South Fork American River Whitewater Rafting Trip (Class 3+)
Description
The most popular destination for whitewater rafting in California, the South Fork of the American River is a great introduction to professionally guided rafting trips. The Upper "Chili Bar" section offers exhilarating Class 3 rapids, followed by calmer stretches perfect for swimming or simply soaking in the beauty of the surrounding Gold Country landscape. This river is ideal for families with kids and any group wanting to enjoy a fun yet relaxing day on the river. You can look forward to... Exciting Rapids: Experience thrilling Class 2 and Class 3 rapids, perfect for beginners and seasoned adventurers; Expert Guides: Benefit from the expertise of knowledgeable guides who ensure an enjoyable and seamless journey down the river; Stunning Scenery: Raft through scenic stretches of the South Fork American River, the birthplace of the California Gold Rush of 1849; Convenient Timing: A Half-Day trip fits easily into your schedule, making it a great adventure without taking up your whole day.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Whitewater rafting is an active participatory sport, however reasonable accommodations can be made for guests with disabilities. Please contact us to discuss prior to booking.
- Travelers who are pregnant, have back or heart problems, or other medical conditions should consult their physician prior to booking.
Reviews(5)
We had an amazing time on our first whitewater rafting experience and glad we chose All-Outdoors! Guide Joe was great. Very friendly, knowledgeable, and confident. We were joined by two new guides, Kian and Aviv (I hope I got her name right). They were a fun addition to our boat and were great bonus guides! We did the South Fork upper section Chili Bar of the American River. The whole experience was so much fun and planning when we can go again!
Joey was our guide, and he was absolutely amazing! He is incredibly knowledgeable, well-mannered, and always put our safety first. All-Outdoors is a well-run company, and I hope anyone who chooses to white water raft in Lotus, CA is lucky enough to have Joey as their guide.
Thank you for sharing this! We’re so glad you had a great day on the river with Joey - he’ll really appreciate your kind words. It means a lot to know you felt well cared for and enjoyed your rafting experience with us on the South Fork American.
All Outdoors is a great company and organized for us a customized activity to meet our needs in terms of time and itinerary. In the preparation stage the answered a lot of emails and share a lot of information and video. The activity was perfectly organized from start to finish and guides are very well prepared. The experience was awesome and unforgettable. Special thank you to the entire team.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so glad we could tailor the trip to fit your schedule and plans, and it’s great to hear all the preparation paid off. Our guides will be happy to know their efforts helped make it such a memorable adventure. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to see you all again on the river!
I rafted with All Outdoors on the South Fork of the American River with my mom, who is 64. She had a lot of questions leading up to the trip, and the folks in the office answered them whenever she called. Our guide, Rose, did a great job of teaching us how to paddle and keeping us safe on the water. The trip started right on time, and was run very efficiently. We introduced ourselves but didn’t waste time on icebreaking games or boat setup, which I’ve seen with other rafting companies. For lunch, we pulled into a spot designated for All Outdoors, with shaded picnic tables and bathrooms. The guides prepared a sandwich bar and handled the cleanup afterwards. In the second half of the trip, we had some exciting Class III rapids. These were challenging enough to provide a thrill without feeling dangerous. We ended the trip in Lake Folsom, where a powerboat picked us up and towed us two miles to the finish. AO provided a bus back to the starting location, which has showers and changing rooms. I’ve been on a few other rafting trips, and this is the best one that I’ve done. Big thanks to the All Outdoors team for a safe, exciting trip!
We really appreciate you taking the time to share such a detailed review. Rose will be so happy to hear your feedback, and it’s great to know your mom felt supported every step of the way. Glad the day left such a strong impression. We hope to see you back on the river soon!
Great experience. Knowledgeable guide. The website to register needs work. I registered my kids but still had to do it again when we got there. Inconvenient for both me and the guide.
Thank you for your review and for joining us on the river!
