South Fork American River Rafting Near Sacramento - 1/2 Day
South Fork American River Rafting Near Sacramento - Half Day: Overview
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Grab a paddle, hop into a big yellow raft, and get ready for some wet, wild and adventurous fun on the South Fork of the American River near Sacramento, CA! Don't let names like Satan's Cesspool and Dead Man's Drop scare you; the South Fork of the American River offers some of the most exciting Class III whitewater in California and is perfect for beginners, families and anyone who just wants a day out paddling in the California sunshine. Our half-day South Fork American River rafting trip through the rolling Sierra Foothills near Sacramento is the perfect way to cool off on a warm California day. Whether you're new to rafting and just want to "get your feet wet," or you just don't have time to fit a whole day of rafting into your schedule, our half-day South Fork trip will surely be the perfect choice. Less than an hour from Sacramento, and just an hour and a half from Lake Tahoe, the South Fork of the American River is a quick and relatively easy option for an exciting family or group adventure. Whether paddling through thrilling rapids or swimming alongside the raft, lots of splashy good times are guaranteed.
South Fork American River Rafting Half Day: Itinerary at a Glance
- Meet your guides at Rivers Bend and gear up for your half-day "Gorge Run" adventure -Board the rafts and practice your paddle strokes - "all forward" and "back paddle"
- Warm up in Swimmers Rapid or jump in and cool down in the refreshing river
- Enter the Lower Gorge and tackle a series of Class III rapids, including Upper and Lower Haystack, and Deadman's Drop
- As the river constricts, the whitewater increases in intensity and before calling it a day we raft through Double Dip, Recovery Room and Surprise rapids
- The river spills through the narrow granite walls of The Gorge 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
- As we enter Folsom Reservoir, we near the take-out and bid the river farewell until next time
Rafting the Lower South Fork of the American River ~ The Gorge:
Mile by Mile Guide
Mile 10.8 |
Put-in (start) for O.A.R.S. half-day PM 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. 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. half-day PM 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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