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Our most popular American River rafting trip starts with a bang & has something for everyone. Highlights of our Chili Bar 1-Day trip include Surfing Chili Bar Hole, continuous rapids, opportunities to swim in the river, floating through 1 of the most historic areas in California, the birthplace of the Gold Rush, taking in the scenery of the golden Sierra Nevada Foothills, & the delicious riverside lunch you get to enjoy along the way. A perfect rafting trip for beginning & intermediate rafters alike!
Departure:
You are about to embark on a life-changing journey. You’ll meet us at 9:30 AM, where you can take your first steps towards adventure, at the beautiful Camp Lotus. You’ll meet your friendly and skilled river guide who will take care of all the details including outfitting you with all the tools for success: paddles, PFD, and helmets as well as answering any questions you might have.
The Trip:
You’ll enjoy some of the most fun rapids and beautiful views the American River has to offer. Along the way, we will stop for a gourmet deli lunch served riverside with breathtaking scenery as your backdrop!
Return:
You will be returned to your starting point between 2 and 3 PM. There, you will have the opportunity to purchase photos of your adventure and utilize Camp Lotus’s showers and other amenities. Should you wish to camp at Camp Lotus the night before or after your rafting trip, simply book online or call us beforehand. Be sure to ask about our delicious meals available as add-ons as well.
Our most popular day trip begins with you meeting us at 9:30 at the private Camp Lotus campground. We shuttle you up to the top of the river canyon, providing you with everything you need to enjoy your trip, including paddles, personal flotation devices (lifejackets), helmets, a safety orientation and professional guides. Here the river starts out with thrills right from the start. After practicing our paddling and getting comfortable in the raft you will have the opportunity to surf a hole at Chile Bar rapid, if you choose, before tackling exciting rapids like Meatgrinder, Triple Threat and culminating in the most challenging and exciting rapid on the river, Trouble Maker. Yet even in this stretch our guides have the ability to play with the features giving you additional thrills or guide you safely and serenely back home, depending on what you are looking for. Along the way we will stop for a gourmet riverside deli lunch skillfully prepared by your guides. After which you can enjoy the calming stretch through historic gold discovery state park in Coloma and back to your cars where we first meet, between 2:00 and 3:00. Once back at your car, you will have the opportunity to relive your experience by watching a slideshow of photos taken by professional photographers, relax on the grass fields or take a hot shower before you leave. You also can choose to camp at our camp before and/or after your trip with a gourmet breakfast and/or dinner if you choose. Simply book online or call us to ahead of time.
Please feel free to bring whatever items you would like to leave in your car for retrieval after the trip. Camp Lotus features hot showers available for your use.
Yes! We love rafting with friends, family, and coworkers! Discounts on rafting are as follows;
Note that discounts are not applied to other “add-ons” such as camping and photo/video packages.
South Fork – 2 Day Wilderness Enjoy a wilderness experience accessible for ages 7 and up. Join us for 2 days of rafting and one
One day is just never enough to truly enjoy what rafting has to offer. Join us on this two day trip and let us take care of all the details! Two days of camping, meals, and adventure.
Lower (Gorge) Express Ready yourself as the canyon narrows into a granite gorge where you will plunge through thrilling Class 3 rapids like Satan’s Cesspool,
South Fork Full River Lunch Included! The perfect trip for those looking to see all 21+ miles of the South Fork of the American River.
Great for those short on time! Surf a hole at ChilI Bar Hole and enjoy our favorite rapids, including Meatgrinder, Triple Threat and Trouble Maker, the river’s most challenging and exciting rapid. These rapids are followed by a relaxing float through Marshall Gold Discovery State Park in Coloma.
Float along the South Fork’s Class 2 section and take in scenic views of golden rolling foothills, before the canyon narrows into a granite gorge where you will plunge through thrilling Class 3 rapids like Satan’s Cesspool, Bouncing Rock and Hospital Bar, to name a few. A customer favorite, this trip is perfect for any size and type of group.
Our most popular day trip boasts rapids right from the start. Surf a hole at ChilI Bar Hole and enjoy favorite rapids, including Meatgrinder, Triple Threat and Trouble Maker, the river’s most challenging and exciting rapid. These rapids are followed by a relaxing float through Marshall Gold Discovery State Park in Coloma.
One of the amazing things you will experience while camping along the river is the light show in the sky. Getting away from the city and suburbs, and the light pollution they bring, the night sky explodes with the fireworks of the stars.
A collection of various whitewater rafting photos over the years at WET River Trips.
We have a tradition here at WET River Trips that I strongly recommend all businesses incorporate. At the end of every season we go on a multi-day rafting trip. Not only is it a great team building trip, it also gives us the opportunity to reconnect with each other and why we do what we d
Everyone has done Vegas. Take a different route for your upcoming bachelor party.
The meeting place for this trip is our private campground partner, Camp Lotus. Please take the time to download and print directions as cell phone service can be spotty.
South Fork Trips Meet at: 5461 Bassi Rd, Lotus, CA 95651
Water flows in the South Fork American River result from releases from hydroelectric facilities located upstream. Such water releases are not subject to the control of El Dorado County or rafting companies operating under Permits from the County of El Dorado.
Transportation for trips operated under California Public Utility Commission TCP# 0038955