American River Whitewater Rafting Day Tour

Highlights / General details

The day begins with a pick-up from your lodging between 6:00am and 7:00am. We head east across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, which offers great views of the San Francisco skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island and the East Bay. We stop for a quick snack/breakfast in the Central Valley (not included). Famous for its rich volcanic soil, the Central Valley is a booming agricultural region known for almonds, grapes, tomatoes, peaches and strawberries. Then we continue our journey up through the cattle and horse ranching foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains to the American River.

You will be given a short pre-trip briefing by your trip-leader, which will cover what to bring and what not to bring on the raft. You can ask lots of questions as well so you get a better understanding of what to expect on your rafting trip. Then you’ll be given a lifejacket, helmet and paddle, and your guides will make sure your gear is a proper fit. They will then give you a detailed safety talk and show you how to sit in the raft and how to paddle.

This South Fork rafting trip starts off with a slower pace consisting of mostly Class 1 and 2 rapids, great for warming up before getting into the bigger Class 3 whitewater. So sit back on the boat, enjoy and soak up the sun. After about an hour and half of mellow rafting and enjoying the scenery, it’s time to get fueled up with a hearty lunch. This yummy lunch includes several choices of meats, cheeses, vegetables, PB&J, finger food, condiments and cookies; you will definitely not go hungry.

After lunch, it’s time to get back on the river! Sit up and lock your feet in as you enter the Gorge Section on the South Fork with all the big rapids. Soon you will be getting very wet, paddling as well as laughing your way down rapids like Fowlers Rock, Triple Threat, Satan’s Cesspool, Hospital Bar. The few hours of rafting after lunch go by fast as you paddle from one exciting rapid to another. After all the enjoyment of whitewater rafting your trip will culminate with your rafts entry onto Folsom Lake. The last few miles of flat water are made effortless, as the raft is towed out by a Honda Jet Ski!

Back on land, you’ll dry off and hop back into the vehicle to head back to the city. The tour ends with a hotel drop off between 8:00pm and 8:30pm.

Inclusion

Hotel pick-up and drop-off; Narrated guided tour through California's Gold Country; 16 miles of whitewater rafting South Fork of the American River, Coloma to Salmon Falls on Folsom Lake with a professional guide; All necessary rafting gear (raft, paddle, life vest, helmet); Picnic lunch, served river-side.

Exclusion

Professional photos taken of rafters (can be purchased during lunchtime); Guide and river guide gratuities.

Hours of operation

Available Friday only from May 26 to September 10, 2017 and from May 25 to September 14, 2018. Pick-up time is between 6:00am - 7:00am (depending on the location of your hotel).

Duration

Approximately 12 hours door-to-door (with hotel pickup), 16 miles of rapids (4-5 hours on the river, depending on water speed).

Duration

Approximately 12 hours door-to-door (with hotel pickup), 16 miles of rapids (4-5 hours on the river, depending on water speed).

Location

Hotel pick-up is from centrally located hotels in San Francisco. There will be no pick-up from airport properties.

Additional Information

Your safety is our main concern. A brief safety talk is given before anyone gets in the water. The South Fork of the American River is a Class III river system. This is ideal for beginners as well as intermediate paddlers.

Gear List:

In April and May, the water is cold and the flow rate is higher. From June through September, the weather is hot and the water is refreshing. Generally wetsuits are not necessary, but are available for rent on cold days (additional cost).

What to bring:

Shoes you don’t mind getting wet (and that will stay securely on your feet). Soft-soled tennis shoes, sneakers, or river sandals are recommended. NO FLIP-FLOPS, “wet shoes” or “aqua shoes” are allowed.

Swimwear; Sun protection (sunscreen, well-secured hat that will fit under a helmet); Dry change of clothes for after rafting; Towel for after rafting; T-shirt or long sleeve shirt/shorts if you are sensitive to the sun*; Water Bottle; Waterproof camera – something small that can attach to your lifejacket; Any medications, inhalers, etc. that you require.

*Note: Please do not bring any cotton items on the river with you if you are concerned about staying warm. (This includes jeans and sweatshirts.) When cotton gets wet it robs your body of heat and is unsuitable for physical activity. Synthetic clothing, such as fleece, poly-pro, or capilene provides the best option for warmth retention.

Participant restrictions

Participants must weigh at least 80 pounds and be at least 8 years of age.

No prior whitewater experience is necessary.

This is ideal for beginners as well as intermediate paddlers.

Policies

Cancellation: 15 days prior 50% penalty, 1 day prior 100% penalty. No show 100% penalty.

Tours may be cancelled or modified due to lack of participation, vehicle breakdowns, weather conditions or road conditions.

Complete information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, will be included on your Confirmation Voucher.

**All information requested must be supplied or booking is subject to automatic cancellation**