South Fork of the American River: California Wine Tasting and Rafting
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O.A.R.S. Connections
2 Days
Enjoy a two-day adventure including one day touring El Dorado County Wine Country, sampling award-winning wines, followed by a day of whitewater rafting on a classic California river. An O.A.R.S. escort will chauffeur you to various wineries, provide a delicious picnic lunch, return you to your hotel or B&B and guide you down the South Fork of the American River the following day.
Departure Dates
Wednesdays, May through September
Price Book online now
$359
Deposit: $60
Additional Costs:
$65 Single Supplement
You are responsible for the purchase of any alcohol and an $8 per person river access fee
River Rating  | Minimum Age |
|---|---|
| Class III | 21 Yrs |
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- Legend
- Directions
From Sacramento
Drive towards South Lake Tahoe on Hwy 50 until you reach Placerville. Turn left onto Highway 49 North and follow the directions from Placerville listed below.
From South Lake Tahoe
Take Hwy 50 west to Placerville and follow the directions from Placerville listed below.
From Placerville
Proceed north on Hwy 49 through the town of Coloma. Just past Coloma, cross the American River bridge and travel exactly two miles on Highway 49 to River's Bend Resort. River's Bend is on the left side of the highway, directly under the high-tension wires, as the right turn comes suddenly.
From Reno, Nevada
Take Hwy 80 west to Auburn. Proceed to the Highway 49 South exit. Approximately 9 miles past the town of Cool, you will arrive at River's Bend Resort. River's Bend is on the right side of the highway, directly under the high-tension wires crossing the road. Be on the lookout for the high-tension wires, as the right turn comes suddenly.
By Air
Many people enjoy the time saved by flying into Sacramento, which is accessed my most major airlines. A variety of car rental companies are available at the airport.
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California Wine Tasting and Rafting: Overview
Wednesdays are the new Saturdays! Enjoy an un-crowded weekend, mid-week, taking in fresh mountain air, clear skies, sparkling water and superb wines on the American River near Sacramento, CA. Adding to O.A.R.S.’ already extensive collection of California whitewater rafting adventures is this two-day wine tasting and whitewater rafting adventure on the South Fork of the American River. This unique combination of fun whitewater rafting on the Class III South Fork of the American River and wine tasting includes visits to several local El Dorado wine country wineries of your choice, including Venezio Vineyards, Auriga Wine Cellars, Lava Cap, Boeger, Sierra Vista and Holly’s Hill Vineyards complimented by a comfortable evening at the historic American River Inn in Georgetown. This unique two-day California getaway is a quick, easy drive from the San Francisco Bay Area, Lake Tahoe and Sacramento. Groups are generally limited to 12 people, but custom trips for larger groups are available upon request.
This is California Wine Tasting at its best! There are more than 100 wineries in the Sierra Foothills, with at least 50 of those located in El Dorado County. It is one of the few wine growing areas of California that contain only mountain vineyards. These California wineries offer award-winning Zinfandels, as well as high quality Sauvignon Blanc, Barbera, Sangiovese, Syrah, Ports, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Primitivo.
California Wine Tasting & Rafting: "Raft & Wine" Itinerary at a Glance
- Day One: Meet at at 10:00 AM at the American River Inn
- Spend the morning visiting various wineries in El Dorado County via a private shuttle
- After a mid-day stop for a gourmet lunch, you will resume your tour of El Dorado County wineries and tasting rooms.
- Return to the American River Inn at approximately 5:00 pm - the evening is yours to stroll through historic Georgetown, enjoy dinner on your own and relax in a hot tub
- Day Two: Meet at River's Bend Resort at 10:00 am
- O.A.R.S. guides will shuttle you to the South Fork American River put-in. After a thorough safety talk, we will practice paddle strokes and shove off
- Spend a full day rafting on the Class III South Fork of the American River
- A delicious lunch is provided along the way
- Raft the South Fork’s infamous rapids, including Barking Dog, Satan’s Cesspool, Hospital Bar and Recovery Room
- Upon take-out, we will shuttle you back to your vehicle at Rivers Bend
Show Mile By Mile Guide
South Fork of the American River Wine & Raft:
Mile by Mile Guide
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Mile 8.0
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Put-in (start) for O.A.R.S. one-day South Fork American River whitewater rafting trips.
Henningsen Lotus Park. 950 Lotus Road, Lotus, CA 95651 This 51-acre park provides a wide variety of recreation opportunities. The park is open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. until dusk. |
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Mile 8.5
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LOTUS LEDGE SURFING HOLE (II). This used to be a fun little ledge hole, but it was wiped out in the flood of January 1997, and is now simply a riffle. A riffle is a shallow stretch in the river where water forms small rippled waves.
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Mile 9.0
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Camp Lotus. Located two miles from historic Coloma, this campground is situated along the South Fork of the American River.
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Mile 9.0
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BARKING DOG RAPID (II). This is a fun little surfing wave where kayakers like to practice their rolling skills.
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Mile 10.6
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CURRENT DIVIDER RAPID (II+). A rocky chute.
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Lower South Fork American ~ The Gorge
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Mile 10.8
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O.A.R.S. base camp and lunch spot for full-day trips.
River's Bend Resort 6400 Highway 49, Lotus CA 95651: This shaded stop offers restrooms and showers, picnic tables, horseshoe pits, a volleyball court and a small convenience store selling waterproof cameras, sunblock, t-shirts, water bottles and other small necessities. O.A.R.S. South Fork American River rafting passengers park their vehicles at River’s Bend Resort. Guests will be returned to the resort upon completing their whitewater journey. To reach Rivers Bend Resort from Placerville - proceed north on Hwy. 49 through the town of Coloma. Just past Coloma, cross the American River bridge and travel exactly two miles on Highway 49 to River’s Bend Resort. River’s Bend is on the left side of the highway, directly under the high-tension wires crossing the road. Be on the lookout for the high-tension wires, as the left turn comes suddenly. To reach River’s Bend Resort from North Lake Tahoe - take Hwy. 80 west to Auburn. Proceed to the Highway 49 South exit. River's Bend Resort is approximately 9 miles past the town of Cool, on the right side of the highway, directly under the high-tension wires crossing the road. Watch for the high-tension wires, as the right turn comes suddenly. |
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Mile 11.1
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HIGHWAY RAPID (II+). A long, curving rock garden..
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Mile 11.5
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SWIMMER’S RAPID. Swimmer's Rapid is a great spot for rafting passengers to jump in and experience what it feels like to swim a rapid. It is a fun wave train rapid.
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Mile 12.2
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Public restrooms. These are the only public facilities on the South Fork American River whitewater rafting trip.
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Mile 13.9
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Gorilla Rock. This rock, sometimes referred to as Convict Rock, really looks like a gorilla.
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Mile 15.8
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FOWLER’S ROCK (III). Entrance to ‘The Gorge’ - occurs after the third sighting of the Lollipop tree. This tree can be spotted atop a distant hill and does indeed resemble a lollipop. This is the first big rapid on the South Fork’s lower section. The river bends left into a short pool then back to the right where a boulder cluster marks the entry to the rapid.
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Mile 16.9
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SATAN’S CESSPOOL (III+). Satan’s is the biggest rapid in the Gorge Run of the South Fork American River. After a long pool, the river pours over a sharp drop (Lost Hat), then bends left and right into a bigger drop against the left wall. There is a small eddy on the left just down stream. A rock above the final drop provides a good vantage point for photographers and spectators. Professional photographers are frequently stationed here with their cameras.
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Mile 17.0
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SON OF SATAN’S or DEAD MAN’S DROP (II+).
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Mile 17.4
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SCISSORS (III). The river turns left down a narrow, rocky chute with big, irregular waves.
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Mile 17.6
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LOWER HAYSTACK CANYON (II+). A fun, bouncy rapid with big standing waves and short drops in a narrow section.
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Mile 18.1
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Weber Creek – a large, year-round creek on river left.
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Mile 18.2
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BOUNCING ROCK (II+). This rapid, with a big hole on river right, provides a bouncy whitewater ride.
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Mile 18.6
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HOSPITAL BAR (III). Named for a medical tent set up here during the Gold Rush, this is the last big, splashy rapid on The Gorge Run. The rapid is a rock chute that bends left and then right. It provides surprising whitewater fun. Professional photographers are sometimes stationed here with their cameras.
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Mile 18.8
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RECOVERY ROOM (II+). Big, fun waves and clean drops.
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Mile 19.4
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SURPRISE RAPID (II). If the Folsom Reservoir is full, there will be a flat-water paddle or a tow-out, and this rapid will be under water. Class II rapids continue to mile 20 if the reservoir is low. It is a treat to find Surprise Rapid uncovered!
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Mile 20.5
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TAKE OUT (end) for O.A.R.S. full-day trips.
TAKE OUT for the South Fork American River is at Salmon Falls Bridge at Folsom Reservoir. |
Information for this Mile by Mile guide was gathered from the books “California Whitewater” and “A Guide to the Best Whitewater in the State of California”, as well as from a variety of sources on the Internet.
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| Average Temperatures | ||
| Month | Days | Nights |
| June | 85° | 57° |
| July | 95° | 63° |
| August | 100° | 62° |
| September | 85° | 59° |
| Water Temperatures | ||
| Seasonal Average: 50° - 60° F | ||
Current Conditions
What to bring on the South Fork of the American River: California Wine Tasting and Rafting trip
This is a sample list. If you do not already own any of the items on the suggested packing list feel free to call our office for suggestions. However, many items listed are available for purchase online in the OARStore.
- Casual clothes for wine tasting and evening dining
- Swimsuit
- Lightweight, quick drying shorts
- T-shirt
- Sunscreen & lip protectant
- Sunglasses with securing strap
- Sun visor or tie-on hat
- Tennis shoes, river sandals or booties (on river)
- Water bottle with securing strap
Download our travel planner here:
South_Fork_American_River-Wine.pdf
Trip planner is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader.
