South Fork American River Whole River 1-Day Trip

Our Whole River, 21 mile adventure begins 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 on the American River in 1848, that started the California gold rush.  Arriving  at Chili Bar, 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 longest all day South Fork American River Rafting adventure.

Just downstream is our first class III rapid, “Meatgrinder”, the longest on the river (not the biggest, though).  The morning session is packed with rapids that will challenge and thrill you, the last of the morning will be the famous “Troublemaker Rapid”.  After Troublemaker, we relax in a more mellow section for about an hour, then pull off at our riverside camp and your guides will prepare our buffet deli style lunch with all the trimmings.  There will be bathrooms there and places to sit around and talk about the rapids of the morning and the next section to come – The Gorge!

The afternoon section, called the Gorge, begins with some bouncy whitewater and even a voluntary out of boat experience through “Swimmer’s Rapid” a fun, small wave train that leads to a huge pond to recover in.  A fun way to cool off in the hot summer.  Then the river builds and enters the “Gorge”, where the rapids come almost in non stop fashion for 6 miles.

At the end of the day, our busses will be waiting for you with cold drinks and snacks for the 30 minute ride back to the meeting area, where again your guide’s 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 in springtime 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 Whole River Trip Information
Whitewater Excitement Assumption of Risk/Wavier of Liability Form
South Fork Details and Directions