South Fork American River Team Building Express
Build stronger teams on California’s most popular stretch of the American River.
Looking to energize your team, boost morale, or just spend a day outdoors together? The Gorge section on the South Fork American River features a 13-mile stretch of Class II–III whitewater that offers the perfect mix of excitement and accessibility that’s an ideal option for company outings or corporate team building trips.
The day begins with easygoing rapids that let your group get comfortable paddling as a team. Then, as the river narrows into the Gorge, collaboration and communication are key as you take on thrilling rapids like Fowler’s Rock, Satan’s Cesspool and Hospital Bar. Along the way, there are plenty of chances to cool off, laugh together, and build shared memories that last far beyond the river.
Just an hour from Sacramento, and an easy 2.5 hour drive from the Bay Area, our corporate team building rafting package is a hassle-free and impactful way to get your group off the grid and out on the water. Pair it with camping at the OARS American River Outpost for an immersive retreat your team won’t forget.
Trip Highlights
What to Expect
Itinerary & Map
Itinerary at a Glance
We pride ourselves in running a relaxed and flexible schedule. Every corporate team building trip on the South Fork American River is different depending upon the group, other trips on the water, and sometimes the weather. The following is a sample of what your trip might be like:
Meeting Time & Place
Location
OARS American River Rafting Outpost, Lotus, CA
Meeting time
11:30 AM
Return
4 – 5 PM, depending on water levels followed by dinner
Trip Map
Camp With Us!
Limited camping for rafters is available before and/or after your trip at the OARS American River Rafting Outpost in Lotus. All nights of camping are $15 per person/night. Advance reservations are required. Please ask an Adventure Consultant about the details of staying at our beautiful riverside camp.
Campground Amenities
Located on twelve gorgeous acres, stretching over a third of a mile on the riverfront, the OARS campground offers modern shower and bathroom facilities, a small store (cash currently not accepted; cards and electronic payments only), beach and river access, camp games, and free WiFi. All within a few minutes walk of Sierra Rizing Bakery & Coffee House and a handful of other local restaurants.
Don’t have your own gear? Rental options include:
- 2-Person Glamping Tent (with 2 comfy twin beds, all bedding, and a private deck with two chairs): $150/night (inclusive of the $15/person per night camping fee)
- Sleep Kit (sleeping bag, pad, pillow & sheet): $25 per person
- 2-Person Tent: $30
- 4-Person Family Tent: $50
Please note that camping reservations must be made in advance of arrival and guests may check-in between 3:30 and 8 PM. Payments for glamping tents at the American River Outpost are refundable if canceled at least 7 calendar days prior to scheduled arrival; cancellations made 6 days or less prior to scheduled arrival are non-refundable.
Dates & Prices
April – August: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday
September: Thursday & Friday
| 2025 Prices | |
|---|---|
| $150 per person based on a minimum group size of 18* (normally $179 including lunch and dinner) |
*Price reflects special group rate and includes all taxes and fees. Not combinable with any other offers.
“Best Google Event Ever!”
– 2024 Google Team Participant
The Need-to-Know Info
Trip Details
Included in Your Trip Cost
Not Included in Your Trip Cost
- Transportation to and from our meeting location at our American River Rafting Outpost
- Sleep kits or tents, if you are staying overnight with us (available for rent)
- Insurance of any kind, including a travel protection plan
- Wetsuit booties or shoes of any kind
- Gratuities
The number and variety of boats on an OARS trip will vary based on water levels, the number of participants, and other factors we take into account when planning your adventure. Please be aware that in doing so we will ask you to share boat time with your fellow travelers. We don’t assign boats, nor can we guarantee exactly which crafts we bring, but trust us to provide you with the best possible mix for you and others on your trip.
Learn more about the OARS Fleet and the boats that may be a part of your experience: paddle raft, paddle raft with oar assist.
Lunch
A delicious deluxe picnic lunch will be provided in camp at OARS American River Outpost prior to rafting. Your guides will lay out an abundant spread of cold cuts, cheeses, veggies and breads, or perhaps a fresh chicken Caesar salad wrap. Lunch is always accompanied by fruit, cookies, cold water and lemonade.
Dinner
The menu for OARS corporate team building rafting adventures depends on the size of the group and other factors but may feature options like a tasty taco bar with all the works or pulled pork sliders and a number of sides.
Please let us know if you have any dietary needs that we’ll need to consider in planning your team building trip. More info about Meals & Dietary Restrictions can be found on our Trip Resources page.
Average Air & Water Temperatures
| Air (Day) °F | Air (Night) °F | Water °F | |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 60-75 | 44-48 | 52 |
| May | 70-78 | 50-54 | 55 |
| June | 85-100 | 58-70 | 58 |
| July | 90-102 | 65-78 | 62 |
| Aug | 85-95 | 61-65 | 65 |
| Sept | 65-85 | 57-61 | 65 |
Whitewater
The South Fork of the American River is rated Class III based on the International Scale of River Difficulty. Learn more about whitewater rafting levels and classifications to help you choose the right adventure for your experience, comfort and skill level.
In general, the South Fork’s exciting Class III whitewater is near-perfect fun for groups. The water on the South Fork is released during summer months from hydroelectric facilities located upstream. Such water releases are not subject to the control of El Dorado County or commercial rafting companies.
Before booking your trip with OARS, there are a few important considerations we’d like you to know about.
Reservations
A 25% deposit is required at the time of booking with final payment due 30 days prior to departure. Accounts on which final payment has not been received 30 days before the departure date will be canceled.
Payments can be made by check, money order, eCheck, wire transfer, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. Prices are in US Dollars and all payments must be made in US Dollars. Payment of the deposit establishes your acceptance of our complete Terms and Conditions. Individual departures and trip capacity are strictly limited by the managing agency. Your payment is fully refundable for 48 hours, less a 3% processing fee, after making a reservation when you submit a deposit 7 days or more prior to the final payment due date.
Cancellation and Refunds
Canceling your trip after your deposit is processed will incur cancellation fees because OARS has absorbed costs on your behalf and will turn others away who would like to book the spaces we’re holding for you. If you must cancel your reservation after the rescission period described above, your cancellation fee will be determined according to the schedule below.
Group number can decrease up until 30 days prior to your trip and all deposits can be applied to final payment. Canceling your entire trip 30 days or more prior to your trip start date will incur a cancellation fee equal to the full deposit amount.
| Date of Cancellation | Cancellation Fee |
|---|---|
| 29 – 14 days before your trip | 50% per person fee. The remainder of your trip payment can be credited to another trip within the same year (or to a credit account for the following year). No refund. |
| 13 days or less before your trip | Not eligible for trip credits or refunds. |
We regret that we cannot make exceptions to the cancellation policy for any reason, including foul weather, poor air quality, wildfire activity, acts of terrorism, civil unrest or personal emergencies. For these reasons, we strongly urge you to consider purchasing a travel protection plan.
Canceled Trips
OARS reserves the right to cancel any trip due to insufficient registration or other factors that make the trip impractical to operate. In such instances, we will inform you at least 7 days prior to departure. Do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until you have verified with OARS that your trip is confirmed.
If a trip must be canceled or postponed due to force majeure (factors outside the control of OARS), OARS will provide full credit for payments made toward future travel, or a refund less the initial deposit amount and any non-refundable payments made on your behalf to 3rd-party suppliers. OARS will make good faith efforts to recover deposits made on your behalf to 3rd-party suppliers; however, we cannot guarantee recovery of any or all of the advance payments made. OARS is not responsible for expenses incurred by participants in preparation for a canceled trip.
Transfers
If you need to move your reservation to a different trip during the same year, or to a credit account for the following year, there is no fee up until 30 days prior to departure for a one-time transfer of your payment. If we are 29-14 days prior to your trip departure, 50% of the trip cost can be to another trip within the same year or to a credit account for the following year. Transfer requests made 13 days or less prior to departure will be treated like a cancellation according to the schedule above.
O.A.R.S. West, Inc. is a permitted outfitter of El Dorado County & the California Department of Parks and Recreation Gold Fields District.
Ancestral Lands Acknowledgement
We respect and recognize that many of the river canyons on state and federal lands where we operate are the ancestral homes of indigenous communities. Where we operate on the South Fork of the American River between Chili Bar and Salmon Falls Bridge, we acknowledge the territories of the Nisenan.
For You
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