South Fork American River Rafting Express Trip
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Need a quick adventure fix? This classic California whitewater rafting trip on the upper 8-mile Chili Bar stretch of the South Fork of the American River offers several hours of rafting for novice and experienced rafters alike. You’ll maneuver through boulder gardens, dodge sneaky holes, and drop into exciting Class III rapids like Meatgrinder, Triple Threat, and Troublemaker (which definitely has the potential to live up to its name). In the calmer stretches, simply bask in the beauty of the scenic Sierra Foothills, or take the opportunity to hop off of the raft and feel the rush of swimming a “swimmer’s rapid.” About an hour from Sacramento, and just an hour and a half from Lake Tahoe, this quick getaway has you rafting on the American River in the morning and back in time for lunch and plenty of time to venture on to your next destination.
Departure Point
- Our entrance is adjacent to where Hwy 49 crosses the river and the River Park shopping center. Roads around here are winding, so please be sure to allow for plenty of travel time.
Return Details
- Our entrance is adjacent to where Hwy 49 crosses the river and the River Park shopping center. Roads around here are winding, so please be sure to allow for plenty of travel time.
Duration
4 hours
Points of Interest
Stop At: South Fork of the American River
Highway 49, Coloma, California
You’ll meet at the OARS American River Outpost on the morning of your trip. After an orientation and safety talk, we’ll take a 25-minute drive to the Chili Bar put-in. Meatgrinder Rapid is the exciting start to the splashy, big-water fun on the upper section of the South Fork. As beautiful river scenes stretch out around us, rapids like Racehorse Bend, Maya, and Triple Threat await us further downstream. After a short section of Class I-II whitewater, we find ourselves at the notorious Troublemaker Rapid. This Class III rapid packs an exhilarating ride and can offer plenty of surprises. As we float by the historic town of Coloma and the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, the trip begins to wind down—but not without a few more stories from your personable and knowledgeable guide. Once we return to the Outpost, we encourage you to explore our nature trails, play campground games, or just savor your time along the river.
Duration: 4 hours
Additional Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Please call to speak with an Adventure Consultant if you have any health concerns
- Skilled, professional guide service
- High-quality river equipment including paddle, helmet, personal flotation device, and wetsuits and splash tops (included on early and late season trips, cold weather trips, and by advance request)
- Transfer to the river put-in from our campground
Voucher Info
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
The tour identified in this promotion is made available through Viator. Groupon is not affiliated with or sponsored by the OARS American River Outpost in connection with this deal. Please contact Groupon customer service for all inquiries related to this offer. Inquiries placed to Viator will be directed back to Groupon.
This offer is not eligible for promo codes.
Need to know info
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services. Offer is not eligible for our promo codes or other discounts. Learn about Strike-Through Pricing and Savings