South Fork American River AM 1/2-Day

We meet at 8:00 AM at our South Fork Camp area, where your guides will meet you and check you in for the trip.  We then board our bus for a 30 minute scenic ride along Gold Country Highway 49, driving right past the Coloma State Park, where gold was first discovered in 1848 and started the California gold rush.  Arriving at our launching point, your guides will help you with your PFD’s (life jackets), helmets, and paddles. We will give a river safety orientation, break up into groups and guides, and then hit the river for our half day adventure.

Just downstream is our first class III rapid, “Meatgrinder”, the longest on the river (not the biggest, though).  This American River rafting trip is packed with rapids that will challenge and thrill you.  After running the famous “Troublemaker Rapid”, where there will be professional rapid shooting photographers on hand to take your “rapid photo” and preserve the memory of the day.  The river now mellows as we float past the James Marshall Gold Discovery Site, where gold was first discovered in California back in 1848 by James Marshall.

We will be floating this mellower section for about an hour, where we will end our trip, at the Whitewater Excitement camp area. There will be bathrooms and changing areas there and places to sit around and talk about the rapids of the day.  We will have cold drinks and snacks waiting for you as you get ready to head for home after a great day river rafting.  Your guides will be there to thank you for coming and let you know how you can view and purchase professional photos of your trip (if you wish).

• Skilled, professional guide service
• High-quality inflatable rafts, paddles, helmets, personal floatation devices
• Wetsuits and splash jackets for springtime trips prior to Memorial Day weekend – (if needed)
• Transportation from the meeting place to the river and back
• Drinks and snacks at river’s end

• River clothing is very casual and you should expect to get wet!
• Bathing suit/trunks, lightweight, quick drying top (rash guard works well).
• Lightweight windbreaker for cool mornings, sweatshirt for cool evenings.
• River sandals or old tennis shoes work great (No flip flops or bare feet allowed).
• Hat (optional under helmet).
• Sunglasses (suggest retaining device so they don’t end up in the river).
• Waterproof sunscreen and lip protection.
• Bottle of water (drinks provided at lunch and end of the trip).
• Inexpensive waterproof camera (professional pictures are taken at one of the rapids).
• Dry clothes for trip home (to be left in your car).

Please do not bring

• Pets, fireworks, high pressure water guns or firearms

South Fork AM Half Day Trip Information
Whitewater Excitement Assumption of Risk/Wavier of Liability Form
South Fork Details and Directions