The South Fork of the American River is one of the most popular rafting runs in the world. With rafting trips running from springtime through the end of summer, and white water rapids of varying challenge, a South Fork of the American River Rafting Trip offers something for everybody. An excellent whitewater trip for beginning rafters, the South Fork also offers a number of exciting class III rapids enjoyable for intermediate rafters.

Trips on the Upper South Fork of the American begin at the distinctly named Chili Bar and run through 9 miles of beautiful gold rush territory past notable land marks including Marshall Gold Discovery Park and the historic Sutter's Mill.  This white water rafting trip will take adventurers through exciting class III whitewater rapids like Meatgrinder and Triple Threat. Your rafting trip will culminate in a run through Troublemaker, an exciting class III rapid located right at the American River Resort, a great place to make camp. The river continues to Coloma after a relaxing float through Marshall Gold Discovery Park.

Another exciting whitewater rafting trip, the South Fork Gorge begins downstream of the Chili Bar rafting trips. It will take you through some of the most memorable whitewater rapids in all of California. The trip begins on a relaxing stretch of class II rapids where boaters can enjoy the beautiful scenery while getting introduced to the techniques required to navigate the Gorge. The river canyon in the Sierra foothills then narrows and leads into a stretch of class III rapids, including Bouncing Rock, Hospital Bar, and the legendary Satan's Cesspool, where photographers may be waiting to immortalize the excitement of this river for every paddler.

The South Fork of the American River is a perfect two-day trip, with a run down the Gorge on the first day, camping at the American River Resort, and an exciting Chili Bar run on the second day that will have paddlers back on the road by mid-afternoon for the trip home.

Provided by your source for whitewater rafting in California! River and Rock Adventures offers guided Northern California river rafting trips on California's most scenic rivers. Join them for one of our most popular one or two day California rafting trips on the South Fork of the American River