California > North Fork of the American River Rafting
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North Fork of the American River Rafting
1 Day
Trip Highlights
- North Fork American River rafting in the beautiful California foothills
- Snowmelt creates nonstop Class IV whitewater rafting action
- Paddle through a beautiful gorge with 2000-foot cliffs, green grass, wildflowers and forests
- Raft Chamberlain Falls with a crashing 8-foot drop
- Zig-Zag, Achilles Heal, and Bogus Thunder rapids provide more whitewater excitement
Departure Dates
Selected Dates: April - June
Price
$155
Deposit: $30
Additional Costs:
$8 per person per day federal, state and local access fees
Wetsuits required on all early-season trips
River Rating  | Minimum Age |
|---|---|
| Class IV | 14 Yrs (16 during high water) |
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PrintNorth Fork American River Rafting: Overview
Rafting the North Fork American River near Sacramento, CA is an awesome California rafting experience. The North Fork of the American is the most challenging fork of the American River and rapid after Class IV rapid deliver nearly non-stop, white-knuckling whitewater, followed by a stretch of more gentle Class II-III rapids. Intricate boulder gardens, rushing falls and staircase drops promise intense paddling and plenty of adrenaline-inspiring thrills through the beautiful American River gorge with 2000-foot cliffs, blankets of green grass, colorful wildflowers and black oak and pine forests. This trip is an easy jaunt from Sacramento and well worth the journey in terms of both whitewater and classic California wilderness scenery.
North Fork American River Rafting: Itinerary at a Glance
- Our North Fork American River Rafting trip begins with tumultuous river action starting immediately as the rafts enter Chamberlain Falls Gorge where Class IV rapids and the crashing 8-foot Chamberlain Falls provide a surefire surge of adrenaline
- Zig-Zag, Achilles Heal and Bogus Thunder are among the continuous steep drops and boulder slaloms to be negotiated
- After several miles of aggressive paddling through some of the state’s best whitewater, the end of the Class IV section nears, but not before facing Staircase, the river's most infamous rapid
- Float through a breathtaking exhibit of the Sierra Nevada's striking scenery between towering 2000-foot canyon walls of polished granite, clear water, spring-green grasses, deep woods and brightly colored wildflowers
- Take-out on Upper Lake Clementine and a shuttle back to vehicles for the conclusion of our North Fork American River Rafting trip
Special Trip Note: A delicious lunch will be provided either before, during or after this trip depending on our government-regulated start time
Show Mile By Mile Guide
Rafting the North Fork of the American River:
Mile by Mile Guide
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Mile 0
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Colfax-Iowa Hill Road bridge. Put-in (start) for O.A.R.S. North Fork American Whitewater Rafting trips. The North Fork American River was granted Wild and Scenic status in1978. This classic California whitewater river is free flowing with spring run-off dependent on Sierra snow pack. This river is typically run from April through May when the wildflowers are in full bloom. The area around the North Fork of the American River is paradise for hiking and mountain biking enthusiasts.
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Mile 0.4
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FLAKE ROCK. There is a 10-foot high knife-edge rock that guards the right side of the entrance to Slaughter’s Sluice rapid.
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Mile 0.5
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SLAUGHTER’S SLUICE (III-IV) There are house-sized rocks in this boulder slalom rapid that requires attentive paddling. Most of the boulders you see have been rolled downstream by floods and have been caught in the narrow, constricted canyon.
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Mile 0.8
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CHAMBERLAIN’S FALLS (IV+) The river funnels into a narrow slot with an eight foot drop, pushing the boat into a big reversal at the bottom. You may be caught in a turbulent eddy between the reversal and the left bank.
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Mile 1.1
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Volcano Canyon, river right. Josephine Canyon, river left. There was once a great deal of mining activity in this area.
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Mile 1.6
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ZIG ZAG (IV) Lots of tricky boulder dodging and attentive paddling. Start center and move right then quickly back to the left.
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Mile 2.0
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FERN WALL. On river left there is a wall of ferns and wildflowers, ledges and cliffs.
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Mile 2.4
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BOGUS THUNDER (IV) Another classic North Fork of the American River rapid. This boulder slalom is most difficult at low water when the right side becomes very rocky.
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Mile 2.7
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GRAND SLALOM (IV) A collection of very large boulders form a long, technical maze.
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Mile 3.0
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STAIRCASE (IV+) There are three river-wide ledges in this rapid. The rapid begins with a drop into some waves, followed by a right ferry-aided by slow moving water, followed by a final move to line-up for the drops. Below Staircase rapid are high ledges along both banks that are “hard accumulations of lava with pillow structures, indicating that they were formed on the ocean floor 350 million years ago.”
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Mile 3.3
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Canyon Creek, river left.
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Mile 3.5
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NOSE STAND (III) This is a great play spot for kayakers. In fact, many kayakers love the North Fork American’s Chamberlain run for this very rapid.
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Mile 3.8
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Indian Creek, river left.
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Mile 5.0
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River Access. Shirttail Canyon Creek, river left, just above the Colfax-Foresthill Road bridge.
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Mile 6.5
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Brushy Creek, river right.
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Mile 7.5
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Big Bend. The river makes a long, horseshoe-shaped bend.
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Mile 9
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Ponderosa Way Bridge. Take out/end. Hot/cold drinks and a return shuttle to your vehicle wait at the take-out of your O.A.R.S. North Fork American River rafting trip.
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Information for this Mile by Mile guide was gathered from the books "California Whitewater," "A Guide to the Best Whitewater in the State of California" and "The American River, North, South & Middle Forks", as well as from a variety of sources on the Internet.
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- Legend
- Directions
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- Trip Reviews
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- Testimonials
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- Write a Review
"What I like the most is knowing I can always rely on O.A.R.S. to do a
great job. The guides are excellent and the trips are always very well
organized.
I particularly appreciate that O.A.R.S. pays careful attention to
safety. For example, on this trip, I noticed that there was both a
safety boat and a rescue kayak. My guide gave an excellent 'safety talk'
before the trip, and, then, before the most challenging rapids, again
emphasized key precautions. I think the North Fork American is a great trip. Even though it's only a
one-day trip, it provides a real sense of wilderness and adventure. I
intend to go on the North Fork with O.A.R.S. again next year."
Diane McCarthy ~El Dorado Hills, CA
“The guides were friendly, practiced, and extremely laid back - it really makes all the difference to remember your life is in the hands of the guides and then have really caring, capable people.”
Mara Flores Naumann
North Fork American River Rafting - 1 Day Trip Planner
Required Forms
Please print, sign and return the required forms (for each person in your party) to our office by email, fax or mail at least 60 days prior to your trip.
Trip Documents
Itineraries
Travel Insurance
Relevant Links
Local Weather & Current Conditions
| Average Temperatures | ||
| Month | Low | High |
| April | 39° | 66° |
| May | 44° | 74° |
| June | 49° | 81° |
| Water Temperatures | ||
| Seasonal Average: 40° F | ||
