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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. This trip give you both the Chili Bar and Gorge Sections of the river in one mega trip

River Miles
Class
Min Age
+
Major Rapids
Meals

Itinerary

Departure: You will meet us at 9:30 AM at the private Camp Lotus campground, where you’ll meet your guide and be outfitted with everything you need to enjoy your trip, including paddles, life jackets and helmets.

The Trip: You’ll enjoy some of the most fun rapids and beautiful views the American River has to offer. Along the way, we’ll stop for a gourmet deli lunch served riverside.

Return: You will be returned to your starting point between 4:30 and 5:30 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 prior to or after your rafting trip, simply book online or call us ahead of time.

Full River

Full River

The great thing about the South Fork American River is it’s the perfect river for novice rafters or if you are more adventurous W.E.T. has the guides with the experience and training to provide a more exciting trip.

The South Fork of the American River is the most popular whitewater river trips in California and one of the most popular in the world. Just 45 minutes east of Sacramento and 1 hour west of Lake Tahoe, this class 3 beginner to intermediate 21 mile river has over 30 exciting rapids that are perfect for everyone from 7 to 100, and for families to bachelor/bachelorette parties. Winding through the golden foothills in the heart of the Sierra Nevadas, every rapid ends in a calm pool giving you a chance to celebrate, laugh and relax before your next thrill. In addition to the exhilarating rapids the South Fork American River cuts right through the historic town of Coloma california where gold was first discovered giving rise to the golden state. This river offers the perfect mix of thrilling rapids interspersed with calm stretches giving you the opportunity to bask in the gorgeous scenery of the oak filled foothills and each other’s company. This dam controlled river has the added benefit of providing guaranteed ideal rafting flow from March into October even in the driest of years.

When you choose W.E.T. River Trips to guide you along your adventure, the South Fork American River provides you the opportunity to learn new paddling skills in a safe environment or make the seemingly simpler rapids the thrill of a lifetime. That’s because as the premier rafting company our experienced, local guides have the ability to provide the experience you are looking for. Whether you want to get your feet wet in whitewater while staying in the raft or want a more exciting trip where you very well find yourself in the river more than once. Either way you are guaranteed to have the experience of a lifetime. We here at W.E.T. river trips have made the decision not to become the biggest rafting company so that we can have the flexibility to provide you with your desired experience. Since safety is always our primary concern we have retained the most experienced, trained and skilled local guides to provide you with this experience.

FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers
  • Secure footwear; old tennis shoes or sturdy sandals with heel straps such as Tevas, Keens, and Chacos. NO FLIP FLOPS OR BARE FEET!
  • Swimsuit or shorts and T-shirt to wear on the rafts.
  • Sunglasses with neck strap (Please be sure to bring a neck strap for any glasses you plan on wearing on the raft.)
  • Sunscreen and lip ointment
  • Water bottle
  • Waterproof camera (optional)
  • Light cap or visor (optional)
  • Any medicines you require (please contact us beforehand to ensure we can accommodate any needs)
  • One professional, talented, and possibly humorous river guide
  • White water raft (Crewed by your provided guide at all times)
  • Personal Flotation Device (Life-jacket)
  • Helmet
  • Paddle
  • Other required safety equipment
  • Wetsuits an paddle jackets may be required at additional cost during cooler months and are available upon request in warmer months.

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.

  • Optional gratuity for your hardworking guides
  • Dry Clothing
  • Water or other beverage
  • Dry towels 
  • Sleeping Bag
  • Tent (optionally we can provide tents at a small cost)
  • Warm clothing for the evening.
  • Personal care items (Toothbrush, deodorant,  hair care products, etc.)
  • Flashlight or headlamp

Yes! We love rafting with friends, family, and coworkers! Discounts on rafting are as follows;

  • 5%: 6-11 Rafters
  • 10%: 12-17 Rafters
  • 15%: 18-23 Rafters
  • 20%: 24+ Rafters
  •  

Note that discounts are not applied to other “add-ons” such as camping and photo/video packages.

Take a Closer Look

5461 Bassi Rd, Lotus, CA 95651

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.

Drive Times:

Sacramento Area: Approximately 45 mins

San Francisco: Approximately 2 hours