Best Day Trip from San Francisco: Rafting on the American River

4 Min. Read
A photo of San Francisco paired with a photo of rafting on the South Fork of the American River

How to Do a One-Day Rafting Trip From San Francisco

From hiking and fly fishing to whitewater rafting and sea kayaking, an incredible range of top-tier wilderness and outdoor experiences are within a day’s reach of San Francisco. With a well-planned itinerary, many of these adventures can be tackled in a single round-trip outing. Here’s a curated itinerary for one of the best day trips from San Francisco: rafting on the American River

7:00 a.m. | Leave San Francisco

Depending on where you live in San Francisco or the Bay Area, the drive to the OARS American River Outpost is around 2.5 hours. Be sure to check drive times from your location and always build in extra time for those unexpected slow downs. If you’re going to grab breakfast, or make any other stops before your trip, modify the itinerary accordingly.

OARS vans at the American River Outpost
OARS American River Outpost in Coloma, CA along the South Fork of the American River. | Photo: Dylan Silver

8:30 a.m. | Grab breakfast at Tower Cafe

A quick stop at Tower Café is a must. Since its opening in 1990, the globally inspired menu and a vibrant, garden-like setting have charmed diners. The French Toast—made from an actual French-style baguette—is especially legendary.  Peep the Tower Theatre next door—California’s longest continuously running movie theater since 1939.

10:30 a.m. | Arrive at OARS American River Outpost

Most 1-day rafting trips on The Gorge section of the South Fork of the American River are set to meet between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. If you’ve got time to spare, grab a cup of coffee at the nearby Sierra Rizing Cafe and Bakery or browse the small on-site store for t-shirts, hats or the always-necessary sunscreen. 

11:00 a.m. | Meet with the crew

Your guides will give you the rundown on what to expect on the river, including a thorough safety talk. They’ll discuss things like common hand signals, how to pull someone back into the boat and a few other important topics to help ensure a fun day on the river. After the safety talk, head over to get your PFD and helmet fitted. Grab a paddle and head to the boats. 

A group of OARS rafting guests practices paddling on the South Fork of the American River
Dialing in those paddle strokes just before launch on the South Fork. | Photo: Dylan Silver

11:30 a.m. | Paddle practice

So much of whitewater rafting is learning to work as a team. Your guide will help you dial in your strokes and learn to paddle like the great vikings that used to ply these waters (wink, wink). Once they’ve gone over the common paddle commands, you’re off down the river. Watch out for Rookie Rock!

12:00 p.m. | Get wet (for the first time)

After a few bends with mellow riffles and a couple great swimming spots, you’ll drop into Barking Dog, a fun and very splashy Class II rapid. Kayakers and river surfers often hang out on the edge of the river, surfing the standing wave. For the best splash, paddle hard. 

12:30 p.m. | Picnic at Lunch Beach

After a few introductory rapids, the boats pull to the side of the river for a quick spread of sandwiches, fruit, cookies and water or lemonade. After everyone’s refreshed, hop back in the rafts and head into the trip’s best rapids. 

A group of rafters splash through Satan's Cesspool one of the highlight rapids on the South Fork of the American River.
A group of rafters splash through Satan’s Cesspool Rapid on the South Fork of the American River. | Photo: Hot Shots

2:30 p.m. | Charge into Satan’s Cesspool

The biggest action of a rafting trip on the South Fork’s Gorge section arrives in a flurry.

Back-to-back Class III rapids like Scissors, Satan’s and Hospital Bar are just a few of the highlights and among the best whitewater rapids on the American River. Don’t forget to smile for the camera!

4:30 p.m. | Shower and change

Back at the Outpost, say goodbye to your guides, jump into a free hot shower and change into dry clothes. Swing by the OARS store if you’re looking for a souvenir. 

5:00 p.m. | Grab dinner and head home

It’s a short drive to Lotus Pub, a family-owned eatery with a tasty upscale menu that includes fresh baked pretzels, fish tacos and a selection of draft brews. Or you can always grab a bite a little further down the road. Some of our favorites are a quick stop at Roostarz Hot Chicken just off Highway 50 in Rancho Cordova, or, a little closer to the Bay, swing by Local Kitchens in Davis for a variety of tasty options all under one roof. 

8:30 p.m. | Home again

After a day of fresh air, fun in the sun, and unforgettable whitewater, it’s easy to see how this adventure earns its reputation as the best day trip from San Francisco. You might even be asking yourself, when can we do that again? Fortunately, there’s plenty of American River rafting trips to try, including overnight adventures. View our Complete Guide to Rafting on the American River to find your perfect itinerary. 

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