South Fork American River Rafting Near Sacramento - 1 Day
South Fork American River Rafting Near Sacramento - 1 Day: Overview
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Rafting the South Fork of the American River is a classic California rafting adventure near Sacramento! With rapids named Barking Dog and Satan’s Cesspool, you and your family and/or friends will enjoy bouncing through the American River’s flows on Class II-III whitewater as you head toward the narrow granite walls of the river's gorge and the culmination of this popular California rafting adventure on the South Fork American River . The 49ers (not the football team - the miners!) got their start here and the Gold Country in California is at the heart of western adventure lore. The gold riches of the Sierra had lain for centuries underneath the American's waters until something glittered and caught the eye of prospector John Marshall and the Gold Rush of 1849 exploded on the banks of the American. Surely the ghosts still wander the South Fork’s rolling river valley, its oak and pine forests and tumbling gorge. The views, history and wonderful whitewater of the South Fork American River are just beyond the bow of your boat on this exhilarating trip, which starts only an hour from Sacramento. For overnight vacationers, there’s swimming, fishing on the American River, "R and R", great food and hospitality at O.A.R.S.’ convenient riverside camp.
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South Fork American River Rafting - 1 Day: Itinerary at a Glance
- Your South Fork American River rafting trip begins at River's Bend Resort Campground where we take a short ride to Lotus Park and board rafts for a day of fun and sun
- Spend the morning sharpening paddling skills in fun Class II rapids like Barking Dog and Current Divider
- Calm pools in-between rapids beckon the adventurous to jump in the river and cool off
- A delicious picnic is served alongside the river
- The river spills through the narrow granite walls of TheGorge bringing the challenge of some of the biggest, most exciting whitewater on the South Fork, including Fowler's Rock, Satan's Cesspool and Hospital Bar
- Salmon Falls Bridge signals the end of our South Fork American River rafting trip where a shuttle awaits for the ride back to River's Bend where you may choose to take advantage of our riverside camping facility
Rafting the South Fork of the American River:
Mile by Mile Guide
Mile 8.0 | 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. |
Mile 8.5 | 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. |
Mile 9.0 | Camp Lotus. Located two miles from historic Coloma, this campground is situated along the South Fork of the American River. |
Mile 9.0 | BARKING DOG RAPID (II). This is a fun little surfing wave where kayakers like to practice their rolling skills. |
Mile 10.6 | CURRENT DIVIDER RAPID (II+). A rocky chute. |
Lower South Fork American ~ The Gorge
Mile 10.8 | 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. |
Mile 11.1 | HIGHWAY RAPID (II+). A long, curving rock garden.. |
Mile 11.5 | 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. |
Mile 12.2 | Public restrooms. These are the only public facilities on the South Fork American River whitewater rafting trip. |
Mile 13.9 | Gorilla Rock. This rock, sometimes referred to as Convict Rock, really looks like a gorilla. |
Mile 15.8 | 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. |
Mile 16.9 | 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. |
Mile 17.0 | SON OF SATAN’S or DEAD MAN’S DROP (II+). |
Mile 17.4 | SCISSORS (III). The river turns left down a narrow, rocky chute with big, irregular waves. |
Mile 17.6 | LOWER HAYSTACK CANYON (II+). A fun, bouncy rapid with big standing waves and short drops in a narrow section. |
Mile 18.1 | Weber Creek – a large, year-round creek on river left. |
Mile 18.2 | BOUNCING ROCK (II+). This rapid, with a big hole on river right, provides a bouncy whitewater ride. |
Mile 18.6 | 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. |
Mile 18.8 | RECOVERY ROOM (II+). Big, fun waves and clean drops. |
Mile 19.4 | 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! |
Mile 20.5 | 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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