Did this trip with a bunch of family and we were all able to take our kids. San Francisco: 130 mi/ 3 hrs time for water fights, blackberry picking, joke-telling and paddling inflatable kayaks for the more adventurous among you. This section begins at our beautiful campground, it’s a nice pleasant float, with some splashy Class II rapids to keep everyone laughing and cool until we arrive at our wilderness lunch spot. If you go past our River Office or get to the stop sign at Bassi Rd, you have gone a block too far. From Hwy 50 turn right (north) onto Hwy 49/Spring Street in Placerville (this is the second stoplight in Placerville). It could be yours! To get to the All-Outdoors River Center continue straight on Lotus Rd after the stop sign at Bassi Rd. Lounge on the boats or swim in peaceful areas as you wind through the gold country of the Sierra Nevada foothills. South Fork Trips Meet at: 5461 Bassi Rd, Lotus, CA 95651. Falling out of the raft means an extremely difficult and potentially hazardous "swim". This is super convenient and can help save you from running a “shuttle”, one of the most laborious task in a day of rafting. If we apprise the situation as too dangerous for any given number of reasons, Action Whitewater Adventures reserves the right to substitute another river adventure for the scheduled day with no refund or credit applied. Apr-May, days are generally breezy and warm (60-70 degrees). Photos and souvenirs are available at our camp store, before and after your trip. avoided. Unintentionally falling out of the raft may mean an uncomfortable "swim". You want to hit the waves hard and get soaked; no problem. Nights can be in the 50's; generally cooler during the earlier spring trips. Click here for information from the El Dorado County Public Health Officer regarding COVID -19, EVERYTHING ABOVE IS HIDDEN ON MOBILE FOR COMPATIBILITY. Chili Bar (Upper Section) is a half day, 8-mile, 2-hour section with Class II-III rapids. The South Fork American River is a major tributary of the American River in El Dorado County, California, draining a watershed on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada east of Sacramento.The river begins in pristine Desolation Wilderness and flows through the Sierra Nevada foothills. To get to the All-Outdoors River Center, turn left at the stop sign onto Lotus Rd in Coloma just before the Hwy crosses over the South Fork of the American River. As we float down the river, homes are usually buffered from our view by thick river foliage. Wearing the proper clothing and protection helps ensure that you stay protected and are able to enjoy your time floating without experiencing a damaging sunburn as well as the fatigue that comes along with excessive exposure to the sun! behind with your gear and utilizing lyft, uber, a friend or ride share service to leave your vehicles at the take out point means there will be no need for a shuttle at the end of the day! Splashy riffles give the wee ones a taste of excitement, and there are long stretches of lazy water . Sacramento: 40 mi/ 50 min (800) 247-2387 Live Chat Contact. Be sure to lock your vehicles and take any belongings with you. The summer months are usually hot and dry (85-100 degrees). During the trip you can also have the option of paddling in one- or two-person inflatable kayaks. Middle Fork Lunch Included! The river meanders slowly by oak tree groves; alder and cottonwood trees grow right out of the riverbed. Real-time, up to the hour flow information is available for the South Fork of the American River on our Updated River Conditions page. Due to permit regulations and space availability, we may be forced to deny other rafters once your reservation is received. Please forward new member’s information immediately as we’ll need to process trip paperwork with that individual. This is a wonderful choice for those looking for a romantic getaway. Get season updates, flow reports, exclusive discounts and our most recent blog posts. Using a self-guided watercraft - Made with by Themovation. Water Notice & Land Use Fee:Water flows in the South Fork of the American River result from hydroelectric facilities located upstream. BONUS: Win a Free Trip for Two! Our river specialists are available to help by email, phone or live chat. Located only a mile from the All-Outdoors River Center, Camp Lotus offers lodging in their American River Cabins and Yuba River Cabin. (800) 247-2387 Live Chat Contact. © Action Whitewater Adventures - All Rights Reserved. Get all the answers to the most frequently asked questions (FAQ's) regarding minimum age, how to choose a river, what to wear, trips costs and more... Family Fun: South Fork American Float Trips, AO Weekly: Company News and Entertaining Stories, River Tales (Near Truths and Canyon Nights), River Conservation and California Water Politics, All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting. Located 20 minutes from our South Fork meet up place in Lotus and 50 minutes from our meeting place in Foresthill for the Middle Fork trips, this is a unique place to stay in the heart of gold rush country! The Courtyard has an in-house restaurant and pool and is located near restaurants and other services. Coloma: 1 mi/ 5 min This section starts off with a bang, within minutes you are navigating classic Class III rapids like Meatgrinder, Maya, and 1st Threat, then you finish off this section with the largest rapid on the river: Trouble Maker. Because the South Fork is so close to many metropolitan areas, it's easy to go on a rafting trip yet still arrive back home with plenty of time to relax. Cancellations:Due to permit regulations and space availability, we may be forced to deny other rafters once your reservation is received. Park in the parking area and sign in at the All-Outdoors check-in area under the large oak tree. Full River (Upper and Lower Section Combined) is an all day, 22-mile, 6-hour section with Class II-III rapids. Monday-Friday $179 per person, Add $20.00 to upgrade to a Wild-Side Trip.Saturday-Sunday $199.00 per person, Add $20.00 to upgrade to a Wild-Side Trip. BONUS: Win a Free Trip for Two! Tom Sawyer Float Trips are offered during warm weather months, typically June through October. Not only will you be able to experienced larger Class III-V whitewater, rather then the class II on this run, but you ensure allthe details are handled allowing you to ensure your have an amazingly fun and also safe time! Contact us if you have any questions. 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. We always recommend you use a professional outfitter when planning your time on the river. Please allow a little extra time to assure correct arrival time to the meeting place. All-Outdoors uses oar-paddle assist rafts on this trip. The South Fork of the American River is an easy to moderate intensity Class 3 rafting river and is a great way for everyone from ages 6 to 106 to experience the fun of whitewater rafting. If you do choose to imbibe take notice the alcohol is banned from the parkway permanently in the following locations: During Memorial Day weekend, the 4th of July, and Labor Day weekend, alcohol is temporarily banned along the shoreline and on the American River between Hazel and Watt Avenues (the floating section of the river). All-Outdoors Tom Sawyer Float Trips usually meet at 10:30 am, but keep in mind that meet times may vary. Continue straight through the park for a 1/2 mile to the stop sign at the intersection of Lotus Rd and Hwy 49. (Minimum age of 7 years old or 50lbs and over, times can differ to the trip being longer or shorter due to changing water levels). The South Fork American River is 22-miles long and is ran as 3 different rafting excursions. This article does not impart the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to safely run a river and simply is informational in nature. Tours of the facility's modern brewing and bottling equipment are available upon request. Running through the Coloma-Lotus Valley, this gentle introduction to rafting was developed for families with young kids–our minimum age guideline is 5 years old. Each room has a refrigerator, microwave, and private bath. Visitors are invited to linger and enjoy the pub-like environment of the tasting room and the serenity of the adjacent picnic area. Rivers with Class I - II water interspersed with Class III rapids: waves usually 2-3 feet high, passageways contain some Gorge (Lower Section) is a 14-mile, 3.5-hour section with Class II-III rapids. The South Fork American is a dam-controlled river. The South Fork American is a dam-controlled river. obstacles. You'll float through calm pools, marvel at the beauty of the canyon, and every so often get your heart pumping a little faster when the current picks up with Class II rapids. 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. Youth 17 years or younger receive a 10% discount on any trip on any date! The perfect trip for those looking to see all 20+ miles of the South. You want flips and spills; you got it! We’re always very excited to share the river’s beauty, challenges, and history with our amazing guests. In these cases, NO refunds OR credits are offered or are made available. Raft rental fees range from $80-$213 dollars depending on the size on the raft. Please don’t hesitate to book your whitewater excursion. All guests who would like to kayak should be able to swim.