hot & cold beverages. Dinners consist of Grilled Chicken, Filet Mignon, Cesear Salad, French Bread, Corn on the Cob, Wine, Beer, and Sodas, and our Great Dutch Oven Baked Desserts.

WWE boasts our own private camp area, only for WWE Guests located right on the banks of the South Fork of the American river. Our facilities include bathrooms with flush toilets and hot showers, mirrors and sinks, recreation areas with basketball, volleyball, ping pong and horseshoe pits. All of our camp areas are group areas that are assigned prior to your arriving. Smaller sized groups could be sharing an area with another smaller sized group.

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

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

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

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