South Fork American River Chili Bar 1-Day Trip
Description: Raft the 10 Mile Chili Bar section of the South Fork of the American river. “Meatgrinder”, “Triple Threat”, and “Troublemaker” are just some of the rapids that will be encountered during this scenic and exciting trip. The rapids come right at the beginning of this run and will not disappoint even the most experienced river rat.
Trip Basics
- 7+ years
- All Experience Levels
- 1 Day
- Class III
- 10 River Miles
Trip Logistics
- River: South Fork American River
- Section: Chili Bar - WWE Base Camp
- Departs from: WWE Base Camp Map
- Meals: Lunch
- Duration: 6 Hours
- Start time: 9:00 AM
Trip Pricing
- Weekdays: $140 Adults / $130 Youth
- Saturdays: $160 Adults / $150 Youth
- Sundays: $155 Adults / $145 Youth
More Information
Trip Itinerary
Our South Fork American River Chili Bar 1-Day Trip is a 10 mile adventure that begins at 9:00 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 Chili Bar 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 1-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”, the river mellows as we float past the James Marshall Gold Discovery Site, where gold was first discovered in California back in 1848. We will pull over here at the State Park and you can enjoy our riverside buffet lunch, and maybe a short walk over to see the replica of Sutter’s Mill, where gold was actually found.
The river now heads into a more mellow section for about an hour, where we will end our trip. 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).
What’s Provided
- Skilled, professional guide service
- Riverside buffet lunch
- 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
What To Bring
- 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 evening
- 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
