It’s rated Class III at moderate summer flows, but at high … Interesting fact: Entrance to ‘The Gorge’ occurs after the third sighting of the Lollipop Tree. We’ll tackle fun and challenging rapids like Satan’s Cesspool, Hospital Bar and Recovery Room. The river! About an hour from Sacramento, and just an hour and a half from Lake Tahoe, rafting the South Fork American River is a quick and relatively easy option for an exciting family or group adventure. We’ll camp here, usually completely alone – quite a change from the sometimes busyness of the river – and enjoy an evening and dinner along the river (prepared by our guides) before spending the night on the beach. They were terrific. Class III rapids, cold water with low to moderate flip/swim potential. Additional campground amenities include men’s and women’s bathrooms with hot showers and flush toilets, camp store, games and free WiFi. We launch from our campsite into a fun and easy section of the river, with time to warm up and practice our paddling before hitting some of the bigger Class III rapids in the Gorge. Friendly voices, quick replies, reliable advice, occasional river story; whenever you want. Get ready for a fun filled day rafting the South Fork of the American River! All I’ve thought about all morning here in my office is yesterday’s trip. HIGHWAY RAPID (II+) A long, curving rock garden. After meeting your guide we gather for orientation and safety information where you will receive your gear. Public facilities on the South Fork American River whitewater rafting trip. FOWLER’S ROCK (III). A professional, skilled river guide is on board every raft to help steer you safely down the river, as you power the raft with your paddle. Have you ever watched videos online of people rushing downstream in a river, helmets on, paddles moving quickly, water spraying, people squealing in delight and thought, “I could never do that.”  All due respect, but you could not be more wrong. No previous experience is required. Each and every H2O employee that you interact with knows that what we offer, is not just a rafting trip, but a step out into the best places in the world. We’re meticulous when it comes to matching skills with difficulty, so you won’t have to worry about being put into a difficult position. CHILI BAR HOLE (II) For many years Chili Bar Hole was the site of the Chili Bar Rodeo. Located in the heart of the Sierra Foothills smack in the middle of Gold Rush Country, the South Fork of the American is a great way for families, friends, and nervous first-timers to be introduced to the thrills and fun of whitewater rafting in a safe yet exhilarating environment. Not sure which river trip is best for you? Many trips still running in, Lower Middle Fork American River – Class 2 | Perfect for kids 4+ This is a Class 2 Rafting Trip suitable for Ages 4+! Both stretches are 10 miles long and have about the same number and difficulty of rapids; the rapids on the Upper Stretch are spread out pretty evenly throughout the day whereas the Lower Stretch starts out more gently and then the bigger rapids are concentrated in the afternoon. Cool off in the river while swimming through fun rapids & calm pools. We’ve been joined by people celebrating birthdays, weddings, graduations, family reunions and just life in general. Fishing: Length in days: 1 or 2 These trips are great for people who want to get away from civilization but don’t have time for a longer trip out of the state. Public restrooms. Wilderness: GO WILD – Our two-day wilderness trips are a great way to get out of the house and away from the crowds. A riffle is a shallow stretch in the river where water forms small rippled waves. After a few miles of warm up on some Class 2 rapids the real fun begins when lollipop tree is in sight and encounter your first Class 3+ rapid of the day – Fowlers Rock! The South Fork has shaped our entire region and is still one of the most popular rafting trips in America. Pretty soon the mining operations were shut down, and today you can still find huge trenches created by the miners some 150 years ago. O.A.R.S. Marshall Gold Discovery State Historical Park. Daily April – Mid-October (Friday – Sunday after Labor Day & weekends only in October), Chili Bar Half-Day: 9:00AM – 12:00PM Be healthy and wash your hands. The South Fork American River flows into Folsom Lake. Click, Middle Fork American River – Class 4 Whitewater Rafting! We launch our boats right there from camp. After the last rapid our Honda Jet Ski will tow the rafts across Folsom Lake to the take-out at Salmon Falls. Unfortunately, once the easily found gold was taken away, the miners made an absolute mess of the natural surroundings with their hydraulic pumps, causing people downstream to grumble.